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Peter W. Booth

Trial Court · El Paso · El Paso

Meets Standards(Retain)3 cycles on record

Evaluation history

  • 2000 retention cycle
    Trial Court · El Paso · El Paso
    Meets Standards(Retain)
    VotersRetained· 68.4% yes
    111,905 yes · 51,742 no50% needed to retain
    Retention Year: 2000 Recommendation: Retain The Fourth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends that Judge Peter Warren Booth BE RETAINED, but the Commission's vote was not unanimous. The Honorable Peter Warren Booth graduated from Colorado College in 1965. He was in private practice for seven and one-half years before he was appointed to the County Court bench on July 26, 1979. Judge Booth remained on the County Court bench from July, 1979 until September, 1991, at which time he became a District Court Judge. Judge Booth's current caseload consists of 50% criminal and 50% domestic relations. Judge Booth is also currently the presiding judge of the Domestic Court. He chairs the monthly Domestic Salons, which is a discussion group of lawyers and judges, and trains other judges in the law of domestic violence. From attorneys, Judge Booth received an 88% retention rating, and a 12% non-retention rating. From non-attorneys, Judge Booth received a 64% retention rating, a 27% non-retention rating, and a 9% no opinion rating. This year's surveys from attorneys and non-attorneys alike reflected a concern regarding the court's ongoing lack of diligence and docket control. The Commission notes that this year's survey concerns echoed those of Judge Booth's 1994 evaluation. Judge Booth has taken these comments and concerns with great seriousness and will strive to better his performance in this regard. The judge's strengths involve his judicial temperament, communication skills, courtesy, and impartiality, most of which rank higher than Fourth Judicial District Judges and District Court Judges statewide.
  • 1994 retention cycle
    Trial Court · El Paso · El Paso
    Meets Standards(Retain)
    VotersRetained· 60.0% yes
    63,464 yes · 42,279 no50% needed to retain
    Retention Year: 1994 Recommendation: Retain After graduating from the Colorado College in 1965, Judge Peter Booth served with the United States Army in Vietnam. In 1971 Judge Booth graduated from the University of Michigan College of Law and was admitted in 1972 to the Colorado Bar. Judge Booth maintained a private practice in Colorado Springs until 1979 when he was appointed to the El Paso County Court. From 1982 to 1984, Judge was the Presiding County Court Judge. In 1991 he was elevated and appointed to the District Court in El Paso County. The attorney respondents who answered questionnaires regarding Judge Booth rated retention as follows: 61.5% for retention; 26.2% against retention; and 12.3% no opinion on retention. Among the attorneys, Judge Booth is perceived to be a person who works hard (82.7% felt he is diligent) and treats all parties equally (86.6% agree with this proposition). Additionally, 85% of the lawyers believe Judge Booth maintains control over his courtroom and presents an appropriate judicial demeanor. However, Judge Booth fell in his ratings concerning substantive aspects of his job. 6.6% of the attorneys felt he displayed appropriate knowledge of the law, while 70.4% agreed that he had proper knowledge of procedure and the law of evidence. Consistent with these ratings were his rating regarding the clarity of this rulings. 68.8% of attorneys polled believe Judge Booth issues clear written opinions, while 70.7% felt that his oral decision were understandable. In his interview before the Commission, Judge Booth acknowledged that he was not “quick to rule” because he tool all the matters before him very seriously because he want to give the appropriate amount of consideration and research that they deserve. The Fourth Judicial Di
  • 1990 retention cycle
    Trial Court · El Paso · El Paso
    Meets Standards(Retain)
    Retention Year: 1990 Recommendation: Retain Judicial Performance Commission’s recommendation: Should Be Retained. Judge Booth attended Colorado College and graduated with a degree in economics in 1965. After serving in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, he attended the University of Michigan College of Law where he received is Juris Doctor in 1971 and was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 1972. He was engaged in private practice for seven years before being appointed an El Paso County Court judge in 1979. He was the presiding County Court judge between 1982 and 1984 and presently handles criminal, DUI, civil, landlord-tenant, and domestic violence cases. He also presides over domestic relations, criminal and civil trials for the District Court when needed. The entire set of questionnaires that were returned revealed an overwhelming majority of the respondents favored Booth’s retention. Comments included a few recommendations the judge try to communicate with the court staff in a more understandable way and he sometimes spends too much time explaining legal points that quite often are too difficult for the average person to understand. In the final analysis, Booth appears to be fair, decisive and well-respected.

Surveys & reports

No survey reports on record for this judge.

Sources