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

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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: only 80-85% of attorneys voted to retain;

• Do Not Retain: Less than 80% of attorneys voted to retain.

Table 26: Twelfth Judicial District Judges and Magistrates
Name of Judge	Telephone	Case Links	Comments
District Judges
Martin A. Gonzales Rio Grande Combined Court	(719) 657-3394		Appointed district court judge August 2007. Formerly a magistrate.
			Stood for retention in 2010. 100% 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	(719) 589-4496		Promoted from county to district judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in September 2011.
O. John Kuenhold		Retired June 2011
			Appointed district court judge in Feb. 1981.
			Stood for retention in 2002. 97% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2008. 87% Retain.
Pattie P. Swift Chief Judge Alamosa County Promoted October 2011 to Chief Judge	(719) 589-4996		Promoted to district judge from county judge in September 2002.
			Stood for retention in 2006. 90% Retain
			Stood for retention in 2012. EJF recommendation: Marginal
	Only 83% of attorneys voted to retain and 17% voted Do Not Retain. Very low marks for a chief judge.
Top County Judges
Gordon J. Bosa Conejos County		No longer on bench
Mary Elizabeth Garcia Conejos County	(719) 376-5465		Appointed county court judge September 2007.
Mary Elizabeth Garcia Conejos County	(719) 376-5465		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.
Patrick H. Hayes Rio Grande County	(719) 657-3394
Frank Stannard Lentz Mineral County	(719) 658-2575	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	(719) 655-2522		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: Retain
	86% of attorneys voted to Retain but 14% voted Do Not Retain.
Pattie P. Swift Costilla County		Promoted to district judge September 2002.
			Appointed county court judge in 1989.
			Stood for retention in 2000. 90% Retain.
Michael H. Trujillo Rio Grande County		No longer on bench as of September 2012.
Daniel Walzl Alamosa County	(719) 589-4996
Robert Wardell Mineral County		No longer on bench as of February 2007.
Kimberly Lynn Wood Costilla County She is both county judge and domestic relations magistrate.	(719) 672-3681		Appointed county court judge January 2003.
			Stood for retention in 2006. 100% Retain.
			Stood for retention in 2010. 88% Retain.
Top Magistrate (click on name to send her email)
Kimberly L. Wood Alamosa County	(719) 589-4996		She is both county judge and domestic relations magistrate

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Last modified 11/14/12.