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Telephone: 719-583-7125 — Main Number
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.
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Appointed district court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in April 2012. Municipal court judge in Pueblo prior to that. |
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This time just 81% of attorneys voted to Retain and 14% voted Do Not Retain. |
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Appointed district court judge by Gov. Polis effective April 29, 2023. She was formerly a magistrate. |
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No longer on bench as of February 2007 but remains a senior judge as of September 2020. |
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Appointed district court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in November 2016. Prior to that she was in private practice. |
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Just 80% of attorneys voted to Retain while 10% voted Do Not Retain. |
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Retired April 23, 2023, after more than 10 years as chief judge. |
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Appointed district court judge in December 2008. She was a magistrate prior to that. Became chief judge in 2012. |
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Appointed district court judge by Gov. Ritter in March 2008. Former public defender. |
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This time only a pathetic 43% of attorneys voted to Retain while 29% voted Do Not Retain. |
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Appointed district judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in August 2014. Prior to the she was a public defender. |
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Jeffrey Woodstock was denied a speedy trial and conviction was vacated. |
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Appointed district judge by Gov. Polis in June 2019. Formerly with public defenders office. This is a new position. |
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Only 47% of attorneys thought he should be Retained while nearly as many, 41%, voted Do Not Retain. |
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Appointed district court judge in November 2006. Replaced Scott B. Epstein |
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Stood for retention in 2010. Do Not Retain. Attorney rating not given but commission stated that it does not appear that she is willing to acknowledge her weaknesses or, if she has the ability to do so, to expend any effort to improve her performance. |
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Stood for retention in 2002. Pathetic 63% of attorneys voted to retain. |
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Stood for retention in 2008. Very weak 78% of attorneys voted to retain. |
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Presides over Mental Health docket, 20% of District Court Civil docket, and >80% of total Probate Docket |
Appointed district court judge on May 13, 2021 by Gov. Polis. Replaced Judge Karn. Previously in private practice. |
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100% of attorneys voted to Retain. Doing good doing a tough job. |
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Promoted to district court judge by Gov. Polis on December 17, 2019. Formerly a magistrate. Became chief judge in 2023. |
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88% of attorneys voted to Retain and just 6% voted Do Not Retain. |
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Appointed district court judge by Gov. Polis on May 31, 2023. Previously she was Senior Deputy Public Defender for the Colorado State Public Defender office. |
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Commission stated she is demeaning and treats individuals appearing in her court without legal counsel harshly. |
Stepped down from the bench as of September 2012. But like many black-robed disasters she became a senior judge and as of September 2020 has remained a public menace. |
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Not recommended for retention in 2000 survey. Only 32% of attorneys recommended she be retained. That was the worst evaluation the EJF was aware of prior to 2014. |
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In 2004 review she was found to deal with defendants and plaintiffs in a manner described as being curt to the point of being rude. Her treatment of defendants from lower socio-economic backgrounds has been perceived as demeaning and lacking compassion. |
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Stood for retention in 2010. 84% Retain. Commission voted 8-2 he be retained with an improvement plan. |
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His performance badly declined and this time only 64% of attorneys voted to Retain while the remaining 36% voted Do Not Retain. |
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She was given the worst rating the EJF has seen. She is described as rude, curt, has little compassion, and inappropriately raises her voice. |
Resigned in August 2018 rather than standing for retention again. Not soon enough for the poor souls who appeared before her. |
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Appointed by Gov. Hickenlooper in 2011. Replaced Hearn. Prior experience as deputy DA in 4 th , 10 th , and 13 th Judicial Districts. |
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Incredibly, only 11% of attorneys voted to Retain while 74% voted Do Not Retain. The commission unanimously voted to oust her and reported she imposes requirements that have no basis in rule or law. |
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Stood for retention in 2002. Very weak 70+% of attorneys recommended she be retained. |
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Appointed county court judge in February 2012. Former public defender. |
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Performance is substandard and the judicial review commission issued a neutral No Opinion in 2000 survey. |
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In 2004 review Commission stressed recurring issues and some of those issues gathered from the surveys and interviews were as follows: 1. Has limited knowledge of the law, and sentencing practices are not consistent. 2. Lacks technological skills hindering him in his capacity as a County Judge. 3. Does not interact with the staff and does not help with the workload. 4. Orders are not well thought out and he takes positions that do not make sense. 5. Overall evaluations are below the rest of the Colorado County Judges. |
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Stood for retention in 2008. A pitiful 70% of attorneys recommended he be retained. |
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper September 14, 2018. Took the bench on October 15, 2018. Prior to becoming a judge, Silva was managing attorney of the Pueblo office of Colorado Legal Services. Before that, he was an attorney at Pikes Peak Arkansas River Legal Aid, and a Deputy District Attorney with 16 th Judicial District. He was also a staff attorney at Pueblo County Legal Services. |
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Polis on June 13, 2021. She was Chief Deputy District Attorney in 4 th Judicial District Attorney's Office prior to her appointment. |
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Only 75% of attorneys voted to Retain while 25% voted Do Not Retain. |
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Promoted to district court judge by Gov. Polis April 29, 2023. |
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Stepped up to bench in August 2021. She was chief prosecutor for the county court division of the 10 th Judicial District Attorneys Office prior to her appointment. |
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Promoted to district court judge by Gov. Polis on December 17, 2019. |
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| 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 — Eleventh Judicial District |
| Back — Ninth Judicial District |
This site is supported and maintained by the Equal Justice Foundation.