By Karen Abbott, Rocky Mountain News
August 4, 2004

Colorado's judge evaluators have chided the judge in charge of the rape case against Kobe Bryant for his demeanor but recommended that voters keep him on the bench.

Chief District Judge Terry Ruckriegle of Clear Creek, Eagle, Lake and Summit counties was rated lower than the average for judges statewide on his politeness to parties in cases before him, on having empathy with them and on treating them with respect.

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"In a follow-up interview Judge Ruckriegle acknowledged these concerns and presented specific actions he planned to take to improve his ratings," the evaluators said.

The evaluation by the Commission on Judicial Performance for the Fifth Judicial District, where Ruckriegle has been a judge since 1984, was one of dozens of official committee looks at state judges. The commissions are appointed by state officials and include both lawyers and non-lawyers.

The reviews are required before judges appear on the November ballot for voters to decide whether or not to keep them on the bench. Colorado's judges are appointed by the governor, but voters decide every few years whether to keep them.

The evaluations are based partly on surveys of lawyers, defendants, plaintiffs, jurors, court staff and others.

This November, 84 state and county judges will be up for retention.

Evaluators recommended in reports made public Tuesday that voters keep 82 of them and issued "No Opinion" ratings for two judges on the county bench: Judge William Alderton of Chaffee County and Judge Adele Anderson of Pueblo County.

The evaluators said Alderton has problems controlling his docket and with promptness, communications and diligence.

They said Anderson is too curt to persons in her courtroom and is particularly hard on defendants from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

The commissions issued no "Do Not Retain" recommendations this year.

Ruckriegle's evaluation said 77 percent of lawyers and 74 percent of non-lawyers who were surveyed wanted to retain him.

Lawyers who were surveyed also said he tends to favor the prosecution in criminal cases. Ruckriegle is a former prosecutor.

He is presiding over a criminal case, set for trial late this month, in which an Eagle County woman has accused basketball star Bryant of sexually assaulting her more than a year ago in the hotel where she worked.

abbottk@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-5188

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