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Panel advances bill to create judicial performance commission for new 20‑Third Judicial District
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Summary
A bill to establish a judicial performance commission for Colorado’s newly created 20‑Third Judicial District cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee 7‑0 and was placed on the consent calendar.
Senate sponsors told the committee House Bill 25‑12‑98 fills an omission from earlier reapportionment by creating a judicial performance commission for the newly formed 20‑Third Judicial District.
The committee voted 7‑0 to advance the bill and recommended its placement on the consent calendar.
Senator Axum, the bill sponsor, said Colorado created the 20‑Third Judicial District during the 2020 session but did not create a corresponding judicial performance commission for that district at the time. “This bill fixes that oversight,” Axum said, describing a straightforward measure that establishes a 10‑member commission to begin work on Dec. 1, 2025, and permits members of the existing Eighteenth Judicial District commission who reside inside the 20‑Third District to continue service if applicable.
Senator Michaelson Janae, co‑prime sponsor, said the bill sets initial staggered terms and allows the Eighteenth Judicial District commission to perform interim evaluations in 2025 for judges who will stand for retention, consistent with the state’s other judicial performance commissions.
Kent Wagner, executive director of the Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation, and Terry Scanlon, legislative liaison for the Colorado courts, testified in support. Wagner asked the committee to “stand up the commission in the 20 Third so we can get those folks rolling and evaluate judges.” Scanlon said the courts support the legislation.
No amendments were offered. The committee moved the bill to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation and placed it on the consent calendar.
Why it matters: The commission will provide retention election evaluations and voter information for judges in the newly created judicial district. Sponsors emphasized there is no appropriation attached to the bill.
