Seventh Judicial District - District Judge
Honorable Mary E. Deganhart
Retention Year: 2020
Recommendation: Meets Performance Standard
The Seventh Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously (9-0) agrees, with one Commissioner absent, that Judge Mary E. Deganhart MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Over the past term, Judge Deganhart presided over a mixed docket consisting of 60% civil, 3% mental health, 12% probate and 25% criminal matters. She presides over Adult Treatment Court, a problem-solving court. Based on the Commission’s overall evaluation, Judge Deganhart has demonstrated that she meets or exceeds performance standards in all categories. Overall survey scores for Judge Deganhart were above average. Survey comments were favorable overall, with numerous references to her fairness, professionalism, knowledge of law, patience, and clarity of her language and orders.
The Commission observed or monitored Judge Deganhart in the courtroom, reviewed opinions she had authored, reviewed survey results, interviewed the Chief Judge, the District Attorney and the Public Defender, reviewed Judge Deganhart’s written self-evaluation, and conducted a personal interview. Thirty-one attorneys and one non-attorney completed surveys of Judge Deganhart’s performance. Twenty-nine of the attorneys and the non-attorney agreed that Judge Deganhart meets performance standards. One attorney stated that she did not meet performance standards. The survey addresses the criteria of integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and the public. The criteria are graded on a scale of 0 to 4. Judge Deganhart’s overall rating was 3.5. Judge Deganhart was also evaluated by seven Colorado appellate judges who provided an overall rating of 3.7.
Judge Deganhart was appointed to District Court in July of 2011. She is the second most experienced district court judge in the Seventh Judicial District. Before her appointment to the bench, she served as Ouray County attorney. Judge Deganhart regularly attends judicial conferences, serves on the statewide probate and problem-solving committees, and serves on the Community Corrections Board.