Third Judicial District — Huerfano and Las Animas Counties

This site is copyrighted, supported, and maintained by the Equal Justice Foundation.

For news reports on the incompetence of District Attorney Frank Ruybalid click here. In January 2015 he pled guilty and was given 2-years probation and a slap on the wrist.

Huerfano County Courthouse

401 Main Street, Suite 304

Walsenburg, CO 81089

Telephone: (719) 738-1040

Facsimile: (719) 738-1267

Las Animas County Courthouse

200 East First Street, Room 304

Trinidad, CO 81082

Telephone: (719) 846-3316

Facsimile: (719) 846-9367

In 2012 the Equal Justice Foundation began a rating system of justices standing for retention based on the votes of attorneys who submit responses to surveys sent to them by the Judicial Performance Review Commission. The idea was first put forward by the Rocky Mountain News in an October 13, 2002, editorial. Whether a “Retain” or “Do Not Retain” is recommended is based on the criteria:

• Retain: More than 85% of attorneys voted to retain;

• Marginal: in 2012 the standard was that only 80-85% of attorneys voted to retain. In 2014 review this was broadened to 75-85% and in 2018 the standard was expanded again to 71-85% of attorneys voted to retain;

• Do Not Retain: In 2012 the standard was less than 80% of attorneys voted to retain. In 2014 review this was changed to <75% of attorneys voted to retain and in 2018 this was lowered even further to less than or equal <=70% suggesting judicial standards continue to decline.

Table 18: Third Judicial District
Name of Judge	Telephone	Case Links	Comments
District Judges
Claude W. Appel Former Chief Judge		Retired January 2019.
			Appointed district judge in March 1986. Formerly Deputy District Attorney.
			Stood for retention in 2000. 90% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2006. 79% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2012 90% Retain. EJF recommendation: Retain
			Allegations of improper judicial practices by Appel reported in October, 2001. He was accused of using cocaine by Judge Haeger and attorney Bill Danks (Denver Post, 10/17/03 p. 4B). But he was later made chief judge of the district.
Norman Arends		No longer on bench as of February 2007.
Norman Arends			Arends appointed chief judge after Manzanares was relieved by Colorado Supreme Court in October, 2001, after allegations of improper judicial practices made against two judges in 3^rd J.D. in fall of 2001. But later moved back.
Pierce L. Fowler	719-846-3316 pierce.fowler@judicial.state.co.us
Leslie J. Gerbracht former Chief Judge		Did not stand for retention in 2022. Term ended January 10, 2023 and she retired.
			Appointed by Gov. Owens in Sept. 2006. Former state public defender. Replaced George A Newman
			Stood for retention in 2010. 96% Retain.
			Stood for retention again in 2016. EJF recommendation: 67% Do Not Retain
Jesse C. Manzanares		Has stepped down as of 2003. Now the Las Animas County Attorney.
John “Clay” McKisson III Chief Judge	719-793-7100 clay.mckisson@judicial.state.co.us		Appointed district court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in September 2018. Prior to his promotion he was a County Court Judge in Huerfano County.
			Stood for retention in 2022. EJF recommendation: Retain
		100% of attorneys voted to Retain with no opposition!
George A. Newman		No longer on bench as of February 2007.
Top County Judges
Bruce Billings Las Animas County		Retired January 2019.
			Appointed county judge in December 2002.
			Stood for retention in 2006. 82% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2010. 100% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2014. EJF recommendation: 97% Retain ( consistently received high marks from attorneys)
Robert E. Haeger Huerfano County EJF Director Sanders witnessed Judge Haeger in Huerfano County Court in February 2004. Haeger was incredibly kind to the pro se litigant and ruled against DA, who then childishly stormed out of the courtroom.		No longer on bench as of February 2007.
			Appointed county judge in November 1987.
			Stood for retention in 1998.
			Stood for retention in 2002. A pathetic 44% of attorneys recommended retention.
			Allegations of improper judicial practices by Haeger reported in October, 2001. Accused of cocaine use by attorney Bill Danks (Denver Post, 10/17/03 p. 4B). As of 10/28/03 (Denver Post, p. 4B) Haegar is suing the FBI for releasing information about alleged cocaine use by Judge Appel
Dawn Mann Huerfano County	719-793-7100 dawn.mann@juducial.state.co.us		Appointed by Gov. Polis in 2019.
			Stood for retention in 2022. EJF recommendation: Marginal
		80% of attorneys voted to Retain while 20% voted Do Not Retain.
John C. McKisson III Huerfano County		Promoted to district court judge January 2019.
			Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in January 2017.

John Mochel Las Animas County Huerfano County	719-846-3316 john.mochel@judicial.state.co.us		Appointed by Gov. Polis in January 2019. Previous experience as Assistant General Counsel of DaVita Inc. and Associate General Counsel of Orthofix Medical specializing in healthcare and commercial contract law.
			Stood for retention in 2022. EJF recommendation: Retain
		100% of attorneys voted to Retain with none voting against him.
Ellen Haskins Trujillo Huerfano County		No longer on bench as of July 2009
Ellen Haskins Trujillo Huerfano County			Appointed by Chief Justice Mullarkey in Jan. 2005 over objections of Gov. Owens.
Gary Stork Huerfano County		Did not stand for retention in 2016 and retired January 2017.
Gary Stork Huerfano County			Stood for retention in 2012 EJF recommendation: 100% Retain

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Last modified 9/10/24

Third Judicial District — Huerfano and Las Animas Counties

For news reports on the incompetence of District Attorney Frank Ruybalid click here. In January 2015 he pled guilty and was given 2-years probation and a slap on the wrist.

Huerfano County Courthouse

Las Animas County Courthouse

Table 18: Third Judicial District