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Committee approves measure to establish judicial performance commission for new district
Summary
The committee approved House Bill 12‑98 to create a judicial performance committee for the newly formed 20th/23rd judicial district, ensuring evaluations of judges and continuity with the 18th Judicial Performance Committee.
The House Judiciary Committee voted to move House Bill 12‑98 to the Committee of the Whole after sponsors described the measure as a routine, non‑fiscal step to organize judicial performance review for the newly established 20 Third Judicial District.
Representative Richardson, the bill sponsor, said the measure "creates the judicial performance committee for the 20 Third" and fills transition pieces so that "there not be any interruptions in service as we moved across the transition date." Kent Wagner, executive director of the Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation, testified in support and said the commission would "conduct evaluations of the judges in the 20 Third Judicial District" to inform voters.
Nut graf: lawmakers described HB 12‑98 as a technical, low‑cost bill to ensure continuity of judicial evaluations after district reorganization. Vice Chair Carter, who also serves on performance committees, said the measure would avoid gaps by letting the 18th Judicial Performance Committee continue covering judges in the interim and by establishing a permanent commission moving forward.
Witnesses were brief and supportive. Terry Scanlon, legislative liaison for Colorado courts, said the bill is "an important piece of legislation." Committee members asked whether the measure had any fiscal impact; members were told committee members serve without pay and there would be no additional cost.
Representative Richardson had no amendments and urged members to vote yes. Vice Chair Carter described the bill as ensuring accountability and feedback for judges. The committee approved the motion to move HB 12‑98 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation; the roll call recorded the committee as advancing the bill on an 8‑0 vote with three members excused.
Ending: HB 12‑98 was presented as the final transitional step in standing up the new judicial district's review process; the committee advanced it without recorded opposition.
