Bruce R. Raaum

Bruce R. Raaum was appointed to the Mesa County Court by Governor Bill Owens on September 12, 2006. Voters retained him in 2022 with 75.18 percent of the votes cast on the question: 45,289 yes and 14,953 no. Before his appointment he practiced civil, criminal and juvenile law in Mesa County, beginning in 1992, and served as a court-appointed guardian ad litem for children. He holds a 1989 undergraduate degree in history and political science from North Dakota State University and a 1992 law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law.

He has spoken at the Colorado Judicial Conference on pretrial supervision and bond conditions and served on statewide committees on probation procedures, rules for senior judges and a weighted caseload study of the need for more county court judicial officers. His peers selected him to lead the County Court Judges Association, with his term as president beginning in September 2026.

The Twenty-First Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance voted 8 to 0 that he meets performance standards, with one commissioner absent and one vacancy on the commission. The commission finds that Judge Raaum "demonstrates legal knowledge and applies the law appropriately in the cases before him." It credits his preparation, his prompt rulings and his control of a large volume of County Court cases. The commission observed that he "exhibits judicial temperament that is fair, respectful and professional." It adds that he treats parties, attorneys and court staff with dignity and values their time.