Judges in the Beehive State are appointed by the governor but need a majority of "yes" votes to retain their seats. Apart from handling a required number of cases and completing continuing judicial education, judges must also get adequate scores on attorney and juror surveys.

Attorneys answering 12 questions dubbed most of the judges up for retention "excellent," "more than adequate," or "adequate." Those judges ended up with overall ratings of above 90 percent favorable. But four received lower overall marks of around 75 percent.

Two judges received perfect overall favorable scores on the attorney surveys: 5th District Judge John Walton, appointed just three years ago, and 2nd District Judge Parley Baldwin, who has been on the bench for 21 years.

Baldwin said Thursday he goes to work each day telling himself, "My responsibility is to listen, and listen carefully, and to judge fairly."

He said the surveys give judges the opportunity "to look at what's being said by attorneys and make changes, if they think that's necessary."

But Baldwin cautioned voters that court is "an adversarial situation, [which means] someone's going to leave the courtroom very unhappy with the decision you make."

Four judges received favorable ratings of below 70 percent from attorneys on some questions.

Seventh District Judge Lyle Anderson scored 63 percent for behavior free from impropriety, and 66 percent for behavior free from bias and favoritism.

Third District Judge John Kennedy scored 69 percent for understanding the rules of procedure and evidence, and 68 percent for perceiving legal and factual issues.

Third District Judge Denise Lindberg scored 68 percent for behavior free from bias and favoritism, and 64 percent for demonstrating appropriate demeanor.

Third District Juvenile Court Judge Andrew Valdez scored 68 percent for behavior free from bias and favoritism, and 69 percent for giving parties a fair opportunity to present the case. His overall favorable score was 76.

Valdez was the only judge of the four who would discuss the ratings.

"It's something I can use to improve," Valdez said Thursday. "It's a job where I've evolved and continue to evolve [during 15 years on the bench].

But he added: "My first priority is not to be popular."

Valdez, who hears more than 100 cases per week, said his priority is to "problem-solve with the scores of kids and families that are in crisis.

"Sometimes my approach is direct, and it impacts people's opinion."

shunt@sltrib.com

Early voting closing

Already, more than 265,000 Utahns - about a third of the anticipated turnout - have taken advantage of early voting. But the door is closing. In Salt Lake County, satellite early-voting stations will be open only through today at 5 p.m. See the locations at www.

utahpolitics.

To see the rankings

View a complete list of judges up for retention and read more about what jurors and attorneys had to say about them in the Utah Voter Information Pamphlet, available online at www.utcourts.gov.