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Cheyenne Wells, Colorado 80810
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: only 80-85% of attorneys voted to retain. In 2014 review this was changed to 75-85% of attorneys voted to retain;
• Do Not Retain: Less than 80% of attorneys voted to retain. In 2014 review this was changed to <75% of attorneys voted to retain.
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Did not stand for retention in 2022. Term ended January 10, 2023. |
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Appointed district court judge in October 2001 by Gov. Owens. |
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Stood for retention again in 2016. |
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Appointed district court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in October 2015. Formerly in private practice. |
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Appointed chief judge effective August 5, 2024, but has not yet stood for retention even once. |
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Appointed district court judge by Gov. Polis effective December 10, 2022. Previously Senior Deputy Public Defender in La Junta Office. |
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Why is this man still on the bench? Clearly he has problems that are affecting his ability to be a judge. |
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Stood for retention again in 2018. |
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Again 50% of attorneys voted to Retain, while 50% voted Do Not Retain. |
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Polis effective March 1, 2022. Previously deputy district attorney. |
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Criticized for lack of diligence, and application and legal knowledge. On Clear the Bench, December 15, 2017, Frank Unger said: “Debra Gunkel, in my opinion is a horrible and unethical attorney and judge in Prowers County who makes slanderous statements in open court as if they were truth yet, in actuality they have no basis in fact.” |
Judge Gunkel agreed to “retire” in May 2021 after twice being convicted of drunk driving and publicly censured by the Colorado Supreme Court. |
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This time only a pathetic 33% of attorneys voted to Retain and, unusually, a full 33% voted Do Not Retain. |
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Judge Gunkel was arrested in 2018 and 2019 and charged with driving under the influence. Both times she was stopped, she told the arresting officers that she was a judge, and asked that they either take her home or call her husband instead of taking her to jail. She pled guilty and was convicted in both cases and later publicly censured by the Colorado Supreme Court. |
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in November 2011. No prior judicial experience and he does not hold a law degree. |
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Appointed county court judge on July 2, 2021. Previously a Hearing Officer for the Colorado Department of Revenue. |
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Appointed county court judge in June 2016 by Gov. Hickenlooper. Replaced Stutler. Prior to appointment he was a deputy district attorney. |
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Lost some steam this time with only 86% of attorneys voting to Retain, but there were no dissenting votes. |
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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 — Sixteenth Judicial District |
| Back — Fourteenth Judicial District |
This site is supported and maintained by the Equal Justice Foundation.