Tuttle, Dinsmore 2012 Evaluation

Reports:

2012 Retention Survey Report (PDF)

2011 Interim Survey Report (PDF)

2009 Interim Survey Report (PDF)

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The Nineteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously recommends that Judge Dinsmore Tuttle BE RETAINED by a vote of 10-0.

Judge Tuttle was appointed to the Nineteenth Judicial District Court bench in January 2009, presiding over a criminal docket. Prior to her appointment, Judge Tuttle was a District Court Magistrate for twelve years. She presided over the delinquency docket for three years and Family Court, hearing dependency and neglect and domestic relations cases. Currently her docket includes civil, mental health, water, and appeals from county court, small claims, and municipal court. She is a 1982 graduate of the University of Denver Law School. She served as a Public Defender in Adams, Weld, and Larimer Counties before going into private practice in 1990. She has been active in the community serving on the Board of Directors for the Weld County Bar Association and Weld County Legal Services. She also serves on the Board of Governors and is a member of the Executive Council for the Colorado Bar Association. She has recently been appointed to the Criminal Jury Instructions Committee that is working to rewrite the jury instructions for criminal cases. Judge Tuttle was the recipient of the 2007 Colorado Judicial Institute Magistrate of the Year Award.

The Commission considered the survey data and comments, the interview of Judge Tuttle, courtroom observations, case management data, and the judge’s self-evaluation. The survey data and comments raise several concerns regarding Judge Tuttle. Some attorneys were concerned with her application and knowledge of the law and with her demeanor, and diligence. Non-attorneys were more favorably inclined toward her but the ratings in each category still fell below the average for all district judges standing for retention. The Commission was troubled by these data but found several counteracting factors leading to our vote for retention. Specifically, Judge Tuttle’s willingness to acknowledge and respond to the concerns was favorably received. Also, concerns regarding her application and knowledge of the law were lessened by a survey of appellate judges, which gave Judge Tuttle an overall performance rating higher than the rating they gave other district judges standing for retention. The Commission believes that some of the survey concerns are explained by the varied docket she has handled during her years on the bench. There were also attorneys who thought that Judge Tuttle was a knowledgeable jurist who demonstrated patience and respect for all parties appearing before her.

Of all the attorneys surveyed about retention, 59% recommended to retain, 35% not to retain, and 5% were undecided or didn’t have enough information to make a recommendation. Of those expressing an opinion to retain or not retain, 63% recommended to retain and 38% not to retain. Of all non-attorneys surveyed, 78% recommend to retain, 13% not to retain, and 8% were undecided or didn’t have enough information to make a recommendation. Of those expressing an opinion to retain or not retain, 85% recommended to retain and 15% not to retain. (These percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.)