"Yes" for Judge Woods

As a life?long Independent, I find the increasing politicization of the judiciary troubling, and it seems to have made its way into what should be an objective judicial retention vote for Judge Anne K. Woods. 

Partisans have taken aim at Woods as part of a campaign narrative of “rampant runaway crime,” but the facts don’t support the attacks. Look no further than the online District Attorney’s Data Dashboard:

1. La Plata County crime has not spiked since Woods’ 2020 appointment.

2. Cases filed in 2020/21 are lower than in 2017/18/19.

3. Recidivism rates have declined for people serving non?incarcerative sentences.

4. Felonies and violent crime referrals have been flat since 2017.

The attacks on Woods focus on a handful of cases, rather than the thousands of others over which she has presided. They also ignore the findings of the nonpartisan Judicial Performance Commission, which concluded that Woods “meets performance standards.” It added that “the public still may be partially anchored to the view that Judge Woods is a pro-defense judge, but the Commission noted a significant increase in cash bail and sentences above the minimum since the interim evaluation.” 

Woods has made life better for countless people by treating them fairly and, in many cases, allowing them to keep their jobs, keep their housing and to address the underlying issues that brought them before her in the first place. She holds individuals accountable, but treats both offenders and victims with compassion and respect.

Woods is the youngest female judge appointed in Colorado history. She took the criticism and advice from her interim performance review seriously and has applied it to her application of the law; she will only continue to improve with experience. The Judicial Performance Commission noted that improvement in their recommendation for retention. We should as well.

Please help keep our local judiciary moving in the right direction, and resist the smear campaign being leveled at Woods; vote “yes” for retention and to allow her to continue her good work on our behalf.

– Scott M. Wilson, Durango