2024 retention · County Court · San Juan County
The state did not publish a 2024 survey report: too few responses. This evaluation is not ranked.
Commission: meets standards (10–0)
The Sixth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance by a vote of 10-0 finds that Judge Anthony D. Edwards MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
The Commission noted Judge Edwards’ relatively small docket in his part time rural judgeship which limited survey participation. Judge Edwards believes that his ability to adequately prepare for hearings in advance allows his court to be effective and efficient. Interviewees noted that Judge Edwards allows the parties involved “a fair shot” and the feeling of being heard. It was noted that the docket could run a little long. Judge Edwards was praised for his use of Webex as many of his hearing participants are from out of town. Judge Edwards is seen as fair. He is working toward accessing more services for litigants such as victim and pretrial support that is readily available in other parts of the Sixth Judicial District.
The Commission observed Judge Edwards in court via Webex; reviewed decisions he authored and his self-evaluation; met (separately) with Chief Judge Wilson, the Public Defender, and the District Attorney; and conducted a personal interview with Judge Edwards. Judge Edwards did not receive a sufficient number of responses from the survey to issue a report. Approximately 80% of his cases are misdemeanor and traffic offenses with a few criminal cases as assigned. The Commission believes that Judge Edwards has proven to be a good judicial fit for San Juan County and Colorado.
Judge Edwards was appointed to preside over the San Juan County Court for the Sixth Judicial District (San Juan County) beginning on July 1, 2014. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Capella University in 2002 and holds a Master of Water Resources Degree and a Juris Doctorate from the University of New Mexico. He served in the U.S. Army from 1990-1994. He served as the San Juan County Communication Liaison during the Gold King Spill and advises on coordination between Tribes and States on Bonita Peak Superfund Site Activities. He has been in private practice since May 2010, and presently maintains his part-time civil law practice in Silverton. He also serves as the Town of Pagosa Springs and the Town of Silverton Municipal Judge.
2016 retention · County Court · San Juan County
12 percentile · rank 32 of 36
composite 0100
18 percentile · rank 88 of 108
composite 0100
5 1st percentile among peers · 0th percentile statewide
5140
Composite index 17.59 among peers (24.85 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.41 of 4 · 22.22 percentile
3.113.84
3.30 of 4 · 15.28 percentile
3.023.84
67.00% 15.28 percentile
50.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.56
- Say “meets standards”
- 67.00%
Non-attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.17
- Say “meets standards”
- 100.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.44median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.76median 3.49 | 3.49 | |
| Communications | 3.17median 3.65 | 3.65 | |
| Diligence | 3.30median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Demeanor | 3.62median 3.62 | 3.62 | |
| Fairness | 2.50median 3.66 | 3.66 |
Commission: meets standards (10–0)
The Sixth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously (10-0) recommends that Judge Anthony Douglas Edwards BE RETAINED.
Judge Edwards was appointed to the County Court for the Sixth Judicial District (San Juan County) in July, 2014. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Capella University in 2002, a Master of Water Resources Degree from the University of New Mexico in 2007, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of New Mexico in 2009. He served in the U.S. Army from 1990-1994. He has worked as an Environmental Scientist and Economic Development Coordinator and served as the Owner’s Representative for the San Juan County School District’s rehabilitation and renovation of the Silverton School. He has been in private practice since May 2010, and presently maintains his part-time civil law practice in Silverton. He also serves as the Town of Silverton Municipal Judge.
The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Edwards, reviewed decisions he authored, his self-evaluation, and discussed his performance with representatives of the Public Defender’s and District Attorney’s Offices. Some members of the Commission had the opportunity to observe him in court. The Commission also reviewed a small number of comments from the public and the survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who appeared in his court. Due to his relatively short tenure at this part-time rural judgeship, there were only three completed surveys from attorneys and two from non-attorneys. In response to the survey question “how strongly do you recommend that Judge Edwards be retained in office, or not be retained in office”, two attorneys recommended that Judge Edwards be retained and one made no recommendation. Of the two non-attorneys’ completing the survey, both recommended Judge Edwards be retained. Judge Edwards received an overall combined average rating in the survey results from attorney’s that was above the average combined rating of all County Judges standing for retention this election. Judge Edwards received an overall combined average rating in the survey results from non-attorney’s that was below the average combined rating of all County Judges standing for retention this election.
Judge Edwards presided over misdemeanor criminal, traffic and some civil cases in his courtroom located in Silverton. Judge Edwards was described as fair and thoughtful and having generated respect from the bench even while gaining experience as a recently appointed Judge. Judge Edwards demonstrates a commitment to improving his and other rural county court communications and knowledge by use of electronic means and his considerable computer skills. Along with other newly appointed County Court Judges, he is participating in the development of a new County Court Bench Book. The commission agrees with others’ observations that Judge Edwards is personable, eager to learn, and does not hesitate to seek advice from other judges. The commission is impressed by Judge Edwards’ use of all resources available to him and that he has proven to be a very good County Court Judge serving well the needs of San Juan County and Colorado.