Thirteenth Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Steven E. Shinn
Retention Year: 2000
Recommendation: Retain
The Thirteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends that Judge Steven E. Shinn BE RETAINED.
Judge Shinn was appointed to the Thirteenth District Court bench in July 1986 and has served for 14 years. On March 3, 2000 Judge Shinn was appointed to the position of Chief Judge of the Thirteenth Judicial District by Mary Mullarkey, Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice.
Judge Shinn hears cases in his court as follows: 20% civil, 30% domestic relations, 2 % traffic, 25% felony, 15% criminal, and 8% juvenile. Three hundred fifty-nine questionnaires for evaluation of Judge Shinn were sent to attorneys who practiced in his court in the past two years as well as to non-attorneys (law enforcement, jurors, court/probation employees, crime victims, litigants, and social service personnel). One hundred eighty-two (50%) of the surveys were returned. Of the attorneys surveyed 93% favored retention, 3% favored non-retention and 5% had no opinion. Of the non-attorneys surveyed 90% favored retention, 3% favored non-retention and 7% had no opinion.
Judge Shinn is a conscientious and competent judge who works hard at improving his effectiveness on the bench and handling administrative duties. He will continue to attend the National Judicial College to learn new methods of case and time management. He has completed a 15-day course in "Settlement Skills".
Judge Shinn is very active and visible in the community as a 4-H leader and parent, livestock superintendent at the Logan County Fair, past president of the Sterling Baseball Organization, a member of the advisory committee of the Law Enforcement Training Academy at Northeastern Junior College, and many more.
His demeanor is excellent. He effectively uses a bit of humor to break the tension and relieve his own stress. He uses a common sense approach in sentencing, however has had some criticism in this area. He states some criticism can't be avoided because the restrictions of statutes and plea bargains make sentencing difficult. The vote of the eight member Commission was unanimous to retain Judge Shinn.