Eighteenth Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Michael James Spear
Retention Year: 2006
Recommendation: Retain
Reports:
2006 Retention Survey Report (PDF)
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The Eighteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously recommends that Judge Michael James Spear BE RETAINED.
Judge Spear is a Colorado native and graduated from the University of Colorado in 1982 with degrees in International Studies and German. Judge Spear clerked for a district court judge for a year following his graduation from law school and then served as a deputy district attorney in this district from 1991 to 2001. Judge Spear was appointed to the District Court in 2002 and took office in February 2003.
Judge Spear presided over criminal cases for his first year as a judge and has presided over a diversified docket of both civil and criminal cases since then.
The Commission conducts extensive research in making this recommendation, including use of surveys conducted on the judge, a self-evaluation written by the judge, interviews with people involved in the courtroom, and personal observations in the courtroom.
Survey respondents and others providing information to the Commission complimented Judge Spear on his intelligence, his knowledge of the law, his fairness, his excellent judicial temperament, and the efficiency with which he runs his courtroom. There was some minor concern expressed that Judge Spear still has a biased perspective toward the prosecution from his days in the District Attorney’s office. The Commission believes that Judge Spear is doing a good job and will only continue to improve with time and experience.
The Commission is satisfied that Judge Spear will continue to make adequate progress in making the transition from Deputy district Attorney to Judge.
Of the attorneys surveyed, 89% recommended that Judge Spear be retained in office. Of the non-attorneys surveyed, 98% recommended that he be retained.
The Commission finds that Judge Spear is an outstanding judge and should be retained.