Wadleigh, Ralph 2002 Evaluation

Reports:

2002 Retention Survey Report

The Sixteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends that Judge Ralph N. Wadleigh BE RETAINED.

Judge Wadleigh was appointed to the Otero County Court bench on January 5, 1988. Prior to his appointment on the bench, Judge Wadleigh was in private practice in La Junta, Colorado. He had a general practice with an emphasis toward local government law, real estate law, probate matters and water law. Judge Wadleigh received his law degree from the University of Colorado Law School in 1958. Judge Wadleigh presently hears all criminal and civil cases in the Otero County Court.

For recreation and as an avocation, Judge Wadleigh and his family are involved in raising and racing thoroughbred horses.

The Commission reviewed written evaluations of Judge Wadleigh from attorneys and non-attorneys, including written comments attached to the evaluation questionnaires. The Commission also considered a written self-evaluation completed by Judge Wadleigh and conducted a personal interview with the judge.

While on the bench, Judge Wadleigh decides factual disputes impartially and applies the law evenly. He has great respect for the rule of the law and views his role as a judge to determine the facts of each case and to be fair to all litigants.

Judge Wadleigh received high ratings from both attorneys and non-attorneys in most categories of the survey, particularly in the areas of impartiality towards both sides. Of the attorneys responding to the questionnaire, 80% recommend that Judge Wadleigh be retained in office and 20% recommend that he not be retained. Of the non-attorneys responding to the questionnaire, 66% recommended retention, 14% recommended that he not be retained and 20% had no opinion.