2020 retention · County Court · Jefferson County
27 percentile · rank 27 of 37
composite 0100
25 percentile · rank 74 of 100
composite 0100
35 67th percentile among peers · 55th percentile statewide
380
Composite index 35.59 among peers (31.83 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.30 of 4 · 29.73 percentile
1.504.00
3.45 of 4 · 43.24 percentile
1.503.95
80.00% 33.78 percentile
0.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 80.00%
Non-attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 100.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.40median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.20median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Communications | 3.40median 3.60 | 3.60 | |
| Diligence | 3.20median 3.40 | 3.40 | |
| Demeanor | 3.50median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Fairness | 4.00median 3.90 | 3.90 |
Commission: meets standards (10–0)
The First Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously agrees by a vote of 10-0 that Judge K.J. Moore MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Judge Moore presides in Jefferson County Court over misdemeanor, traffic, criminal, civil, juvenile, and small claims cases. Her demeanor is described as professional and compassionate. Judge Moore has stated that she strives to ensure fair and equal treatment for all who appear in her courtroom. She brings a sense of calmness to an otherwise difficult setting by intentionally exuding a calm and respectful attitude towards all parties and participants. Judge Moore was noted as providing rulings which are clear, concise, and well written. She also makes a special effort to ensure that her orders are understandable to the parties in each case. She is known as a judge who makes herself available to assist in other courtrooms while still managing her docket. In 2020 her colleagues selected her to be the 2021 presiding County Court judge. Judge Moore is a collaborator who meets regularly with Public Defenders, the District Attorneys, her staff, and other court personnel to ensure that her courtroom is run effectively and efficiently. Attorneys and non-attorneys described her as knowledgeable, impartial, and patient. Judge Moore’s opinions reflect her knowledge of the law and her common-sense, yet kind, communication style.
The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Moore; reviewed opinions she authored; observed her in court; reviewed judicial performance survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who appeared before her; and solicited feedback from the chief judge, the District Attorney and Chief Public Defender. From the survey, one question asked whether Judge Moore met judicial performance standards. Of the attorneys who responded to the survey, 80 percent answered yes; 10 percent answered no, and 10 percent had no opinion. Of the non-attorneys who responded to the survey, 100 percent answered yes. A total of 33 attorneys and two non-attorneys responded to the Judicial Performance surveys regarding Judge Moore.
Judge Moore was appointed to the First Judicial District County Court in 2008. Before her appointment to the court, Judge Moore was a District Court Magistrate for the First Judicial District and a public defender. Her BA is from the University of Colorado and she received her law degree from Vermont Law School. Judge Moore believes in giving back to her community as evidenced by her community service work: Chair of the First Judicial District High School Mock Trial Tournament; Chair of the Court Services Advisory Board; the Colorado Faculty Excellence in Judicial Education; the Statewide Behavioral Transformation Counsel and Task Force Concerning the Treatment of Persons with Mental Illness in the Criminal and Juvenile System; the Executive Board of the Criminal Law Section of the Colorado Bar Association, and the Colorado Crisis Services Advisory Council.
2016 retention · County Court · Jefferson County
34 percentile · rank 24 of 36
composite 0100
36 percentile · rank 69 of 108
composite 0100
121 91st percentile among peers · 93rd percentile statewide
5140
Composite index 33.33 among peers (36.73 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.47 of 4 · 34.72 percentile
3.113.84
3.47 of 4 · 45.83 percentile
3.023.84
68.00% 19.44 percentile
50.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.27
- Say “meets standards”
- 68.00%
Non-attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.73
- Say “meets standards”
- 88.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 2.93median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.45median 3.49 | 3.49 | |
| Communications | 3.63median 3.65 | 3.65 | |
| Diligence | 3.42median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Demeanor | 3.67median 3.62 | 3.62 | |
| Fairness | 3.73median 3.66 | 3.66 |
Commission: meets standards Split vote 5–3
The First Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends by a vote of 5 to 3 that Judge K.J. Moore BE RETAINED with the condition that Judge Moore be placed on a performance improvement plan that holds her accountable for an increasing pattern of absences, poor time and docket management, and deficient staff supervision.
Judge Moore received her BA degree from the University of Colorado and her law degree from the Vermont Law School. She was appointed to the Jefferson County Court in 2008. Before her appointment to the court, Judge Moore was a District Court Magistrate for the First Judicial District and a public defender. Her community service includes: chair and coordinator of the First Judicial District High School Mock Trial Tournament, chair of the Court Services Advisory Board, faculty member for Colorado Faculty Excellence in Judicial Education, a member of the Statewide Behavioral Transformation Counsel and Task Force Concerning the Treatment of Persons with Mental Illness in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Systems, a member of the Executive Board of the Criminal Law Section of the Colorado Bar Association, and the Colorado Crisis Services Advisory Council.
The Commission observed Judge Moore in the courtroom, reviewed decisions, survey results, her self-evaluation and case management reports, considered information from other interested parties, and conducted a personal interview. Seventy attorneys and fifty-one non-attorneys completed judicial performance surveys sent to individuals identified as having experience before Judge Moore in 2015 -2016. In those results, we identified that some attorney respondents were not aware of Judge Moore’s identity and were responding to another judge’s performance even though, in the introduction to the survey the name and photo of each judge was displayed. While those responses were removed from the survey results we cannot say with certainty that other attorneys did not make similar errors. In the 2016 Final Survey Report, 68% of attorney’s recommend Judge Moore be retained, 14% recommend not to retain, and 17% made no recommendation. Of non-attorneys completing the survey, 88% recommend Judge Moore be retained, 4% not retain, and 8% made no recommendation.
Judge Moore received high marks for her knowledge of the law, communications skills and demeanor, and for her sensitivity toward individuals with mental health problems. Despite these strong attributes, frequent absence from the bench and poor docket management continue to override Judge Moore’s effectiveness. Although the Commission understands that there have been extenuating circumstances over the past year that may have contributed to Judge Moore’s need to take time away, we are also aware of an emerging pattern of docket and time management issues beginning in 2014 and becoming a serious concern in 2015-2016. In our interview with Judge Moore, the Commission was pleased to learn that she has begun to take steps to address these issues. However, given the striking amount of recent criticism, we strongly recommend that Judge Moore enter into a supervised performance plan that aims to improve her time and docket management and minimize her absences from the bench.