2020 retention · County Court · Summit County
90 percentile · rank 4 of 37
composite 0100
91 percentile · rank 9 of 100
composite 0100
27 41st percentile among peers · 33rd percentile statewide
380
Composite index 86.04 among peers (89.33 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.80 of 4 · 90.54 percentile
1.504.00
3.83 of 4 · 87.84 percentile
1.503.95
96.00% 79.73 percentile
0.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 96.00%
Non-attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 100.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.80median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.70median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Communications | 3.80median 3.60 | 3.60 | |
| Diligence | 3.80median 3.40 | 3.40 | |
| Demeanor | 3.90median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Fairness | 4.00median 3.90 | 3.90 |
Commission: meets standards (10–0)
The Fifth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously (10-0) agrees that Summit County Court Judge Edward Jude Casias MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS based on the following judicial performance criteria: Integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and the public.
Judge Casias works in the Summit County Court located in Breckenridge, Colorado. Judge Casias handles traffic, misdemeanor, and restraining order cases, accepts guilty pleas on class 4, 5, and 6 felonies and handles preliminary hearings for felony level cases. He also handles civil matters where the amount in controversy is less than $25,000, including small claims. Judge Casias is perceived as being patient, compassionate, caring, and treats parties with dignity and concern for the circumstances that have brought them to court. Judge Casias consistently addresses each litigant on a personal level and shows empathy and understanding for those appearing before him. Despite taking time to interact with each person appearing before him, Judge Casias nevertheless maintains effective control over his docket. Judge Casias is highly valued by both attorneys and non-attorneys for his integrity and performance on the bench. His survey results in all areas, including his overall rating, were higher than the average of all county court judges in the State of Colorado. One area noted in the survey comments suggests that Judge Casias should continue to focus on issuing clear and consistent rulings in civil matters, relying upon applicable legal precedent. Judge Casias exceeds all judicial performance requirements and the comments received were overwhelmingly positive.
In its evaluation of Judge Casias, the Commission utilized survey results and comments from attorneys and non-attorneys, performance data, a self-evaluation, sample court orders, courtroom observations, input from the Chief Judge, District Attorney and Public Defender, and a personal interview with the Judge. The Commission finds that Judge Casias meets performance standards in all areas. Ninety-six percent of 26 attorneys responding to the survey and 100% of the one non-attorney responding to the survey concluded that Judge Casias meets performance standards, and many did so enthusiastically.
Judge Casias is a Denver native and attended Manual High School. He received his undergraduate degree from Colorado College and his law degree from The Ohio State University. Prior to taking the bench, he was the Assistant District Attorney for the Fifth Judicial District. Judge Casias has served on community boards including: Summit County Head Start, Summit County Youth Baseball, 10th Mountain Lacrosse, Summit County Community Care Clinic, and The Summit Foundation. Judge Casias enjoys all the outdoor opportunities that Summit County offers, and he cherishes time with his wife and sons.
2016 retention · County Court · Summit County
93 percentile · rank 3 of 36
composite 0100
93 percentile · rank 8 of 108
composite 0100
73 50th percentile among peers · 48th percentile statewide
5140
Composite index 86.11 among peers (89.35 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.76 of 4 · 93.06 percentile
3.113.84
3.76 of 4 · 90.28 percentile
3.023.84
94.00% 75.00 percentile
50.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.68
- Say “meets standards”
- 94.00%
Non-attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.83
- Say “meets standards”
- 95.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.70median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.69median 3.49 | 3.49 | |
| Communications | 3.79median 3.65 | 3.65 | |
| Diligence | 3.67median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Demeanor | 3.85median 3.62 | 3.62 | |
| Fairness | 3.84median 3.66 | 3.66 |
Commission: meets standards (9–0)
The Fifth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends 9-0, with one member absent that Judge Edward Jude Casias BE RETAINED.
Judge Casias was appointed to the Summit County Court in September, 2000. A fifth generation Colorado native, Judge Casias received his undergraduate degree from Colorado College before receiving his law degree from Ohio State College of Law. His legal career quickly turned to prosecution and public service as Judge Casias began working as a Deputy District Attorney in the Fourth and Ninth Judicial Districts, and finally as the Assistant District Attorney in the Fifth Judicial District in Summit County before being appointed to the bench. Judge Casias is exceptionally active in the community, volunteering his time with the Summit Foundation, the Summit Community Care Clinic, Mountain Mentors, Optimists Club, and additionally Judge Casias has volunteered as a coach and instructor for a number of athletic and academic activities benefiting children. The Commission applauds Judge Casias’ commitment to his community and specifically his focus on helping local youth.
The Commission interviewed Judge Casias, reviewed written evaluations of Judge Casias from attorneys and non-attorneys, reviewed his written self-evaluation, sampled Judge Casias’ legal rulings, observed Judge Casias in the courtroom, and received input from the District Attorney, the Public Defender, law enforcement, the Chief Judge along with other general members of the public. Of attorneys completing the survey 94% recommended to retain and 6% not to retain. Of non-attorneys completing the survey 95% recommended to retain and 5% not to retain. Of all jurors surveyed, 100% recommended that Judge Casias be retained. (These percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.)
Judge Casias is highly valued by both attorneys and non-attorneys for his performance on the bench, and they have rated him higher in every category on the survey, than the average ratings for other county judges standing for retention across the state. He is perceived as being patient, compassionate, caring, and treats parties with dignity and concern for the circumstances that have brought them to appear before him. In addition to handling traffic, misdemeanor and civil cases, Judge Casias also accepts pleas and imposes sentences in some felony cases. Overall, he received high survey marks and favorable comments, reflective of how valued he is by the members of the community appearing before him. Judge Casias has demonstrated his willingness to address the ever changing nature of his docket by instituting new pre-trial conference policies and by adding additional jury trial dates as needed. To that end, he is willing to adjust Court procedures to maintain the efficiency of his Court.