Fourth Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Theresa M. Cisneros
Retention Year: 2000
Recommendation: Retain
The Fourth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends that Judge Theresa M. Cisneros BE RETAINED.
Judge Cisneros has been a resident of El Paso County for 14 years. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Colorado at Denver, June of 1979. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Denver in August of 1983.
Judge Cisneros was appointed to the Court in January, 1997. She maintained a private practice in Colorado Springs from March, 1993 until January, 1997 with emphasis in criminal defense and juvenile law. Judge Cisneros was a Colorado Deputy Public Defender from June, 1986 until September, 1991. She is the only female minority District Court Judge. Judge Cisneros currently serves as a juvenile judge handling juvenile, mental health, and a criminal docket.
Judge Cisneros is involved in various community activities which encourage respect and understanding of the law. For three years she has donated approximately 100 hours a year coaching high school mock trial teams. She also has served the last two years as a judge for the Colorado Springs Teen Court. She currently serves on the El Paso County Community Corrections Board, has co-chaired the El Paso County Bar Associations Diversity Committee as well as served on the Board of Directors of Chins Up Youth and Family Services, Inc.
The survey results for Judge Cisneros were varied. From non-attorneys, she received a 59% retention rating, a 26% non-retention rating, with 15% having no opinion. In the opinion of the Commission, the survey of attorneys is thought to be statistically flawed. (There were only 16 surveys sent out with 9 returns).
On April 10, 2000, the Judicial Performance Commission held a public hearing. Attorneys' input strongly supported retention of Judge Cisneros. Based on the Commission's interview of Judge Cisneros, the letters and public input, the Commission unanimously voted to retain Judge Cisneros.