Kilgore, Theresa 2018 Evaluation

Reports:
2018 Retention Survey Report
2017 Retention Survey Report

The Fourth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously (6-0) agrees that Teller County Court Judge Theresa L. Kilgore MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.

Judge Kilgore was appointed to the Teller County Court in August, 2015. Prior to her appointment, during the period 2007 through 2015, Judge Kilgore served first as staff attorney, then as managing attorney of the Colorado Springs Legal Services office. Prior to that she worked as a senior legal editor for the McGraw Hill Publishing Company and in private practice.  Judge Kilgore received an undergraduate degree from the College of William & Mary, and a law degree from Catholic University. Judge Kilgore is member of Communities that Care, an organization that was formed to prevent substance abuse among young people in Teller County.  She is also a volunteer judge with both Teen Court and the High School Mock Trial program.  Judge Kilgore is a Trustee of the El Paso County Bar Association.
 
The Commission conducted a personal interview of Judge Kilgore, reviewed opinions she authored, observed her in court, reviewed comments received from interested parties during the evaluation, and reviewed survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who had experience with Judge Kilgore. Of the attorneys who responded to the survey, 64% stated that they believe that Judge Kilgore meets performance standards and 36% responded that she does not meet performance standards. Among non-attorneys who responded to the survey, 88% stated that they believe that Judge Kilgore meets performance standards while 3% responded that Judge Kilgore does not meet performance standard. Another 9% expressed no opinion. The Commission notes the relatively small sample size among responding attorneys. Only 16 attorneys responded to the survey, as compared to the 93 non-attorneys who provided a response. 

Among non-attorneys who responded to the survey, Judge Kilgore had very high scores in all categories. Ninety percent (90%) of non-attorney respondents felt she made sure that all participants understood the proceedings, and 91% felt that she used language that everyone understood. The non-attorneys also rated her very high in diligence, punctuality, and in maintaining proper control over the proceedings. Judge Kilgore received lower scores among responding attorneys. Attorneys scored Judge Kilgore lower on her application and knowledge of the law and on diligence. However, the Commission again notes the extremely small number of attorneys who responded to the survey. In reporting her strengths, recurring themes among the non-attorneys were that Judge Kilgore is compassionate and fair. At her personal interview and in her self-evaluation, Judge Kilgore expressed her strong ongoing commitment to continue to develop as a Judge. The Commission felt she was an above average jurist who ran a fair, compassionate, and efficient courtroom.