This site is copyrighted, supported, and maintained by the Equal Justice Foundation.
| EJF Home | Join the EJF | Comments? | Get EJF newsletter | Newsletters |
| DV Home | Abstract | Contents | Tables | Index | Bibliography |
| Chapter 7 — Colorado Judges — Citizen's Review |
| Next — Ninth Judicial District |
| Back — Seventh Judicial District |
201 La Porte Avenue, Suite 100
Fort Collins, Colorado 80521-2761
810 East 10th Street, Suite 110
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.
|
Blair was publicly censured by the CO Supreme Court regulatory office on September 9, 2008. |
As a prosecutor Blair withheld evidence in a murder trial that was favorable to the defense. As a result Tim Masters was convicted in 1999 of the murder of Peggy Hetrick and was not released until mid-2008. DNA evidence confirmed Masters innocence. Blair had social ties with another suspect in the case. Denver Post August 31, 2008, p. 1A and 12A. Larimer County paid $4.1 million to settle the wrongful imprisonment lawsuit (Denver Post, February 13, 2010). In addition Fort Collins was forced to pay Masters $5.9 million to settle the lawsuit against the city (Denver Post, June 9, 2010). |
||
|
Appointed district court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in January 2017. Previously town attorney for Timnath and in private practice. |
|||
|
88% of attorneys voted to Retain and just 4% voted Do Not Retain. |
|||
|
It should be noted that Judge Brinegar has the worst record for being reversed 57.6% of the time on appeal of any known Colorado district judge since 2010. |
Appointed district judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in December 2013. No previous judicial experience. Was the chief deputy district attorney prior to stepping up to the bench. |
||
|
Appointed district court judge by Governor Jared Polis on December 2, 2020. Previously in private practice. |
|||
|
81% of attorneys voted to Retain while 10%voted Do Not Retain. |
|||
|
Appointed district court judge by Gov. Polis on November 22, 2019 to fill a newly created position. Prior to her appointment she was associate legal counsel at Colorado State University since March 2019. Before that she was a deputy district attorney in the 8 th Judicial District. |
|||
|
93% of attorneys voted to Retain with just 7% voting Do Not Retain. |
|||
|
Appointed by Gov. Ritter in December 2010 to replace Jolene Blair. No previous judicial experience. |
|||
|
Appointed district court judge on September 14, 2021 by Gov. Polis (D) to replace Judge Field. |
|||
|
96% of attorneys voted to Retain while just 4% voted Do Not Retain. |
|||
|
EJF recommendation: Retain 87% and 4% of attorneys Do Not Retain |
|||
|
Citizen input on Clear the Bench claims that Judge French violated Colorado statute, court rules and procedures in December 2013 by dismissing a civil lawsuit that was properly filed in Larimer County, claiming jurisdiction was improper. French knew at the time he dismissed the case that he was violating the law with willful intent to obstruct justice. Another citizen tells the EJF that Judge French considered himself “teflon coated and untouchable” and that he destroys families with his rulings and biased agenda. |
|||
|
Gilmore was publicly censured by the CO Supreme Court regulatory office on September 9, 2008. |
As a prosecutor Gilmore withheld evidence in a murder trial that was favorable to the defense. As a result Tim Masters was convicted in 1999 of the murder of Peggy Hetrick and was not released until mid-2008. DNA evidence confirmed Masters innocence. Gilmore had social ties with another suspect in the case. Denver Post August 31, 2008, p. 1 and 12A. Larimer County paid $4.1 million to settle the wrongful imprisonment lawsuit (Denver Post, February 13, 2010). In addition Fort Collins was forced to pay Masters $5.9 million to settle the lawsuit against the city (Denver Post, June 9, 2010). |
||
|
Stepped down when his six-year term expired January 11, 2021. |
|||
|
Appointed by Gov. Ritter in December 2010 to replace Terence Gilmore. No previous judicial experience. |
|||
|
Appointed district court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in September 2016. Previously in private practice. Replaced Judge Kaup. |
|||
|
98% of attorneys voted to Retain and none voted Do Not Retain. |
|||
|
Did not stand for retention in 2016. Stepped down in January 2017 but remains a senior judge as of September 2020. |
|||
|
Stood for retention in 2004. Not rated. Commission split 6-4 on whether to retain. |
|||
|
At least his performance is consistent with again 84% of attorneys voting to Retain with just 8% voting Do Not Retain. |
|||
|
Appointed district judge by Gov. Polis on November 22, 2019. Prior to this he was chief deputy district attorney for the 8 th Judicial District Attorney. |
|||
|
Did not stand for retention in 2016. Stepped down in January 2017 and became a senior judge where he remains as of September 2020. |
|||
|
Communications found to be demeaning, biased, and disrespectful towards attorneys and litigants. Inconsistently applies laws and rules; giving varying sentences in similar cases. |
Appointed district judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in September 2018. Previously assistant U.S. attorney. Replaced Odell. |
||
|
In a rare move, both the prosecution and defense agreed the state's Court of Appeals should overturn a man's assault conviction because Villaseñor incorrectly instructed jurors about self-defense. |
|||
|
95% of attorneys voted to Retain. Only 5% voted Do Not Retain |
|||
|
Given her 10 years prior experience as a magistrate she did not adapt well to her promotion to county court. |
|||
|
Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in June 2013. Formerly a magistrate. |
|||
|
In 2020 he appears to have greatly improved over his initial evaluation in 2016. |
Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in January 2014. Previously deputy DA in Fort Collins. |
||
|
Only 60% of attorneys voted to Retain while nearly one-third, 30%, voted Do Not Retain. |
|||
|
Appointed county court judge by Gov. Polis on February 27, 2020. Previously she was in private practice. |
|||
|
Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in April 2014. Previously deputy district attorney in Fort Collins. |
|||
|
Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in December 2010. Previously he was a deputy DA in 8 th Judicial District. |
|||
|
This time 88% of attorneys voted to Retain with just 8% voting Do Not Retain. |
|||
|
Was placed on paid administrative leave from July 1, 2013, for unexplained reasons. For the first time in its history the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline found a judge guilty and the state Supreme Court issued a public reprimand in February 2014, after which Robert Rand resigned. |
Resigned after being publicly reprimanded by the Colorado Supreme Count in February 2014. According to an article in the Denver Post Judge Rand was apparently politically incorrect and his conduct was “inappropriate.” |
||
|
Until May 2013 Rand was county court judge in Loveland. But he was then abruptly transferred to the Larimer County Justice Center in Fort Collins. Judge Rand was placed on paid leave on July 1, 2013, for misogynistic and inappropriate comments and remained on leave from his $123,000/year position from January 2013. until February 2014. See article in the Coloradoan. |
|||
|
Appointed county court judge by Gov. Polis on July 16, 2019. Previously in private practice. |
|||
|
Over the four retention reviews Judge Schoon underwent, his ratings by attorneys consistently declined. |
Given his continuing poor performance, he chose to step down from the bench on January 7, 2019. |
||
|
Only 79% of attorneys voted to Retain in this review, while 12% voted Do Not Retain. |
|||
|
Stood for retention in 2000. Only a pathetic 64% of attorneys voted to retain. |
|||
|
Only 56% of attorneys voted to Retain, the lowest rating for any attorney in the state. After 16 years on the bench Judge Schultz's lacked knowledge of some areas of law, rules of evidence, case management, and procedure. |
|||
|
Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in December 2010. No previous judicial experience and does not hold a law degree. |
|||
|
Appointed county court judge by Gov Polis on October 27, 2022. Previously he was a magistrate. |
|||
|
Promoted to county court judge by Gov. Polis on October 27, 2022. |
|||
| EJF Home | Join the EJF | Comments? | Get EJF newsletter | Newsletters |
| DV Home | Abstract | Contents | Tables | Index | Bibliography |
| Chapter 7 — Colorado Judges — Citizen's Review |
| Next — Ninth Judicial District |
| Back — Seventh Judicial District |
This site is supported and maintained by the Equal Justice Foundation.