Seventh Judicial District - San Miguel County Court Judge
Honorable Sharon Shuteran
Retention Year: 2006
Recommendation: Retain
Reports:
Need an accessible PDF Document version?
Please click on the link below and email our staff
The Seventh Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously recommends that Judge Sharon Shuteran BE RETAINED.
Judge Shuteran is a graduate of the University of Denver where she earned a Bachelor of arts degree. She also received her law degree from the University of Denver. She was admitted to the practice of law in Colorado in 1978. Judge Shuteran worked as a VISTA attorney for legal services in 1978 and 1979. She served as the Town Judge for Ophir and Assistant Town Judge in Telluride, and was a deputy district attorney before being appointed San Miguel County Court Judge in September of 1984.
Judge Shuteran’s workload consists of: 15% civil; 6% small claims; 2% civil protection orders; 15% infractions; 7% felony; 20% misdemeanor; 22% traffic; 9% DUI; and, 4% domestic violence. The Commission found Judge Shuteran to be courteous in her courtroom and willing to listen to all sides. Judge Shuteran manages her docket in an informal manner and decides cases on their merits, the law and the equities involved.
Judge Shuteran describes herself as loquacious, an excellent mediator and able to treat parties impartially and equally. She elicited strong opinions, from lawyers and lay persons, often at both ends of the spectrum. In her self-evaluation she states that she listens carefully to all sides and has a true concern for fairness. She reports good communication skills and an ability to explain things clearly regardless of the level of understanding of the people involved. She puts a human face on the judicial system. She believes her mediation and conflict resolution skills to be her greatest strengths. Her goals as a judge are to listen more and talk less.
Judge Shuteran, aside from her work on the bench, speaks in the community and schools about the judicial system and dispute resolution. She teaches for the San Miguel Resource Center, helps the schools with their conflict resolution programs and volunteers for numerous community events. The position of San Miguel County Court judge is part-time. In her private practice, Judge Shuteran offers mediation services.
The Judicial Performance Commission conducted a personal interview, reviewed Judge Shuteran’s self-evaluation and the results of the Talmey-Drake survey. 67% of attorneys responding to the survey recommended that Judge Shuteran be retained in office. Of the non-attorneys, 71% recommended retention.
The Judicial Performance Commission of the Seventh Judicial District recommends that San Miguel County Court Judge Shuteran BE RETAINED.