Second Judicial District - Denver County Court Judge
Honorable Andre L. Rudolph
Retention Year: 2012
Recommendation: Retain
Reports:
2012 Retention Survey Report (PDF)
2011 Interim Survey Report (PDF)
2009 Interim Survey Report (PDF)
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The Second Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance, by a vote of 6-4, recommends that Judge Andre L. Rudolph BE RETAINED. However, based on the information summarized below, the Commission unanimously recommends that Judge Rudolph enter into an improvement plan. Judge Rudolph has agreed to undertake an improvement plan.
Prior to his appointment to the Denver County Court in September 2004, Judge Rudolph was a magistrate in Adams County for the Seventeenth Judicial District. Judge Rudolph began his legal career in the Colorado Public Defenders Office. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wyoming and his law degree from Creighton University School of Law in Omaha, Nebraska. Judge Rudolph currently presides over criminal matters in the Denver County Court.
The Commission reviewed the results of surveys of attorneys and non-attorneys, including written verbatim comments, and transcripts of oral rulings by Judge Rudolph in three cases. The Commission also considered a written self-evaluation completed by Judge Rudolph, conducted a personal interview with him, and some members of the Commission observed Judge Rudolph in court. In the survey results, compared to other county judges standing for retention, Judge Rudolph received ratings from non-attorneys slightly below average in the areas of demeanor and diligence but slightly above average in the areas of communications, fairness, and application of the law. However, Judge Rudolph’s ratings from attorneys were below the average of ratings of other county judges in all areas. Judge Rudolph received lower than average ratings from attorneys in every area of case management, application and knowledge of the law, communications, demeanor, and diligence. Many of the specific comments critical of Judge Rudolph were directed to his demeanor.
Of all attorneys surveyed about retention, 64% recommended to retain, 30% not to retain, and 6% were undecided or didn’t have enough information to make a recommendation. Of those expressing an opinion to retain or not to retain, 68% recommended to retain and 32% not to retain. Of all non-attorneys surveyed, 85% recommended to retain, 8% not to retain, and 8% were undecided or didn’t have enough information to make a recommendation. Of those expressing an opinion to retain or not to retain, 92% recommended to retain and 8% not to retain. (These percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.)