Three candidates have thrown their names into the ring for the judge’s position in San Juan County: Anthony D. Edwards, William P. Gardner III and Melodee A. Horton, all of Silverton.
Jon Sarché, the deputy public information officer for the Colorado Judicial Department, said he can’t release any information other than the candidates’ names at this time. Once the 6th Judicial District Nominating Commission meets and selects two or all three as finalists for the position, Gov. Hickenlooper’s office may release short biographies, he said.
Gardner, however, is known to people in La Plata County as a former sheriff here.
“I know all three, but it would be terribly improper for me to comment on any of the candidates,” said Judge Lyndon Skinner, who is “aging” out of the judgeship at 72 as required by the Colorado Constitution. “Most people up here know one or more of the candidates, at least through word of mouth or scuttlebutt.”
The position rates at 20 percent of the pay and workload of a full-time county judge, he said, but it often translates to two or three times the recompensed workload.
“The number of days hinges on how much caseload there is,” he said. “I’ve tried to have a docket on the first Tuesday of the month, then small claims and other cases scheduled as needed. There are anywhere from two to four days a month in court, but sometimes it’s only an hour or two.”
The commission is scheduled to meet May 5 in Durango, and comments are due by 4 p.m. April 28. The public will have a second opportunity to comment when the finalists are recommended to Hickenlooper.
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