10th Judicial District
Pueblo County Judge
Honorable Adele K. Anderson
The Tenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance issues a recommendation of DO NOT RETAIN for Judge Adele K. Anderson. Eight commission members participated in the deliberation. One commission member recused himself.
Judge Adele K. Anderson was admitted to the practice of law in 1981. She was in private practice until appointment to the County Court bench in Pueblo in 1989. Judge Anderson's caseload includes preliminary felony hearings, misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic cases, restraining order requests and civil cases where the amount in dispute is less than $10,000.
A survey conducted to evaluate the performance of Judge Anderson sought responses from members of law enforcement, attorneys, litigants, jurors, criminal defendants, courthouse personnel and crime victims. Responses were received from all of the above, interviews were conducted among professionals who work with the judge on a regular basis and a public meeting was held.
Of non-attorneys surveyed, 66% recommended that Judge Anderson be retained, 19% recommended that she not be retained, 15% had no opinion. Of the attorneys surveyed, 32% recommended that Judge Anderson be retained, 51% recommended that she not be retained and 16% had no opinion.
In survey, interview, and public hearing responses, numerous statements asserted that Judge Anderson's temperament on the bench is discourteous and condescending to those appearing in her courtroom as well as to staff members. Further concerns were voiced in regards to the judge's demeaning and harsh treatment of individuals appearing in her court without legal counsel.
Others reported that Judge Anderson knows the law and applies it consistently.
During her interview with the Commissioners, Judge Anderson strongly defended both her demeanor and judicial decisions in the courtroom. The Tenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends that Judge Anderson not be retained.
Judge Anderson's Response to Narrative Profile
Approximately 3,500 cases per year are assigned to Judge Anderson's courtroom. Those cases must be handled with efficiency as well as fairness. In 1999, over 650 DUI cases were part of that caseload. Judge Anderson believes in stiff sentences for repeat offenders.
Two-thirds of the non-lawyers who responded to the survey believe that Judge Anderson should be retained, while less than one-fifth of the public favored non-retention. Judge Anderson believes that she may not be popular with some attorneys that appear before her. However, the Judge believes that the court is maintained for the public, including the vast majority that never appear in her courtroom.