Table 31: Sixteenth Judicial District Judges
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Name of Judge
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Telephone
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Case Links
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Comments
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District Judges
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M. Jon Kolomitz
Became chief judge in July 1988 and remained in that position until his retirement.
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Retired in January 2013 after 27 years on the bench but remains a senior judge and public menace as of September 2020.
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Appointed district court judge February 1985.
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Stood for retention in 2000. 84% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2006.
100% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2012.
EJF recommendation: 95% Retain
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98 CV 54
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To grant the winner's motions, Judge Kolomitz totally violated Partnership and Colorado Title Conveyance laws. But no problem! What could the 80-year-old woman do to stop him from entering lawless orders in favor of her opponent? Once she was wiped out financially and rendered homeless she had no money or strength to complain about it.
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Mark A. MacDonnell
Chief Judge
Division: A
Judge MacDonnell's ratings have been quite inconsistent over the years and are now very low for a chief judge.
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(719) 384-4951
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Promoted to district court and chief judge in February 2013.
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Appointed county court judge in October 1993. Prior experience as a county attorney.
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Stood for retention in 2000.
Only 75+% of attorneys recommended he be retained.
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Stood for retention in 2004. 90% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2008.
100% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2012.
EJF recommendation: 90% Retain
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Appointed district court and chief judge in February 2013 by Gov. Hickenlooper.
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Stood for retention as district judge in 2016.
EJF recommendation: 78% Marginal
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Stood for retention again in 2022.
EJF recommendation:
Do Not Retain
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This time only a pathetic 67% of attorneys voted to Retain and 11% voted Do Not Retain.
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Michael Andrew Schiferl
Otero County
One of only two judges the judicial review commission posted a Do Not Retain finding for in 2016. Commission noted he does not accept constructive criticism and is not receptive to suggestions for positive change and development.
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Retired July 2, 2022, and good riddance.
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Appointed district court judge in 2002.
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Stood for retention in 2004. 94% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2010. 76% Retain
EJF recommendation:
Do Not Retain
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Stood for retention again in 2016.
EJF recommendation:
Do Not Retain
55% Retain, 40% Do Not Retain
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Samuel S. Vigil
Division: B
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719-384-4951
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Promoted to district court judge on June 10, 2022, by Gov. Polis. Previously a county court judges.
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Appointed county judge in February 2013. Holds court one day a week.
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Stood for retention in 2016. 71% Retain
EJF recommendation:
Do Not Retain
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Stood for retention in 2020.
EJF recommendation:
100% Retain
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Top
County Judges
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Lance P. Clark
Bent County
Division: C
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719-456-1353
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Polis on July 29, 2022. Previously in private practice.
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Suzanne A. Grant
Crowley County
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Resigned in January 2017.
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Appointed county court judge in 2007.
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Stood for retention in 2010.
Only 71% of attorneys recommended she be retained.
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Stood for retention in 2014.
EJF recommendation:
Do Not Retain
Did not show any improvement, only 74% Retain, 20% Do Not Retain
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Mark A. MacDonnell
Bent County
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Promoted to district court and chief judge in February 2013.
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Appointed county court judge in October 1993.
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Stood for retention in 2000.
Only 75+% of attorneys recommended he be retained.
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Stood for retention in 2004. 90% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2008.
100% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2012.
EJF recommendation: 90% Retain
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Douglas R. Manley
Otero County
Division: 1
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(719) 384-4721
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Appointed county court judge July 2004.
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Stood for retention in 2006. 82% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2010. 95% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2014. 82% Retain
EJF recommendation: Marginal
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Stood for retention again in 2018.
EJF recommendation: 86% Retain
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Stood for retention again in 2022.
EJF recommendation:
Retain
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This time 100% of attorneys voted to Retain.
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Richard Medina
Crowley County
A lay judge without a law degree.
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(719) 267-4468
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in February 2017. Prior to that he was a Crowley County land use administrator and building inspector and as a Kiowa County GED instructor. Also been a National Park Ranger and at DOC.
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Stood for retention in 2020.
EJF recommendation: Undetermined
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No data provided by judicial review commission.
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Carl W. Ross
Crowley County
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No longer on the bench as of December 2007
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Samuel S. Vigil
Bent County
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Promoted to district court judge on June 10, 2022, by Gov. Polis.
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Appointed county judge in February 2013. Holds court one day a week.
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Stood for retention in 2016. 71% Retain
EJF recommendation:
Do Not Retain
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Stood for retention in 2020.
EJF recommendation:
100% Retain
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Ralph N. Wadleigh (Atty)
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No longer on the bench as of December 2007.
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Top
Magistrate
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Rodney D. Fouracre
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(719) 384-4951
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Sarah E. Zane
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No longer on bench as of October 2022.
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