Eighteenth Judicial District - Arapahoe County Court Judge
Honorable Robert Charles Tobias
Retention Year: 1998
Recommendation: Retain
The Eighteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends, by a majority opinion, that Judge Robert Charles Tobias BE RETAINED.
Judge Tobias has served as a County Court Judge from April 1995 to the present. Previously, he was in private practice specializing in criminal law and domestic relations matters. His assignments as a County Court Judge have included the felony division for arraignments and preliminary hearings and a general jurisdiction county court assignment.
Judge Tobias received recommendations for retention from 80% of the attorneys surveyed, 85% of the court personnel, and 90% of law enforcement personnel.
The commission received several written comments that Judge Tobias was deficient in his judicial performance in areas of sensitivity to ethnic and gender issues. He was also criticized for an improper decorum in the courtroom. In response to the concerns expressed by the commission, Judge Tobias submitted himself to a second interview. Prior to and at that interview the Commission received overwhelming letters and testimony in support of Judge Tobias from attorneys and other professionals of diverse ethnic and gender backgrounds. Judge Tobias has committed to the Commission a concentrated effort to improve in these areas. He has arranged an individual program for identification of areas of necessary improvement and is committed to receiving regular review and comment by his peers. Based on these letters and the Judge's personal commitments, the Commission has voted to approve to recommend his retention.