Eleventh Judicial District - Custer County Court Judge
Honorable Harold D. Taylor
Retention Year: 2002
Recommendation: Retain
Reports:
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The Eleventh Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously recommends that Judge Harold D. Taylor BE RETAINED.
Although Judge Taylor is not an attorney, prior to becoming a judge he had a career as a well-published mathematics professor. Judge Taylor was appointed to the Custer County Court bench in 1992. He is a part-time county court judge and currently presides over misdemeanor criminal matters, traffic cases and civil cases where the amount in dispute does not exceed $15,000.
The Commission bases its findings on information supplied to the Commission through questionnaires, public hearings and a personal interview with Judge Taylor. Questionnaires for evaluation of Judge Taylor were sent to attorneys who have appeared in his court, court and probation employees, litigants who have had cases in his court, law enforcement officers and jurors who have served on juries in his court. The responses to the questionnaires rated Judge Taylor highly overall.
Although Judge Taylor is only compensated for and required to spend one day per week in the performance of his judicial duties, he goes above and beyond the requirements. In most categories of evaluation Judge Taylor ranked significantly higher than the average of all county judges in Colorado. He has taken seriously his commitment to improve his legal writings and knowledge of the rules of evidence and case law.
During the public hearing, persons appearing before the Commission universally expressed positive comments. The Commission finds that Judge Taylor has strong community support. Judge Taylor is concerned that persons who appear before him understand the proceedings and spends time with individuals to ensure that they have a clear understanding of their cases.
It is apparent by the extensive amount of time Judge Taylor spends on the job that he is committed to improving his skills and performing his judicial duties. He has both taken and taught courses at the National Judicial College. Judge Taylor is an asset to the community and to the bench. The Commission is confident that Judge Taylor will continue in his efforts to dispense fair and impartial justice with patience and compassion.