2026 retention · County Court · Mesa County
18 percentile · rank 30 of 36
composite 0100
16 percentile · rank 91 of 108
composite 0100
19 41st percentile among peers · 28th percentile statewide
1060
Composite index 23.61 among peers (23.77 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
2.70 of 4 · 12.50 percentile
1.903.80
2.72 of 4 · 9.72 percentile
1.873.75
83.00% 48.61 percentile
0.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 83.00%
Non-attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 64.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 2.90median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 2.40median 3.20 | 3.20 | |
| Communications | 2.70median 3.40 | 3.40 | |
| Diligence | 2.80median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Demeanor | 2.90median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Fairness | 2.60median 3.10 | 3.10 |
| Year | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade | 3.20 | 3.40 | 3.70 | 3.70 | 3.10 | 3.20 |
| Responses | 32 | 34 | 37 | 32 | 26 | 21 |
Commission: meets standards (8–0)
The Twenty-First Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance the finds that Judge Bruce R. Raaum MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS and by a vote of 8-0. The Commission on Judicial Performance (Commission) was established with ten members, but presently has one vacancy and one absent Commissioner, leaving eight voting Commissioners. To reach its recommendation for retention of Judge Raaum, the Commission considered its interviews of Judge Raaum and of others who are familiar with him, courtroom observations, Judge Raaum’s self-evaluation, court case management data and survey results.
The judicial performance standards are integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and the public. The Commission finds that Judge Raaum demonstrates legal knowledge and applies the law appropriately in the cases before him. Judge Raaum is well prepared and issues prompt rulings grounded in law and fact. The Commission observed that Judge Raaum effectively manages a large volume of County Court cases while maintaining appropriate control and decorum over courtroom proceedings.
The Commission observed that Judge Raaum exhibits judicial temperament that is fair, respectful and professional. He treats parties, attorneys, and court staff with dignity, values their time and is committed to excellence in his role as a judge. The Commission determined that Judge Raaum demonstrates the competencies required of a judicial officer.
Judge Raaum received an undergraduate degree in History and Political Science in 1989 from North Dakota State University and a law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1992. From 1992 to 2007, he worked in the private practice of law in Mesa County in the areas of civil law, criminal and juvenile law and as a court appointed guardian ad-litem for children. He was appointed by Governor Bill Owens as a Mesa County Judge on September 12, 2006. He has presented perspectives in the area of pre-trial supervision and factors to determine bond and bond conditions at the Colorado Judicial Conference. He served on state-wide committees overseeing probation procedures, rules regarding Senior Judges and a weighted case-load study to determine the need for more County Court judicial officers. He spoke at a local conference on the subject of intimate partner violence. He was selected by his peers to serve as President-Elect of the County Court Judges Association and will be President in September 2026.
2022 retention · County Court · Mesa County
80 percentile · rank 12 of 59
composite 0100
87 percentile · rank 17 of 134
composite 0100
40 49th percentile among peers · 38th percentile statewide
4108
Composite index 75.14 among peers (82.96 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.70 of 4 · 80.51 percentile
2.503.90
3.68 of 4 · 78.81 percentile
2.453.93
95.00% 66.10 percentile
50.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 95.00%
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 3.60 | 3.60 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.60median 3.40 | 3.40 | |
| Communications | 3.60median 3.70 | 3.70 | |
| Diligence | 3.60median 3.60 | 3.60 | |
| Demeanor | 3.80median 3.60 | 3.60 | |
| Fairness | 3.70median 3.50 | 3.50 |
Commission: meets standards (9–0)
The Twenty First Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously agrees that Judge Bruce R. Raaum MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, by a vote of 9 – 0.
The Commission evaluated Judge Raaum in the context of the following judicial performance criteria identified by State law: integrity; legal ability; communication skills; judicial temperament; administrative performance; and community service. The Commission reviewed Judge Raaum’s self-evaluation and noted he divided his workload into 3 categories: 50% misdemeanor; 40% traffic; and 10% civil. In the self-evaluation, Judge Raaum stressed his desire to treat all litigants, including both pro se litigants and represented litigants, with the utmost fairness. He recognized the need to be sensitive to the schedules of attorneys, while also ensuring that unrepresented litigants fully understand not only the court process, but also the reasoning behind his rulings. Commission members were able to observe Judge Raaum in Court. The members appreciated his calm demeanor and the manner in which he handles a large caseload.
The Commission reviewed survey responses of attorneys and non-attorneys in the following areas: case management; application and knowledge of law; communications; demeanor; diligence; and fairness. Across the board, he rated higher in survey responses than other county court judges. Further, his overall grade was significantly higher than all other county court judges. Significantly, his highest grades were in the areas of case management, demeanor, and fairness. Favorable comments included: “he is fair, efficient and exactly what you want in a judge;” “Judge Raaum is always fair and efficient in the courtroom;” “he’s efficient and predictable;” and, “he is firm, fair and consistent and shows compassion to offenders when appropriate.” The survey comments were largely devoid of negative comments. During his interview with the Commission, Judge Raaum stressed not only his commitment to handling his caseload with the utmost efficiency, but also his commitment to running a courtroom that is known for its fairness. The Commission believes that Judge Raaum is innovative in terms of running an efficient courtroom. The Commission heard positive comments about Judge Raaum from both the elected District Attorney and the head of the local Public Defender’s Office.
Judge Raaum has been a County Court Judge since January 9, 2007. Over the course of the past 15 years, Judge Raaum has gained a reputation for integrity, efficiency and fairness. Judge Raaum reported serving on state-wide committees to address issues with probation and the Senior Judge program. He also participated in a weighted caseload study to determine the need for more judicial officers. He regularly speaks to groups that tour the Justice Center, and has spoken to foreign exchange students, girl scouts, boy scouts, and a variety of classes at Colorado Mesa University. He has presided over mock trials for the local Peace Officers and Standards Training Academy (POST), and volunteers with his church.
2018 retention · County Court · Mesa County
50 percentile · rank 36 of 71
composite 0100
47 percentile · rank 68 of 128
composite 0100
126 96th percentile among peers · 95th percentile statewide
4130
Composite index 49.77 among peers (46.48 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.63 of 4 · 66.20 percentile
2.593.90
3.49 of 4 · 52.11 percentile
2.593.90
73.00% 30.99 percentile
0.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.11
- Say “meets standards”
- 73.00%
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 | 3.35median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.40median 3.38 | 3.38 | |
| Communications | 3.50median 3.58 | 3.58 | |
| Diligence | 3.36median 3.42 | 3.42 | |
| Demeanor | 3.50median 3.49 | 3.49 | |
| Fairness | 3.83median 3.60 | 3.60 |
Commission: meets standards (9–0)
The 21st Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously (9-0) agrees that Judge Bruce R. Raaum MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Judge Raaum received his undergraduate degree from North Dakota State University in 1989 and his Law Degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1992. Judge Raaum was in private practice in Grand Junction from 1992 to 2006. He previously served on the Judicial Performance Commission as a private attorney. He served as a Bond Magistrate for the 21st Judicial District from 2004 to 2006, working primarily on weekends to speed up the system. He was appointed to the County Court bench in January 2007.
The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Raaum, reviewed written opinions he authored, observed him in court, and reviewed survey ratings and responses from 126 respondents, including attorneys and non-attorneys. The Judicial Survey rates judges on Case Management, Application and Knowledge of the Law, Communications, Diligence, Demeanor and Fairness. Of the attorneys responding to the survey, 73% answered “Yes, He meets performance standards”. Attorney respondents rated Judge Raaum higher than the State Average for County Judges for “Maintaining appropriate control over proceedings”. Ninety-five percent of the non-attorney respondents answered “Yes, He meets Standards”. Non-attorneys rated Judge Raaum higher than the State Average for County Judges for Application of Law, Diligence, Communications, Demeanor and Fairness.
Judge Raaum presided over Civil, Misdemeanor, Traffic and Small Claims matters this term. Based on the Commission’s overall evaluation, Judge Raaum has demonstrated that he meets and, in many cases, exceeds performance standards. He displays positive work ethic and willingness to take on additional tasks. Some attorney respondents expressed a wish that Judge Raaum would provide more explanation for his written orders. Attorney respondents praised Judge Raaum for ordering reasonable and consistent sentences, for explaining the process in non-legal terms, and for his patience in dealing with “pro se” cases (self-represented litigants). Non-attorney respondents described Judge Raaum as professional, fair, and a good listener. Juror respondents felt that he respected them and took the time to explain the process. With recent technological improvements and processes, Judge Raaum is working to understand and effectively use the new system. Judge Raaum handles many of the cases in the First Appearance Center and strives to move cases as quickly as possible. He is a member of the Pretrial Committee which attempts to improve procedures and scheduling. He has taken time to speak to Colorado Mesa University classes and to preside over mock trials for students. Based on these findings, the Commission unanimously agreed that Judge Raaum is an asset to the 21st Judicial District and meets the performance standards.