Eighth Judicial District - Larimer County Court Judge
Honorable Kraig Ecton
Retention Year: 2024
Recommendation: Meets Performance Standards
Reports:
2024 Retention Survey Report (PDF)
2023 Interim Survey Report (PDF)
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The Eighth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance, by a vote of 10-0, agrees that Judge Kraig Ecton MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Judge Ecton’s docket consists of a mix of civil cases, criminal cases, misdemeanor cases, traffic cases, mental health, and small claims matters. Judge Ecton runs an efficient courtroom. He is calm and treats individuals appearing before him with respect and fairness. Judge Ecton is prepared for his court proceedings and is well-versed in the law. The Commission was impressed with Judge Ecton’s thoughtful and self-reflective analysis of his performance and willingness to incorporate appropriate feedback. It is clear to the Commission that he takes his role seriously and approaches it with humility. He listens to the parties appearing in his courtroom before rendering his decision. Some concerns have been raised about Judge Ecton’s use of virtual appearances. Judge Ecton thoroughly explained his reasoning, and the Commission accepts that his rationale is intended to preserve the integrity of court proceedings. Judge Ecton is to be commended for participating in Larimer County’s weekend warrant clearance events. The Commission concludes that Judge Ecton remains a positive, motivated, and caring judge who meets judicial performance standards.
The Commission personally interviewed Judge Ecton, observed him in court (both in person and virtually), analyzed judicial performance survey data, reviewed a sample of written orders, considered written comments from attorneys and non-attorneys, and reviewed his self-evaluation. In addition, the Commission received comments from representatives of the District Attorney’s Office and the Public Defender’s Office. A total of 32 individuals, 10 attorneys and 22 non-attorneys, believed they had sufficient knowledge to assess whether Judge Ecton meets performance standards. When asked whether Judge Ecton meets performance standards: Of the attorneys responding to the survey, six answered yes, three answered no, and one expressed no opinion. Of the non-attorneys responding to the survey, 17 answered yes, three answered no, and two expressed no opinion. His overall performance score based on a total of 33 responses is 3.2 out of 4 for all performance categories combined (case management, application and knowledge of law, communications, diligence, demeanor, and fairness). Given significantly low response rates to the surveys overall, the Commission gave the appropriate weight to the survey responses in its evaluation.
Judge Ecton was appointed to the Larimer County Court in January of 2014. Prior to being appointed to the bench, Judge Ecton served as a Deputy District Attorney for Larimer County and an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Fort Collins. Judge Ecton received his undergraduate degree in mathematics from Colorado College, his master’s degree in business administration from Colorado State University, and his law degree from the University of Colorado.