Twelfth Judicial District — Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande and Saguache Counties

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District Attorney Alonzo Payne resigned July 12, 2022, a day after Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser found he systemically violated crime victims' rights.

Alamosa Combined Court

4th and San Juan

Alamosa, Colorado 81101

Telephone: (719) 589-4996 — Main Number

Facsimile: (719) 589-2518

Conejos County Court

Main Street

P.O. Box 128

Conejos, Colorado 81129

Telephone: (719) 376-5465

Costilla County Court

P.O. Box 301

401 Church Place

San Luis, Colorado 81151

Telephone: (719) 672-3681

Facsimile: (719) 672-4493

Mineral County Court

North First Street

Creede, Colorado 81130

(719) 658-2575- Main Number

(719) 657-2636 - Fax

Rio Grande Combined Court

925 6th Street Room 204

Del Norte, Colorado 81132

Telephone: (719) 657-3395 — Main Number

Facsimile: (719) 657-2636

Saguache County Court

4th and Christy

Saguache, Colorado 81149

Telephone: (719) 655-2522 — Main Number

Facsimile: (719) 655-0109

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 27: Twelfth Judicial District Judges and Magistrates
Name of Judge	Telephone	Case Links	Comments
District Judges
Kimberly Cortez-Rodriguez	719-589-4996	Promoted district court judge by Gov. Polis April 7, 2022.
			Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in September 2016. Stepped up to bench on Judge Susan Broyles' stepping down on January 10, 2017. Prior to that she was the Self-Represented Litigant Coordinator for 12^th Judicial District.
			Stood for retention as county judge in 2020. EJF recommendation: 100% Retain
Martin A. Gonzales Rio Grande Combined Court		Retired April 1, 2022.
			Appointed district court judge August 2007. Formerly a magistrate.
			Stood for retention in 2010. 100% Retain.
			Stood for retention again in 2016. EJF recommendation: Retain
		This time 94% of attorneys voted to Retain with 6% Do Not Retain.
		2011CV9	On 8/11/11 ruled, in favor of democracy, that Sec. of State Gessler is authorized to perform a hand count of the votes cast in controversial Nov. 2, 2010 Saguache County election.
Michael A. Gonzales Chief Judge	(719) 589-4996		Promoted to chief judge October 2019.
			Promoted from county to district judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in September 2011.
			Stood for retention in 2010. 94% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2014. 81% Retain EJF recommendation: Marginal
			Stood for retention in 2020. EJF recommendation: Retain
		100% of attorneys voted to Retain.
Patrick H. Hayes, Jr.		Died May 29, 2018
			Promoted district court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in June 2015.
			Appointed county court judge in 2011. Formerly a magistrate, deputy and chief deputy DA.
			Stood for retention in 2014. EJF recommendation: Retain 87%

Amanda C. Hopkins	(719) 657-3394		Appointed appointed District Court Judge by Gov. Hickenlooper July 10, 2018. Prior to that she was a public defender in the San Luis Valley.
			Stood for retention in 2020. EJF recommendation: Retain
		89% of attorneys voted to Retain while 11% voted Do Not Retain.
O. John Kuenhold former chief judge		Retired June 2011.
			Appointed district court judge in Feb. 1981.
			Stood for retention in 2002. 97% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2008. 87% Retain.
Crista Newmyer-Olsen	(719) 589-4996		Appointed district court judge by Gov. Polis November 1, 2019, effective January 15, 2020. Previously she was the 12^th Judicial District Attorney.
			Stood for retention in 2022. EJF recommendation: Retain
		92% of attorneys voted to Retain with just 4% in dissension.
Pattie P. Swift former Chief Judge Alamosa County		Retired January 15, 2020.
			Promoted to district judge from county judge in September 2002.
			Stood for retention as county judge in 1992.
			Stood for retention as county judge in 1996.
			Stood for retention as county judge in 2000. 90% Retain.
			Stood for retention as district judge in 2006. 90% Retain
			Stood for retention in 2012. EJF recommendation: Marginal 83% Retain 17% Do Not Retain
			Stood for retention in 2018. 100% Retain. EJF recommendation: Retain
Top County Judges
Ruth M. Acheson Mineral County	(719) 658-2575		Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in August 2012. She replaced Frank Lentz.
			Stood for retention in 2016. 80% Retain. EJF recommendation: Marginal
			Stood for retention in 2020. EJF recommendation: Retain
		This time 100% of attorneys voted to Retain and none voted Do Not Retain.
Gordon J. Bosa Conejos County		No longer on bench
Susan Broyles Conejos County		Did not stand for retention and stepped down in January 2017.
Susan Broyles Conejos County			Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in October 2013. Replaced Judge Garcia.
Kimberly Cortez-Rodriguez Conejos County		Promoted to district court judge by Gov. Polis April 7, 2022.
			Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in September 2016. Stepped up to bench on Judge Susan Broyles' stepping down on January 10, 2017. Prior to that she was the Self-Represented Litigant Coordinator for 12^th Judicial District.
			Stood for retention in 2020. EJF recommendation: 100% Retain
Mary Elizabeth Garcia Conejos County		No longer on bench as of September 2014.
			Appointed county court judge September 2007.
			Stood for retention in 2010. 80% Retain.
Michael A. Gonzales Alamosa County		Promoted to district judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in September 2011.
			Appointed county court judge in Sept. 2007.
			Stood for retention in 2010. 94% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2010. 94% Retain.
Patrick H. Hayes, Jr. Rio Grande County		Promoted to district court judge in June 2015. Died May 29, 2018.
			Appointed county court judge in 2011. Formerly a magistrate, deputy and chief deputy DA.
			Stood for retention in 2014. EJF recommendation: Retain 87%

Jason T. Kelly Conejos County	719-376-5465		Appointed county judge by Gov. Polis on April 14, 2022. Previously Conejos County Attorney.
Frank Stannard Lentz Mineral County		Did not stand for retention in 2012.
			Appointed county court judge in 2004 and robed January 11.2005.
			Stood for retention in 2008. 100% Retain.
Amanda K. Pearson Saguache County		Did not stand for retention and retired November 2016.
			Appointed to bench March 1998 Stood for retention in 2000: 100% Retain
			Stood for retention in 2004: Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2008: Retain
			Stood for retention in 2012. EJF recommendation: 86% Retain
Craig Schuenemann Saguache County	719-655-2522		Took the bench on January 11, 2022, after being appointed county judge by Gov. Polis.
John W. Stenger Rio Grande County	719-657-3394		Appointed county court judge by Gov. Polis on May 3, 2022. Previously in private practice dealing with children issues.
Pattie P. Swift Costilla County		Promoted to district judge September 2002 and to chief judge in October 2011. Retired January 15, 2020.
			Appointed county court judge in 1989.
			Stood for retention in 1992.
			Stood for retention in 1996.
			Stood for retention in 2000. 90% Retain.
Michael H. Trujillo Rio Grande County		No longer on bench as of September 2012.
Anna Ulrich Saguache County Reported to lack knowledge of criminal law.		Resigned November 1, 2021.
			Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in November 2016. Previously she was in private practice.
			Stood for retention in 2018. EJF recommendation: Do Not Retain A pathetic 67% of attorneys voted Retain while a full 33% voted Do Not Retain.
Daniel A. Walzl Alamosa County	(719) 589-4996		Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in November 2011. Prior to that he was a public defender.
			Stood for retention in 2014. EJF recommendation: Do Not Retain 69% Retain, 14% Do Not Retain
			Stood for retention again in 2018. EJF recommendation: 80% Marginal
			Stood for retention in 2022. EJF recommendation: Do Not Retain
		Only 69% of attorneys voted to Retain and the remaining 31% voted Do Not Retain. Duplicates his results in 2014.
Robert Wardell Mineral County		No longer on bench as of February 2007.
Kimberly Lynn Wood Costilla County Domestic relations magistrate. Her performance has greatly deteriorated since her first review in 2006.	(719) 672-3681	Did not stand for retention in 2022. Term ends January 10, 2023.
			Appointed county court judge January 2003.
			Stood for retention in 2006. 100% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2010. 88% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2014. 52% Retain. EJF recommendation: Do Not Retain
			Stood for retention again in 2018. EJF recommendation: 71% Sub-Marginal
Barbara A. Zollars Rio Grande County Reported to lack patience for individuals appearing before her.	(719) 657-3394		Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in August 2015.
	(719) 657-3394		Stood for retention in 2018. EJF recommendation: Retain
	88% of attorneys voted to Retain and only 6% voted Do Not Retain.
Top Magistrate
Patrick H. Hayes, Jr. Rio Grande County		Promoted to county judge in 2011 and then to district court judge in June 2015. Died May 29, 2018.
Jason T. Kelly Conejos County Judge Advisement Magistrate	719-589-4996
Kimberly L. Wood Domestic Magistrate

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Last modified 10/14/22.