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110 N. Riverview Road Room 205
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.
Citizens are strongly encouraged to submit their experiences with Colorado courts and the judges therein. If you would like to review a judge the EJF has a standard form or you can write your own review. A link to your review will be posted next to the judges name. Our mailing address is given at the bottom of the home page or you can email your review to comments@efji.org. We then link such stories and associated documentation to the individual judge(s) in the following sections.
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Promoted to district court judge by Lt. Gov. Primavera on June 9, 2026. Previously he was a magistrate. This is new position created by SB25-024. |
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Seems more inclined to create disputes rather than settle them. |
Promoted district court judge by Gov. Polis on August 15, 2024. Previously she was a magistrate in the 8th Judicial District. |
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While 93% of attorneys voted to Retain and only 7% dissented, the local judicial commission ruled that she Does Not Meet Performance Standards. On appeal, a state commission ruled that she did meet standards. However, the EJF sides with the local commission. Details in Colorado Politics article. |
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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 |
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Only 69% of attorneys voted to Retain while 23% voted Do Not Retain. |
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Three weeks after he was retained he was suspended by the Colorado Supreme Court. |
Resigned after being censured by the judicial disciplinary commission on July 18, 2025. |
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Appointed on December 3, 2021, by Gov. Polis. Previously in private practice. |
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Appointed district court judge on August 19, 2021 by Gov. Polis. Previously he was a deputy district attorney. |
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Promoted to district court judge by Gov. Polis on June 25, 2025. Previously a part-time county court judge. Replaced Judge Haenlein. |
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Polis on July 25, 2025. Previously in private practice. |
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Retired after 27 years as a District Court judge, 17 years of which he spent as Chief District Judge. |
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Deployed for 10-months to Afghanistan in 2012 where he was a Judge Advocate in the Naval Reserve. |
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Promoted to district court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in May 2016. |
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This time only 73% of attorneys voted to Retain while 18% voted Do Not Retain. |
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in April 2014. Replaced Bob Smith. |
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85% of attorneys voted to Retain but 15% voted Do Not Retain. |
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Did not stand for retention in 2026. Term ends January 12, 2027. |
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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. |
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Polis on August 7, 2026. He was a municipal judge in the towns of Flagler and Siebert. |
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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. |
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Appointed county court judge in January 2007. Formerly a magistrate. |
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Stood for retention in 2010. 51% of attorneys recommended Do Not Retain, one of the worst evaluations of any judge the EJF has found. |
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in August 2016. She is a part-time judge and still maintains her private practice. |
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EJF recommendation: Insufficient data Only two attorneys voted. One voted she be Retained, the other had no opinion. |
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Jones does not have a law degree. He is a lay judge with no formal legal training or experience and only has a high school degree. |
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. |
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Insufficient data. However, he reportedly does a fair job and works hard at being fair and equitable. |
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Appointed part-time county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in June 2014. |
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EJF recommendation. Undetermined Only three attorneys voted, all to Retain, but that is not an adequate sample. |
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Stood for retention again in 2024. |
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Appointed part-time (20%-county court judge by Gov. Polis on October 18, 2021. Previously in private practice. |
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Appointed county court judge in Morgan County by Gov. Polis on May 28, 2025. She was a county court judge in Baca County, 15th Judicial District |
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Appointed county court judge in November 2004. Formerly a magistrate. |
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Stepped down from bench in March 2017 two months after her husband was elected county sheriff. |
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. HIckenlooper in June 2014. Previously a sheriffs deputy and does not hold a law degree. |
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Did not stand for retention in 2018 and retired in January 2019. |
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Stood for retention in 2006. Only 63% of attorneys recommended he be retained. |
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Appointed by Bill Owens in September 2006. Formerly municipal judge for Wray, Yuma, and Eckley. |
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EJF recommendation: Do Not Retain Just 50% of attorneys voted Retain, 35% voted Do Not Retain. |
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Promoted to county court judge in the 5 th Judicial District by Gov. Polis on December 2, 2022. |
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Promoted to county court judge in November 2004 and then to district court judge in May 2016. |
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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 — Fourteenth Judicial District |
| Back — Twelfth Judicial District |
This site is supported and maintained by the Equal Justice Foundation.