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Richard L. Brown

Trial Court · Delta · Delta

Meets Standards(Retain)2 cycles on record

Evaluation history

  • 1998 retention cycle
    Trial Court · Delta · Delta
    Meets Standards(Retain)
    VotersRetained· 76.0% yes
    17,770 yes · 5,628 no50% needed to retain
    Retention Year: 1998 Recommendation: Retain The Seventh Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends that Judge Richard J. Brown BE RETAINED. Judge Richard J. Brown has been a Judge in Montrose County, Colorado for more than 22 years. He was appointed County Court Judge in 1975. He was appointed District Court Judge in 1994. Prior to being appointed judge, Judge Brown engaged in the private practice of law in Montrose, Colorado. Judge Brown's current caseload is split among Montrose, Delta, Ouray, and San Miguel counties. The types of cases handled by Judge Brown and the percentages of his work the types comprise are: 50% criminal cases, 30% civil cases, 15% juvenile cases, and 5% domestic relation cases. Judge Richard Brown received generally favorable and enthusiastic ratings from all persons who responded to the evaluation survey. Insufficient data was received from litigants and social services personnel for inclusion in the ratings. Jurors and attorneys responded that Judge Richard Brown is a very good judge who works hard and who is considerate of people who appear in his court. Judge Brown's ratings in knowledge of the law and application of the law are very high, indicating a high degree of competence in both law and procedure. Law enforcement personnel rated Judge Brown's performance excellent. Judge Brown in considered by most to be well prepared for all court matters, balanced in considering all sides, decisive, and generally correct in his decisions. Judge Brown's objective for the future is to help make the court system work better for the community. Overall, the responses from all areas of the community, including law enforcement and attorneys, are nearly unanimous that Judge Richard J. Brown should be retained as District Court Judge. Therefore, the Judicial Performance Commission of the Seventh Judicial District unanimously recommends that Judge Richard J. Brown be retained.
  • 1990 retention cycle
    Trial Court · Montrose · Montrose
    Meets Standards(Retain)
    Retention Year: 1990 Recommendation: Retain Judicial Performance Commission’s recommendation: Should Be Retained. Judge Brown, 45, has been the Montrose County Judge for the past 14 years. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska Law School and was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 1973. Before becoming county judge, Judge Brown practiced law in Montrose from 1973 through 1976. As an 80% full-time county judge, Brown presides primarily over traffic cases, domestic abuse, including restraining orders, preliminary hearings in felony criminal cases and civil cases in which claims do not involve more than $5,000. Brown is proud of the county court’s progress in efficiently managing an ever increasing caseload. He believes jail time helps in deterrence and would like to see such sentences standardized. He believes his strengths are his ability to be a patient listener and his commitment to fairness. The comments made by those surveyed regarding Brown’s performance were overwhelmingly positive. The respondents like Brown’s demeanor on the bench, his knowledge of the law and his ability to fashion fair results. Brown also has the support of his clerks and staff. Brown acts as a district judge by appointment and as a settlement judge in district court cases.

Surveys & reports

No survey reports on record for this judge.

Sources