Second Judicial District - Denver County Court Judge
Honorable Raymond N. Satter
Retention Year: 2002
Recommendation: Retain
Reports:
The Second Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends that Judge Raymond N. Satter BE RETAINED.
Judge Satter was appointed to the Denver County Court bench in October 1987. Prior to his appointment, he was in private law practice as a trial attorney, handling both civil and criminal cases. A Denver native, Judge Satter received his undergraduate degree from the University of Denver and his law degree from the Catholic University in Washington, D.C.
Before becoming the Presiding Judge for the Denver County Court in January 2000, Judge Satter took assignments in traffic, general sessions, state criminal and civil courts. He now hears relatively few cases because of his administrative duties, which include hiring and evaluating 18 magistrates, and consulting with other County Court judges on legal, managerial and personnel issues. His present duties range from resolving disputes about traffic tickets to conducting preliminary hearings for murder prosecutions.
The Commission reviewed written evaluations of Judge Satter from attorneys and non-attorneys, including written comments. The Commission also considered a self-evaluation prepared by Judge Satter and conducted a personal interview with him.
In his interview with the Commission, Judge Satter said he very much enjoys his work because it provides new opportunities to learn about the law and the administration of justice in a changing society. He has served as a Trustee for the Denver Bar Association and is a member of the Civil Rules Committee of the Colorado Supreme Court. An avid bicyclist, he participates in "Eye-Cycle," an organization that provides tandem bicycling recreation for the blind and visually handicapped.
Eighty-six percent of the 14 attorneys responding to the survey and 90% of the 42 non-attorneys favored Judge Satter’s retention. Seven percent of attorneys and 5% of non-attorneys indicated he should not be retained. Both attorneys and non-attorneys gave Judge Satter high ratings in all of the categories surveyed: courtesy, impartiality, communication, temperament, diligence and application of the law.