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Arthur R. Smith

Trial Court · Mesa · Mesa

Meets Standards(Retain)3 cycles on record

Evaluation history

  • 1998 retention cycle
    Trial Court · Mesa · Mesa
    Meets Standards(Retain)
    Retention Year: 1998 Recommendation: Retain The Twenty-first Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends that Judge Arthur R. Smith BE RETAINED. Judge Smith has served as a Mesa County Court judge for over sixteen years. As one of two County Court judges, he handles over 7,000 cases a year. Despite this enormous caseload, Judge Smith received very high reviews on surveys from attorneys, courthouse personnel, law enforcement officials, jurors and litigants. All of the surveyed groups rated Judge Smith highly: Attorneys 91.5% retain, Court/Probation Employees 100% retain, Litigants 100% retain, and Law Enforcement 87% retain. The responses show Judge Smith to be courteous and competent. In his interview with the Committee, Judge Smith was honest and open to questions and suggestions. Judge Smith enjoys his work on the bench and he believes he is fortunate to have held this position for so many years. The 21st Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends that Judge Smith be retained.
  • 1994 retention cycle
    Trial Court · Mesa · Mesa
    Meets Standards(Retain)
    Retention Year: 1994 Recommendation: Retain Judge Smith is a graduate of the University of Colorado and was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 1968. He served as an attorney in both the Pueblo and Colorado Rural Legal Services system before becoming an Assistant Mesa County District Attorney from 1974 through 1983. Judge Smith has been a Mesa County Court Judge since January of 1983. As a County Judge he presides over traffic, misdemeanor criminal offenses and some civil cases. He conducts advisements and preliminary hearings in felony criminal cases and presides over small claims court. He voluntarily conducts juvenile delinquency advisements to expedite an otherwise overcrowded District Court docket. Judge Smith rates very high in the questionnaires in the areas of judicial temperament, fairness, decisiveness and integrity. He is perceived as being unbiased, courteous, attentive and conscientious and he makes decisions without delay. His ratings in legal ability are very good and questionnaire respondents were very supportive of Judge Smith. Even though Judge Smith handles over 6,000 cases a year, he continues to enjoy his work as County Court Judge and he likes the challenge of dealing with many pro se litigants and crowded dockets. Judge Smith is a fair-minded, hard-working and well-organized jurist who handles an inordinately heavy caseload efficiently and with minimal assistance from auxiliary support services. The unanimous recommendation of the Commission is that Judge Smith BE RETAINED.
  • 1990 retention cycle
    Trial Court · Mesa · Mesa
    Meets Standards(Retain)
    Retention Year: 1990 Recommendation: Retain Judicial Performance Commission’s recommendation: Should Be Retained. Judge Smith is a graduate of the University of Colorado and was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 1968. He served as an attorney in both the Pueblo and Colorado Rural Legal Services system before becoming an assistant Mesa County district attorney from 1974-1983. County judge since January 1983. As a county court judge, he presides primarily over traffic, misdemeanor criminal offenses, and some civil cases. He conducts preliminary hearings in felony criminal cases and also presides over small claims court. The questionnaires of litigants, law enforcement, probation, social services, court employees, jurors and attorneys that have appeared in Smith’s courtroom were all highly favorable. There is a general agreement among the members of the review committee that Smith is a fair minded, hard-working and well organized jurist who handles an inordinately heavy caseload efficiently and uncomplainingly with minimal assistance from auxiliary support services.

Surveys & reports

No survey reports on record for this judge.

Sources