Sixth Judicial District — Archuleta, La Plata and San Juan Counties

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Archuleta County Courthouse

P.O. Box 148

449 San Juan Street

Pagosa Springs, Colorado 81147

La Plata County Courthouse

1060 E. Second Avenue

Durango, Colorado 81301

San Juan County Courthouse

P.O. Box 441

1557 Greene Street

Silverton, Colorado 81433

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 21: Sixth Judicial District Judges and Magistrates

Name of Judge

Telephone

Case Links

Comments

 

District Judges

Suzanne Fairchild Carlson

 

Her performance is getting worse rather than better

 

See Remove Judge Carlson for more details.

(970) 247-2304

 

Appointed by Governor John Hickenlooper on July 1, 2012.

Stood for retention in 2014. 79% Retain

EJF recommendation: Marginal

Stood for retention in 2020

EJF recommendation: Low marginal

Only 71% of attorneys voted to Retain while 21% voted Do Not Retain.

David L. Dickinson

 

No longer on bench as of September 2014.

 

Appointed district judge in Dec. 1998.

Stood for retention in 2002. Not rated.

Stood for retention in 2008. Not rated.

William L. Herringer

 

Retired effective March 9, 2022.

 

Appointed district court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in March 2013. No prior judicial experience.

Stood for retention in 2016.

EJF recommendation: 91% Retain

Gregory G. Lyman

former Chief Judge

 

Did not stand for retention in 2016. Term ended January 2017 but remains a senior judge as of September 2020.

 

Appointed district judge in June 1996.

Stood for retention in 1998. Not rated.

Stood for retention in 2004. 93% Retain.

Stood for retention in 2010. 97% Retain.

Todd Parker Norvell

(970) 247-2304

 

Appointed district court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in September 2016. Previously assistant U.S. district attorney in Durango. Replaced Lyman.

Stood for retention in 2020.

EJF recommendation: Retain

87% of attorneys voted to Retain while 9% voted Do Not Retain.

Jeffrey R.Wilson

Chief Judge

 

Replaced Lyman as chief judge

(970) 247-2304

 

Appointed district court judge in July 2002.

Stood for retention in 2004. 95% Retain.

Stood for retention in 2010. 88% Retain.

Stood for retention again in 2016.

EJF recommendation: 86% Retain

Stood for retention again in 2022.

EJF recommendation: Marginal

This time just 77% of attorneys voted to Retain while 18% voted Do Not Retain.

Top

County Judges

Sam H. Cassidy

Archuleta County

 

Stepped down from bench in January 2017.

 

Appointed county court judge by Gov. HIckenlooper in August 2014 and stepped up to the bench in January 2015.

James E. Denvir

Archuleta County

 

Retired in January 2015.

 

Appointed county judge in August 1995.

Stood for retention in 1998. 100% Retain.

Stood for retention in 2002. Not rated.

Stood for retention in 2006. 95% Retain.

Stood for retention in 2010. 90+% Retain.

Anthony D. Edwards

San Juan County

970-387-5790

 

Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in July 2014.

Stood for retention in 2016.

EJF recommendation: Undetermined

Stood for retention in 2020.

EJF recommendation: Retain

Only three attorneys voted to Retain but two non-attorneys also voted to Retain.

Justin P. Fay

Archuleta County

Division A

(970) 264-8160

 

Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in September 2016. Previously he was a deputy district attorney in Durango.

Stood for retention in 2018.

EJF recommendation: 86% Retain

Stood for retention again in 2022.

EJF recommendation: Retain

This time 100% of attorneys voted to Retain with no dissension.

Martha T. Minot

La Plata County

 

Retired in August 2017.

 

Appointed county judge in March 1995.

Stood for retention in 1998. 96% Retain.

Stood for retention in 2002. 93% Retain.

Stood for retention in 2006. 93% Retain.

Stood for retention in 2010. Only a pitiful 74% of attorneys recommended retention during this review.

Stood for retention again in 2014.

EJF recommendation: 72% Do Not Retain

Dondi J. Osborne

La Plata County

 

Did not stand for retention in 2020 and resigned for unknown reasons, originally effective July 6, 2020. However, in view of the coronavirus pandemic Osborne put off her resignation until January 2021.

 

Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in August 2017. Formerly assistant U. S. attorney in Durango. Replaces Minot.

Todd Patrick Risberg

San Juan County

 

No longer on bench as of February 2007.

Lyndon K. Skinner

San Juan County

 

Retired from Colorado State Patrol before stepping up to bench.

 

Did not stand for retention in 2014 and stepped down in January 2015.

 

Appointed county judge by Gov. Owens in 2006. Replaced Todd P. Risberg

 

Stood for retention in 2010. 100% Retain.

Anne Kathryn Woods

La Plata County

970-247-2304

 

Appointed County Judge by Gov. Polis in October 2020.

Stood for retention in 2022.

EJF recommendation: Do Not Retain

Just a pathetic 53% of attorneys voted to Retain, while 34% voted Do Not Retain.

Top

Magistrates

James A. Casey

Archuleta County

970-264-8160

 

 

Sarah F. Law

La Plata County

970-247-2304

 

 

S. Leigh F. Meigs

 

No longer on bench as of February 2007

Shelley Rodriquez

 

No longer on bench as of September 2012

Douglas S. Walker

 

No longer on bench as of September 2012

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

Last modified 10/14/22