Second Judicial District - Denver County Court Judge
Honorable David Blackett
Retention Year: 2024
Recommendation: Meets Performance Standards
Reports:
2024 Retention Survey Report (PDF)
2023 Interim Survey Report (PDF)
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The Denver County Court Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously agrees by a vote of 5-0 that Honorable Judge David Blackett MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. The Colorado statutory judicial performance criteria are integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and the public.
In just over two and a half years on the bench, Judge Blackett has earned a reputation as a judge who manages his caseload efficiently, while also giving parties the opportunity to be heard in each matter. Soon after being appointed, he worked with other Denver County Court judges to create a standard statement to be read at the beginning of each session to explain how each case will be handled and to assure everyone that they will have an opportunity to be heard. Before approving settlements and stipulations, he asks parties not represented by counsel to state in their own words what they are agreeing to in order to ensure that they understand the proceedings and consequences. In 2023, to address a need in the community, Judge Blackett partnered with a city housing agency to create an eviction clinic in the City and County Building. This clinic currently helps around 300 families facing eviction each month to understand their options. Judge Blackett is known for his kindness and friendliness with the staff at the Denver County Court and his overall compassion. Outside of the courtroom, Judge Blackett participates as a mentor in a program developed to increase the pipeline of diverse students entering law school. He also offers financial literacy classes to city employees and repairs donated bikes for charity.
In evaluating Judge Blackett, the commission used live, livestream and recorded courtroom observations, conducted a personal interview with the judicial officer, case management data, and reviewed surveys from attorney and non-attorney courtroom participants, comments received from interested parties during the evaluation, and the judicial officer self-evaluation, with supporting documents when submitted, to inform its decision for meets/does not meet performance standards.
Judge Blackett was appointed to the Denver County Court in January of 2022 by Mayor Michael Hancock. Prior to his appointment, he worked as a police officer before earning his law degree from the University of Arizona Rogers College of Law, where he was the Chester Smith scholarship recipient. After graduation he clerked for Judge Cindy Jorgenson in Federal District Court. He moved back to Colorado to raise his family and worked at the Adams County District Attorney’s Office, rising to chief deputy district attorney before being appointed as a district court magistrate in Adams County, where he handled juvenile, probate, civil, domestic relations, and criminal matters.