Twenty-Second Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Douglas S. Walker
Retention Year: 2010
Recommendation: Retain
Reports:
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The Twenty-Second Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends by a vote of 6-0 that Judge Douglas S. Walker BE RETAINED. Four Commissioners were absent, and there were no recusals.
Judge Walker held the position of District Court Magistrate for the Sixth and Twenty-Second Judicial Districts, State of Colorado from January 2, 1997 to July 31, 2007 and was appointed as District Court Judge in August 2007. He graduated with a B.A. in History and Humanities, 1976, Magna Cum Laude from Ft. Lewis College in Durango. He then went on to the University of Santa Clara, School of Law (1977) and graduated from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1979. He went on to practice as a private attorney in a variety of arenas, nearly all in the Four Corners area: clearly dedicated to both the law and his roots here.
The Commission reviewed written evaluations of Judge Walker from attorneys, non-attorneys and appellate court judges. The Commission also reviewed Judge Walker’s written self-evaluation and conducted a thorough personal interview. All voting members observed Judge Walker in the courtroom during several different types of proceedings, including a jury trial. The Commission is highly impressed by Judge Walker’s demeanor, fairness and special attention to insuring that all parties involved understand what has transpired, how the legal process works, the rights and protections to which each person before him is entitled, and his efforts to insure that those persons have an opportunity to be heard, regardless of whether or not they are represented by counsel. He appears to be unbiased, open-minded, intelligent, aware of the law, willing to research any questions that may impact the outcome of a case if a question arises, and exercises sound reasoning in both his oral and written decisions. With more experience and opportunities for learning, such as conferences and trainings, the Commission feels that his performance will continue to improve.
The Commission is further impressed by Judge Walker’s dedication to and involvement in the communities of the Twenty-Second Judicial District. He participates in the Teen Maze event held here yearly; sits on the Four Corners Bar Association Scholarship Committee for deserving youth to further their legal aspirations; was active in working to set up the local domestic violence safe house; and was part of the group which established the Montelores Human Rights Commission. He has been personally and judicially active in diversion, drug court, mediation, and youth corrections, demonstrating an abundance of commitment to this district as a judge and resident.
Of the 19 attorneys surveyed about retention, 79% recommended to retain, 16% not to retain, and 5% expressed no opinion. Excluding those who had no opinion, 83% recommended to retain and 17% not to retain. Of all non-attorneys surveyed, 75% recommended to retain, 13% not to retain and 12% expressed no opinion. Excluding those who had no opinion, 85% recommended to retain and 15% not to retain. This Commission considers the sampling of attorneys to be meaningful and sufficient as were the samplings from non-attorneys.