Thirteenth Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Joseph J. Weatherby
Retention Year: 1998
Recommendation: Retain
The Thirteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends Judge Joseph J. Weatherby BE RETAINED.
Judge Weatherby has been a District Judge since 1983. During his tenure he has been assigned several difficult civil and criminal matters. He has been in the position to render precedent-making decisions which have been upheld on appeal.
Judge Weatherby's community service includes working with school children to give them practical demonstrations of court cases. He served for a number of years in the military service and the Colorado National Guard. By Governor's appointment, he has served twelve years with the Drug Control System Improvement Board, which has provided additional funding for crime prevention treatment facilities and law enforcement agencies, which has had a favorable impact on the Thirteenth Judicial District.
The Commission makes particular note that a number of evaluations received suggested that Judge Weatherby has lacked a degree of judicial temperament and that his courtroom demeanor is sometimes rude, combative and arrogant. The Commission similarly notes that other evaluations identified Judge Weatherby as a "no nonsense Judge who is fair, firm, thorough, consistent and respected". The nature of some evaluations suggests that Judge Weatherby should improve his courtroom demeanor, and Judge Weatherby responded to the Commission with information that he is aware of these criticisms and submitted evidence demonstrating a willingness to improve in this area.