Sixteenth Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable M. Jon Kolomitz
Retention Year: 2012
Recommendation: Retain
Reports:
2012 Retention Survey Report (PDF)
2011 Interim Survey Report (PDF)
2009 Interim Survey Report (PDF)
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The Sixteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously recommends by a vote of 10-0 that Chief Judge M. Jon Kolomitz BE RETAINED.
Judge Kolomitz was appointed Chief District Judge in 1987. Prior to this appointment Judge Kolomitz served as a District Judge, as a Municipal Judge, was in private practice and served as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigations. He received his Bachelors of Arts and Juris Doctorate degrees from the University of Colorado. Judge Kolomitz has dedicated his professional life to service and this is reflected in his exemplary history of volunteer service. His service to the legal profession includes a Chairmanship of the Chief Judge's Council, working with the Colorado Judicial Discipline Commission, spearheading cooperative initiatives as a member of the Federal-State Coordinating Council, creating new judicial oversight metrics while Co-Chairing the Task Force on Protective Proceedings in Probate, and membership on the Probate Advisory Committee. In service to the State and Community Judge Kolomitz has served on the La Junta School Board, the State Board of Nursing, the Otero County Child Protection Team, the Colorado Lend-A-Lawyer Board, the Koshare Indian Kiva Museum, Inc. Board, and the Koshare Foundation. Judge Kolomitz received the 2008 Judicial Excellence Award from the Colorado Judicial Institute and has been designated as one of only three judges in the state to preside over the resolution of conservation easement tax credit disputes.
Chief Judge Kolomitz is devoted to his profession and to those appearing before his court. He is attuned to his duties in the administration of the Sixteenth Judicial District. A consummate professional, he runs his courtroom efficiently. Of note, Judge Kolomitz also understands that some cases may require more time and effort to resolve or prepare for
trial. He will intervene when he believes case management needs judicial attention, and is ever willing to set a status conference or short hearing to resolve minor or complex matters in ongoing litigation. Attorneys and pro se litigants alike understand his unwavering commitment to applying the law to the facts presented and rendering a measured, thoughtful and thorough judgment. In the Sixteenth Judicial District, a district judge hears civil, criminal, domestic relations, probate, juvenile, and mental health cases. His depth and breadth of legal knowledge is indeed noteworthy and an asset to the Judicial District. Though his duties as chief judge over conservation easement cases has recently limited his cases in Bent and Crowley Counties, Judge Kolomitz still maintains a full caseload in Otero County. In evaluating Judge Kolomitz the Commission reviewed survey results from lawyers, non-lawyers, and appellate judges, held public hearings, interviewed the judge, reviewed a fascinating selection of written rulings, and observed him in open court.
Of all attorneys surveyed about retention, 93% recommended to retain, 6% not to retain, and 3% were undecided or did not have enough information to make a recommendation. Of those expressing an opinion to retain or not to retain, 95% recommended to retain and 6% not to retain. Of all non-attorneys surveyed, 86% recommended to retain, 10% not to retain, and 4% were undecided or did not have enough information to make a recommendation. Of those expressing an opinion to retain or not to retain, 90% recommended to retain and 10% not to retain. (These percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.) It should be noted that the statistics relied upon for this survey are sparse. The sample size of lawyers was 40 and the sample size for non-lawyers was 141. The appellate judges grading Judge Kolomitz a high B+; higher than the state average for all district judges standing for retention.