City of Columbia Judicial Performance Questionnaire

100% of survey complete.

Thank you for taking a few minutes to help us learn about your experience with Columbia Municipal Court Judges.

City Code of Laws 13-1 and South Carolina Code 14-25-15 outlines the appointment of municipal judges.

In order to assist City of Columbia City Council in the process of appointment or reappointment, you are being asked to complete the judicial performance questionnaire.

The judicial performance evaluation questionnaire is utilized to assess judge performance regarding the following:

*Integrity
*Legal Knowledge
*Communication Skills
*Preparation, attentiveness and control over judicial proceedings and consistency
*Consistency and applicability of sentencing
*Docket management, prompt case disposition and administrative skills
*Overall judicial performance

Please answer the questions openly and honestly. The survey will not collect any personal identifying information and all of your responses will be kept confidential. Your participation will help inform City Council's reappointment decisions.

If you have any questions or comments about the survey or have difficulty completing it, please contact the City of Columbia Human Resources Department at 803.545.3010.

Question Title

* Please select which category best describes you?

Courthouse Personnel

Trial Court Attorney

Law Enforcement/Code Enforcement

City Attorneys/Prosecutors

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* Select the name of the judge you are evaluating from the list presented below
(Specify one judge per questionnaire.)

Question Title

* Please indicate how many times you have had courtroom experience with this Judge

Once

2-5 times

6-9 times

10 or more times

Question Title

* Indicate your response for each statement about the Judge's performance.

SECTION I. INTEGRITY

	Strongly Agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree	Cannot Rate
Displays a sense of fairness and justice.	Displays a sense of fairness and justice. Strongly Agree	Displays a sense of fairness and justice. Agree	Displays a sense of fairness and justice. Disagree	Displays a sense of fairness and justice. Strongly Disagree	Displays a sense of fairness and justice. Cannot Rate
Treats all parties equally, regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, social or economic status.	Treats all parties equally, regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, social or economic status. Strongly Agree	Treats all parties equally, regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, social or economic status. Agree	Treats all parties equally, regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, social or economic status. Disagree	Treats all parties equally, regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, social or economic status. Strongly Disagree	Treats all parties equally, regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, social or economic status. Cannot Rate
Makes decisions without regard to the popularity of the decision.	Makes decisions without regard to the popularity of the decision. Strongly Agree	Makes decisions without regard to the popularity of the decision. Agree	Makes decisions without regard to the popularity of the decision. Disagree	Makes decisions without regard to the popularity of the decision. Strongly Disagree	Makes decisions without regard to the popularity of the decision. Cannot Rate

Question Title

* SECTION II. LEGAL KNOWLEDGE

	Strongly Agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree	Cannot Rate
Displays knowledge of substantive law.	Displays knowledge of substantive law. Strongly Agree	Displays knowledge of substantive law. Agree	Displays knowledge of substantive law. Disagree	Displays knowledge of substantive law. Strongly Disagree	Displays knowledge of substantive law. Cannot Rate
Displays knowledge of the rules of evidence and procedure.	Displays knowledge of the rules of evidence and procedure. Strongly Agree	Displays knowledge of the rules of evidence and procedure. Agree	Displays knowledge of the rules of evidence and procedure. Disagree	Displays knowledge of the rules of evidence and procedure. Strongly Disagree	Displays knowledge of the rules of evidence and procedure. Cannot Rate

Question Title

* SECTION III. COMMUNICATION SKILLS

	Strongly Agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree	Cannot Rate
Written orders are clear and thorough.	Written orders are clear and thorough. Strongly Agree	Written orders are clear and thorough. Agree	Written orders are clear and thorough. Disagree	Written orders are clear and thorough. Strongly Disagree	Written orders are clear and thorough. Cannot Rate
Oral decisions are clear and thorough.	Oral decisions are clear and thorough. Strongly Agree	Oral decisions are clear and thorough. Agree	Oral decisions are clear and thorough. Disagree	Oral decisions are clear and thorough. Strongly Disagree	Oral decisions are clear and thorough. Cannot Rate
Gives clear explanations of defendants' rights.	Gives clear explanations of defendants' rights. Strongly Agree	Gives clear explanations of defendants' rights. Agree	Gives clear explanations of defendants' rights. Disagree	Gives clear explanations of defendants' rights. Strongly Disagree	Gives clear explanations of defendants' rights. Cannot Rate
Explains proceedings to parties.	Explains proceedings to parties. Strongly Agree	Explains proceedings to parties. Agree	Explains proceedings to parties. Disagree	Explains proceedings to parties. Strongly Disagree	Explains proceedings to parties. Cannot Rate
Explains the reason for delays or interruptions of the proceedings.	Explains the reason for delays or interruptions of the proceedings. Strongly Agree	Explains the reason for delays or interruptions of the proceedings. Agree	Explains the reason for delays or interruptions of the proceedings. Disagree	Explains the reason for delays or interruptions of the proceedings. Strongly Disagree	Explains the reason for delays or interruptions of the proceedings. Cannot Rate
Gives clear explanations of the juror's responsibilities.	Gives clear explanations of the juror's responsibilities. Strongly Agree	Gives clear explanations of the juror's responsibilities. Agree	Gives clear explanations of the juror's responsibilities. Disagree	Gives clear explanations of the juror's responsibilities. Strongly Disagree	Gives clear explanations of the juror's responsibilities. Cannot Rate
Gives clear instructions to the jury (including final instructions).	Gives clear instructions to the jury (including final instructions). Strongly Agree	Gives clear instructions to the jury (including final instructions). Agree	Gives clear instructions to the jury (including final instructions). Disagree	Gives clear instructions to the jury (including final instructions). Strongly Disagree	Gives clear instructions to the jury (including final instructions). Cannot Rate

Question Title

* SECTION IV. PREPARATION, ATTENTIVENESS AND CONTROL OVER JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS

	Strongly Agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree	Cannot Rate
Is prepared.	Is prepared. Strongly Agree	Is prepared. Agree	Is prepared. Disagree	Is prepared. Strongly Disagree	Is prepared. Cannot Rate
Assumes appropriate demeanor and maintains control over the courtroom.	Assumes appropriate demeanor and maintains control over the courtroom. Strongly Agree	Assumes appropriate demeanor and maintains control over the courtroom. Agree	Assumes appropriate demeanor and maintains control over the courtroom. Disagree	Assumes appropriate demeanor and maintains control over the courtroom. Strongly Disagree	Assumes appropriate demeanor and maintains control over the courtroom. Cannot Rate
Is courteous and free from arrogance.	Is courteous and free from arrogance. Strongly Agree	Is courteous and free from arrogance. Agree	Is courteous and free from arrogance. Disagree	Is courteous and free from arrogance. Strongly Disagree	Is courteous and free from arrogance. Cannot Rate
Displays understanding and compassion.	Displays understanding and compassion. Strongly Agree	Displays understanding and compassion. Agree	Displays understanding and compassion. Disagree	Displays understanding and compassion. Strongly Disagree	Displays understanding and compassion. Cannot Rate

Question Title

* SECTION V. CONSISTENCY AND APPLICABILITY OF SENTENCING PRACTICES

	Strongly Agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree	Cannot Rate
Sentences are fair, consistent and appropriate.	Sentences are fair, consistent and appropriate. Strongly Agree	Sentences are fair, consistent and appropriate. Agree	Sentences are fair, consistent and appropriate. Disagree	Sentences are fair, consistent and appropriate. Strongly Disagree	Sentences are fair, consistent and appropriate. Cannot Rate

Question Title

* SECTION VI. DOCKET MANAGEMENT, PROMPT CASE DISPOSITION, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS

	Strongly Agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree	Cannot Rate
Prompt in making rulings.	Prompt in making rulings. Strongly Agree	Prompt in making rulings. Agree	Prompt in making rulings. Disagree	Prompt in making rulings. Strongly Disagree	Prompt in making rulings. Cannot Rate
Works diligently.	Works diligently. Strongly Agree	Works diligently. Agree	Works diligently. Disagree	Works diligently. Strongly Disagree	Works diligently. Cannot Rate
Is punctual.	Is punctual. Strongly Agree	Is punctual. Agree	Is punctual. Disagree	Is punctual. Strongly Disagree	Is punctual. Cannot Rate
Works effectively with participants in the judicial process.	Works effectively with participants in the judicial process. Strongly Agree	Works effectively with participants in the judicial process. Agree	Works effectively with participants in the judicial process. Disagree	Works effectively with participants in the judicial process. Strongly Disagree	Works effectively with participants in the judicial process. Cannot Rate
Displays good administrative skills.	Displays good administrative skills. Strongly Agree	Displays good administrative skills. Agree	Displays good administrative skills. Disagree	Displays good administrative skills. Strongly Disagree	Displays good administrative skills. Cannot Rate

Question Title

* How likely are you to recommend retention for this judge?

Not at all likely - 0

Extremely likely - 10

Not at all likely - 0

Extremely likely - 10

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* Please select which category best describes you?

Question Title

* Select the name of the judge you are evaluating from the list presented below(Specify one judge per questionnaire.)

Question Title

* Please indicate how many times you have had courtroom experience with this Judge

Question Title

* Indicate your response for each statement about the Judge's performance.SECTION I. INTEGRITY

Question Title

* SECTION II. LEGAL KNOWLEDGE

Question Title

* SECTION III. COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Question Title

* SECTION IV. PREPARATION, ATTENTIVENESS AND CONTROL OVER JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS

Question Title

* SECTION V. CONSISTENCY AND APPLICABILITY OF SENTENCING PRACTICES

Question Title

* SECTION VI. DOCKET MANAGEMENT, PROMPT CASE DISPOSITION, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS

Question Title

* How likely are you to recommend retention for this judge?

* Select the name of the judge you are evaluating from the list presented below
(Specify one judge per questionnaire.)

* Indicate your response for each statement about the Judge's performance.

SECTION I. INTEGRITY