Recent News

March 1, 2013

Changes Coming to the 2013 Performance Poll

Changes to the 2013 Performance Poll will include expanded rankings from the previous scale of 1-5 to 1-10. An explanation of the new scale will be included in the introductory information to the poll. In addition, the criteria categories – objectivity, judicial temperament, legal knowledge, quality of opinions, timeliness, sentencing and overall rating – will be defined to aid participants in making an informed evaluation.

The Performance Poll that will go online in April is an opportunity for members of the Franklin County legal community, who appear on a frequent basis before the Judges listed, to provide constructive feedback to the Judiciary and useful information to the public.

Because the poll is annual, responses should be based on observations made within the prior year. It is hoped that those lawyers responding to the Performance Poll will do so without bias, whether such bias is based upon race, gender, religion, personal animosity, or political persuasion. The rankings given should be as objective as possible, with the intent of providing the Judges with feedback and the public with responsible information.

In late 2011, Past President David Bloomfield appointed a task force to revisit and reevaluate the judicial polls and screening process. The Task Force members – Judge Kimberly Cocroft, Ken Cookson, Derek DeBrosse, Shawn Dingus, James Ervin, Sandy McIntosh, Lisa Pierce Reisz, Rosemary Pomeroy, and Kathleen Trafford (Chair) talked extensively with judges, candidates, attorneys, former Judiciary Committee members and members of the public about the Performance Poll, Preference Poll and Judicial Screening process. They considered these comments, together with other background information and data, and submitted a report and recommendations, approved by the Board of Governors.