2024 retention · District Court · 4th Judicial District
20 percentile · rank 42 of 52
composite 0100
13 percentile · rank 93 of 107
composite 0100
43 73rd percentile among peers · 72nd percentile statewide
14112
Composite index 21.15 among peers (16.04 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.00 of 4 · 25.96 percentile
2.303.80
2.95 of 4 · 25.00 percentile
2.273.80
64.00% 12.50 percentile
29.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 64.00%
Non-attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 64.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.20median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 2.80median 3.10 | 3.10 | |
| Communications | 3.10median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Diligence | 3.10median 3.20 | 3.20 | |
| Demeanor | 2.80median 3.20 | 3.20 | |
| Fairness | 2.70median 3.10 | 3.10 |
Commission: meets standards (7–0)
The Fourth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance voted 7-0 with three absent that Judge Laura Norris Findorff MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Judge Findorff’s docket includes 10% civil, 50% domestic relations and 40% criminal. Judge Findorff’s overall combined score on the 2024 Judicial Performance Survey was 3.0 out of 4.0. However, the Commission is concerned that the surveys are not helpful because of the less than 3% average response rate to the survey. A large majority of the 12 attorneys and 31 non-attorneys who responded stated that Judge Findorff meets performance standards. The appellate judges gave Judge Findorff a perfect 4.0 rating. Judge Findorff received scores above 3.0 on case management, communication, and diligence. Her scores on knowledge of the law and demeanor were somewhat lower. Some of the lower scores are likely due to her domestic relations docket where scores are generally lower due to the highly emotional nature of those cases. Comments about Judge Findorff stated that she is very knowledgeable about the law, she is clear and concise, she is patient, pleasant, fair, and respectful of everyone and has a positive but firm demeanor; she runs a smooth docket and explains matters clearly to self-represented parties. Some comments noted that she is too casual in court and allows lawyers to behave in an unprofessional manner. Other comments were that she sets her docket in a manner that requires the lawyers to prepare for trial when it is uncertain if the case will go to trial. In the interview with Judge Findorff, she clarified that she sets her DR docket with notice that one case is set first and another trailing. She believes this is efficient and that counsel are advised at least a week ahead if they will be going to trial. She recognizes that she gets frustrated if time is being wasted in court and that she may allow counsel to argue with her once she has ruled. The Commission has some concerns that Judge Findorff is too accommodating and that this leads to a lack of respect for the Court. However, the Commission finds she is a smart, capable, and hard-working judge who is open to suggestions for improvement. Judge Findorff has no disciplinary history. She has filed her financial disclosures on time.
The Commission interviewed Judge Findorff and several members observed her in Court. The Commission reviewed her self-evaluation and written opinions. The Commission also spoke with the Chief Judge of the Fourth Judicial District and representatives of the District Attorney’s Office and the Public Defender’s Office. The Commission found this data more informative than the limited survey responses.
Judge Findorff was appointed to the Fourth Judicial District Court in March 2021. Prior to her appointment she was a magistrate in the 18 th Judicial District, and she served on the Fourth Judicial District County Court bench from December 2012 until her appointment as a District Court Judge. She obtained her law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1988. She has been on the Court Care Board since 2018 and volunteers as a Teen Court judge.
2020 retention · County Court · El Paso County
60 percentile · rank 15 of 37
composite 0100
63 percentile · rank 37 of 100
composite 0100
22 36th percentile among peers · 19th percentile statewide
380
Composite index 56.76 among peers (57.33 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.60 of 4 · 64.86 percentile
1.504.00
3.53 of 4 · 52.70 percentile
1.503.95
86.00% 52.70 percentile
0.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 86.00%
Non-attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 80.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.60median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.50median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Communications | 3.60median 3.60 | 3.60 | |
| Diligence | 3.50median 3.40 | 3.40 | |
| Demeanor | 3.50median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Fairness | 3.50median 3.90 | 3.90 |
Commission: meets standards (10–0)
The Fourth Judicial District Judicial Performance Commission unanimously (10-0) agrees that Judge Laura Norris Findorff MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Judge Findorff appears to be committed both to the highest standards in judicial practice and to meaningful self-reflection. She had above average scores on the 2020 Judicial Performance Survey in almost every category. The Commission also reviewed Judge Findorff’s survey results for 2019. In both 2019 and 2020 the attorneys and non-attorneys surveyed consistently scored Judge Findorff above average. The Commission finds Judge Findorff to be a highly competent judge who provides clear written opinions and manages her docket well. She serves as a solid mentor and leader in her role as Presiding County Court Judge. She enjoys mentoring new attorneys. Judge Findorff is very self-aware and actively uses the feedback she receives to improve her skills and performance. The Commission encourages Judge Findorff to continue exploring ways to achieve balance between efficient docket management and communication with litigants.
The Commission personally interviewed Judge Findorff, observed her in court, and reviewed judicial performance data, several of her written opinions, written comments from attorneys and non-attorneys, her self-evaluation, and the judicial performance survey results from 2019 and 2020. It should be noted that a new methodology for the survey was used this year to which lower response rates may be attributed. This methodology affected all judges across the board and is not an explanation for individual results. The Commission also spoke with representatives of the District Attorney’s Office and the Public Defender’s Office, both of whom reported high praise and positive feedback.
Judge Findorff was appointed to the County Court on December 18, 2012. Judge Findorff received her law degree from the University of San Diego in 1988, after which she practiced first party and third party personal injury defense, and then practiced plaintiff personal injury law with trial lawyer Gerry Spence in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. After moving to Colorado, Judge Findorff served as a Magistrate for the 18th Judicial District, where she worked in the areas of domestic relations, truancy, and the mental health court. Judge Findorff volunteers regularly with Teen Court, Judicially Speaking, and for both college and high school mock trial competitions. She also serves on several law-related non-profit boards.
2016 retention · County Court · El Paso County
79 percentile · rank 8 of 36
composite 0100
89 percentile · rank 12 of 108
composite 0100
71 45th percentile among peers · 46th percentile statewide
5140
Composite index 76.85 among peers (84.57 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.69 of 4 · 69.44 percentile
3.113.84
3.69 of 4 · 79.17 percentile
3.023.84
96.00% 81.94 percentile
50.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.73
- Say “meets standards”
- 96.00%
Non-attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.66
- Say “meets standards”
- 89.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.72median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.62median 3.49 | 3.49 | |
| Communications | 3.75median 3.65 | 3.65 | |
| Diligence | 3.70median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Demeanor | 3.71median 3.62 | 3.62 | |
| Fairness | 3.64median 3.66 | 3.66 |
Commission: meets standards (10–0)
The Fourth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously (10-0) recommends that Judge Laura Norris Findorff BE RETAINED.
Judge Findorff was appointed to the County Court bench for El Paso County on December 18, 2012. Prior to her appointment, Judge Findorff was a Magistrate for the 18th Judicial District, where she worked in the areas of domestic relations, truancy, and mental health court. Judge Findorff received her law degree from University of San Diego. Judge Findorff is currently handling a full County Court docket and helps the District Courts whenever possible, which has included approving settlements for minors under the probate laws. Judge Findorff has been very active in many community service activities including, Judicially Speaking and Teen Court. The Commission recommends, as a result of her exceptional speaking skills, that she be more active in the community as she would be a wonderful ambassador for the judiciary as a whole. This is the one area that the Commission feels Judge Findorff can build upon.
The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Findorff, reviewed opinions and the self-assessment provided, observed her in Court, and reviewed surveys sent to attorneys and non-attorneys. Among the survey questions was “How strongly do you recommend that Judge Findorff be retained in office, or not be retained in office?” Of attorneys completing the survey, 96% recommended to retain, 0% recommended to not retain and 4% made no recommendation. This is a remarkable score. Of the non-attorneys completing the survey, 89% recommended to retain, 5% recommended not to retain and 7% made no recommendation.
Judge Findorff received higher than average marks in the attorney survey in every category and every area of review, including case management, knowledge of the law, communication, demeanor, diligence and neutrality. In the non-attorney categories, she was again above average in every category. Judge Findorff scored 20% above average in the area of fairness in sentencing. The Commission was highly impressed with Judge Findorff’s extraordinary scores, her demeanor and her reputation in the legal community, and is making the unusual recommendation that Judge Findorff consider applying for a future opening on the District Court bench.