Fourth Judicial District - El Paso County Court Judge
Honorable Stephen J. Sletta
Retention Year: 1994
Recommendation: Retain
Judge Stephen James Sletta graduated from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1975 and was admitted the same year to the Bar of the State of Colorado. From 1975 to 1990 Judge Sletta practiced law in Colorado Springs with an emphasis on collections, real estate, corporations, business and criminal defense. In 1991 he was appointed as an El Paso County Court Judge and in 1993 was appointed the Presiding County Court Judge for El Paso County.
The majority of attorneys practicing before Judge Sletta believe Judge Sletta is competent and fair. 78.4% of those polled felt Judge Sletta should be retained. Judge Sletta received high marks for his fairness to all parties (86.0% agree with this position), his knowledge of the law (88.2% agree), his efforts to assist in settlement of the cases (95% agree). The comments from the practitioners that appeared before Judge Sletta are somewhat mixed. Several attorneys felt Judge Sletta was too engrossed in the administrative work regarding his caseload and the County Courts and less involved in the individuals and specific cases before him. Although his overall rating for a positive judicial demeanor is 87.2%, many felt Judge Sletta could be more courteous (21% feld he should be more courteous). In his interview before the Commission, Judge Sletta felt his demeanor is “business like” and that it is necessitated as a result of the extremely high caseload in the El Paso County Courts.
Based upon its review of the surveys and its interview with Judge Sletta it is the opinion of the Commission that Judge Sletta should BE RETAINED.