The State Commission on Judicial Performance finds that Judge Katharine E. Lum, by vote of 9-0 with one commissioner absent, and one commission vacancy, MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS . Colorado’s statutory judicial performance standards are integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, and service to the legal profession and the public.
Judge Lum was appointed to the Colorado Court of Appeals in 2022 and has served for four years. This is her first time standing for retention. The Commission finds she embodies the qualities of an outstanding appellate judge and is a valuable asset to the Colorado Court of Appeals. Her opinions are fair and thoughtful, and she delivers well-reasoned decisions based on the law and facts. She is an exceptional judicial writer who conveys her opinions in a clear and accessible style understood by litigants, practitioners, and members of the public alike. She arrives well-prepared to oral arguments, and is engaged, present, and respectful in the Courtroom. She also serves as the Liaison to the 15th Judicial District. Beyond her duties as a judge, she participates in community service activities that advance the court’s mission.
The Commission conducted its evaluation of Judge Lum by considering her self-evaluation, observing her oral arguments, examining a selection of her legal opinions (including dissents), conducting an in-person interview with her, and reviewing survey responses submitted by attorneys and judges. Every survey respondent agreed that Judge Lum meets performance standards. She received positive feedback in regard to her strong listening, polite and respectful nature, and thorough preparation.
Judge Lum earned her JD from the University of California Berkeley School of Law. Prior to joining the bench, she was Of Counsel with Cooper Ramp Cage Bucar Lewis (and predecessor firms) where she specialized in domestic relations law at the trial and appellate levels; and she clerked for the Honorable Gregory J. Hobbs Jr. of the Colorado Supreme Court. She serves on the Supreme Court Standing Committee on Family Issues; as the Court of Appeals liaison and coordinator for a long-standing externship program with Colorado law schools; and as a board member of the Minoru Yasui Inn of Court.
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