Thirteenth Judicial District — Kit Carson, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington and Yuma Counties

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Kit Carson County Courthouse

251 16th Street, Suite 301

Burlington, CO 80807

Telephone: (719) 346-5524

Facsimile: (719) 346-7805

Logan County Courthouse

110 N. Riverview Road Room 205

Sterling, CO 80751

Telephone: (970) 522-6565

Facsimile: (970) 522-6566

Morgan County Justice Center

P.O. Box 130

400 Warner Street

Fort Morgan, CO 80701

Telephone: (970) 542-3435

Facsimile: (970) 542-3436

Phillips County Courthouse

221 South Interocean

Holyoke, Colorado 80734

Telephone: (970) 854-3279

Facsimile: (970) 854-3179

Sedgwick County Courthouse

Third and Pine

Julesburg, Colorado 80737

Telephone: (970) 474-3637

Facsimile: (970) 474-2026

Washington County Courthouse

P.O. Box 455

26861 Highway 34

Akron, Colorado 80720

Telephone: (970) 345-2756

Facsimile: (970) 345-2829

Yuma County Courthouse

P.O. Box 347

310 Ash Street

Wray, Colorado 80758

Telephone: (970) 332-4118

Facsimile: (970) 332-4119

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 28: Thirteenth Judicial District Judges
Name of Judge	Telephone	Case Links	Comments
District Judges
Stephanie M. G. Gagliano AKA “Stevie”	970-522-6565		Appointed district court judge by Gov. Polis in May 2019. Formerly a municipal judge for Log Lane Village and the Town of Otis since January of 2013
			Stood for retention in 2022. EJF recommendation: Do Not Retain
		Only 69% of attorneys voted to Retain while 23% voted Do Not Retain.
Justin B. Haenlein Division E	719-346-5524		Appointed on December 3, 2021, by Gov. Polis. Previously in private practice.
Charles M. Hobbs Division C	(970) 542-5200		Appointed district court judge in 2009.
			Stood for retention in 2012. EJF recommendation: 95% Retain
			Stood for retention again in 2018. EJF recommendation: Marginal
	This time only 83% of attorneys voted to Retain and 8% Do Not Retain.
Kevin Hoyer Morgan County		Retired October 1, 20221
			Appointed district court judge in 2005. Formerly county court judge.
			Stood for retention in 2008. 100% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2014. 77% Retain EJF recommendation: Marginal
			Stood for retention in 2020. EJF recommendation: 88% Retain
Robert C. James Morgan County Division D	970-542-5200		Appointed district court judge on August 19, 2021 by Gov. Polis. Previously he was a deputy district attorney.
James R. Leh Logan County		No longer on bench
Carl S. McGuire III Chief Judge Kit Carson County Division B Deployed for 10-months to Afghanistan in 2012 where he was a Judge Advocate in the Naval Reserve.	(970) 522-6565		Promoted to district court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in May 2016.
			Appointed county court judge in November 2004.
			Stood for retention in 2008. 86% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2012. EJF recommendation: 96% Retain
			Stood for retention in 2018. EJF recommendation: Retain
		94% of attorneys voted to Retain and none voted against him.
John Curtis Penny, Jr. Logan County		No longer on bench as of September 2012.
John Curtis Penny, Jr. Logan County			Promoted from county judge by Gov. Owens in September 2006.
Steven E. Shinn former Chief Judge Logan County		Did not stand for retention in November 2006 and retired
Michael K. Singer former Chief Judge Logan County		Retired January 1, 2022.
			Appointed district court judge in July 2003.
			Stood for retention in 2006. 93% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2012. EJF recommendation: Retain 86% Retain, 14% Do Not Retain. Low rating for a chief judge.
			Stood for retention again in 2018. EJF recommendation: 91% Retain
Douglas R. Vannoy Morgan County		Retired July 1, 2016.
			Appointed district court judge in 1988.
			Stood for retention in 2002. 86% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2008. 93% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2014. EJF recommendation: Marginal 77% Retain

Top County Judges
Ray Ann Brammer Logan County	(970) 522-1572		Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in April 2014. Replaced Bob Smith.
			Stood for retention in 2016. 75% Retain EJF recommendation: Marginal
			Stood for retention in 2020. EJF recommendation: Retain
		88% of attorneys voted to Retain and 12% voted Do Not Retain.
Dennis E. Brandenburg Morgan County	(970) 542-5200		Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper September 7, 2018 and took the bench on January 8, 2019. Formerly municipal judge to Fort Morgan, Brush, Sterling, and Otis.
			Stood for retention in 2022. EJF recommendation: Retain
		92% of attorneys voted to Retain with just 8% voting Do Not Retain.
Thomas J. Callahan Yuma County		No longer on bench as of February 2007.
Max E. Carlson Sedgwick County		No longer on bench as of September 2012.
David O. Colver Phillips County		No longer on bench as of September 2014.
			Appointed part-time (25%) county judge in 1980.
			Stood for retention in 1998. Not rated.
			Stood for retention in 2002. 100% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2006. 100% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2010. 100% Retain.
James Craig Dolezal Sedgwick County Does not have a law degree and serves as a lay judge.			Appointed county judge by Gov. Hickenlooper on May 1, 2017. He fills vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Neugebauer in March 2017. This is a part-time position and Dolezal is also an Enumerator with the National Agriculture Statistic Service and the State of Colorado Division of the National Association of States Department of Agriculture.
			Stood for retention in 2020. EJF recommendation: Do Not Retain
		Does not have a law degree and doesn't meet state standards. Of 3 attorneys 2 (67%) voted to Retain while 1 (33%) voted Do Not Retain.
Michael K. Grinnan Kit Carson County	(719) 346-5524		Appointed county court judge in January 2007. Formerly a magistrate.
			Stood for retention in 2010. 51% of attorneys recommended Do Not Retain, one of the worst evaluations of any judge the EJF has found.
			Stood for retention in 2014. EJF recommendation: 94% Retain A remarkable turnaround.
			Stood for retention again in 2018. EJF recommendation: 94% Retain
			Stood for retention again in 2022. EJF recommendation: Undetermined
		Only 2 attorneys voted, one for retention and one against.
Kelly S. Hansen Washington County	(970) 345-2756		Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in August 2016. She is a part-time judge and still maintains her private practice.
			Stood for retention in 2018. EJF recommendation: Insufficient data Only two attorneys voted. One voted she be Retained, the other had no opinion.
			Stood for retention again in 2022. EJF recommendation: Retain
		All four attorneys voted to Retain.
Kevin L. Hoyer Washington County		Promoted to district court Judge in 2005.
			Appointed county court judge in 1987.
			Stood for retention in 1998. Not Rated.
			Stood for retention in 2002. 100% Retain.
Kristei Ray Jones Yuma County Jones does not have a law degree. He is a lay judge with no formal legal training or experience.	(970) 332-4118		Appointed County Court Judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in 2018. He fills a vacancy created by the resignation of the Sara Marie Wagers-Johnson in June 2018. Jones is a ranch owner and operator, as well as a location manager at the Aurora Cooperative.
			Stood for retention in 2020. EJF recommendation: Do Not Retain
		Only 67% of attorneys voted to Retain while 33% voted Do Not Retain.
Kimbra Leigh Killin Phillips County Division 4	(970) 854-3279		Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in June 2014.
			Stood for retention in 2016. EJF recommendation. Undetermined
		Only three attorneys voted, all to Retain, but that is not an adequate sample.
Myka M. Landry Sedgwick County Division 5	970-474-3627		Appointed county court judge by Gov. Polis on October 18, 2021. Previously in private practice.
Carl S. McGuire III Washington County Also magistrate for Logan County.	October 18, 2021.	Promoted to district court judge in May 2016.
			Appointed county court judge in November 2004. Formerly a magistrate.
			Stood for retention in 2008. 86% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2012. EJF recommendation: Retain 96%

Tera Neugebauer Sedgwick County		Stepped down from bench in March 2017 two months after her husband was elected county sheriff.
			Appointed county court judge by Gov. HIckenlooper in June 2014. Previously a sheriffs deputy and does not hold a law degree.
			Stood for retention in 2016. EJF recommendation: Undetermined
Michael T. Schingle Morgan County		Did not stand for retention in 2018 and retired in January 2019.
			Appointed county court judge in July 2000.
			Stood for retention in 2002. 100% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2006. 85+% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2010. 97% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2014. EJF recommendation: 97% Retain
Robert B. Smith Logan County		No longer on bench as of September 2014.
			Appointed county court judge in 2000. Formerly Sterling municipal court judge.
			Stood for retention in 2002. 100% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2006. Only 63% of attorneys recommended he be retained.
			Stood for retention in 2010. 88% Retain.
Sara Marie Wagers-Johnson Yuma County		Resigned June 28, 2018.
			Appointed by Bill Owens in September 2006. Formerly municipal judge for Wray, Yuma, and Eckley.
			Stood for retention in 2010. 82% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2014. EJF recommendation: Do Not Retain Just 50% of attorneys voted Retain, 35% voted Do Not Retain.
Top Magistrate
Matthew W. E. Bradley	970-542-5201
Michael K. Grinnan		Promoted to county court judge in January 2007.
Carl S. McGuire Logan County		Promoted to county court judge in November 2004 and then to district court judge in May 2016.

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Last modified 10/14/22.