Eighteenth Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Carlos Armando Samour, Jr.
Retention Year: 2010
Recommendation: Retain
Reports:
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The Eighteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously recommends that Judge Carlos Armando Samour, Jr. BE RETAINED.
Judge Samour was born in El Salvador. In 1979, at age 13, Judge Samour moved with his family to the United States. Judge Samour is a graduate of Columbine High School and graduated with honors from the University of Colorado at Denver with a degree in psychology. Judge Samour received his law degree from the University of Denver.
Following his graduation from law school Judge Samour completed a one-year judicial clerkship with Judge Robert McWilliams of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Samour was in private practice for five years with the firm Holland & Hart in Denver, and then served as a Deputy District Attorney for ten years in Denver. Judge Samour was appointed a District Judge in 2006 and took the bench in 2007. Judge Samour presides over both civil and criminal cases.
The Commission conducted extensive research in making this recommendation of retention, including the use of surveys conducted on the judge, interviews of people who regularly appear in his courtroom, an interview of the judge, personal observations of the judge, review of his caseload data, review of the judges’ self-evaluation and studies of his written orders. Judge Samour’s survey scores are very good. Lawyers and non-lawyers alike, including members of this Commission, who have observed Judge Samour in his courtroom, have found him to be very friendly, efficient and professional. He is praised for his knowledge of the law and his fairness. Judge Samour volunteers his time as a Spanish language presenter for the “Our Courts” program, a program that explains the workings of the state courts to the public. Judge Samour also assists in planning the judicial district’s annual continuing judicial education conference. Though Judge Samour has only been on
the bench for a relatively short time, the Commission is impressed with Judge Samour’s broad background in both civil and criminal law and feels that he has proven himself an asset to this judicial district and will continue to grow as a judge.
Of all attorneys surveyed about retention, 87% recommended to retain, 6% not to retain, and 8% expressed no opinion. Excluding those who had no opinion, 95% recommended to retain and 6% not to retain. Of all non-attorneys surveyed, 95% recommended to retain, 1% not to retain and 4% did not express an opinion. Excluding those who had no opinion, 99% recommended to retain and 1% not to retain. (These percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.)