In Colorado, judges serving on the Supreme Court docket, Court docket of Appeals, and District Courts face periodic retention elections. These elections heart on whether or not a decide ought to stay in workplace primarily based on their efficiency, quite than a conventional contest between candidates. Voters are introduced with a easy sure or no selection for every decide on the poll. Sometimes, details about every decide’s {qualifications}, selections, and general judicial conduct is offered to voters by impartial commissions to assist inform their determination.
This technique promotes judicial accountability whereas safeguarding the judiciary from undue political affect. By specializing in efficiency quite than partisan politics, it goals to make sure that judges are evaluated primarily based on their adherence to the legislation, equity, and impartiality. This course of fosters public belief within the integrity and independence of the judicial system. Traditionally, Colorado adopted this method as a method of balancing judicial independence with public oversight.
