Eighteenth Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Ben L. Leutwyler III
Retention Year: 2024
Recommendation: Meets Performance Standards
Reports:
2024 Retention Survey Report (PDF)
2021 Interim Survey Report (PDF)
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The Eighteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously agrees by a vote of 7-0, with three commissioners absent from voting, that Judge Ben L. Leutwyler III MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Judge Leutwyler presides over civil matters in Arapahoe County, Colorado. Judge Leutwyler’s strengths include his passion for the law, his judicial demeanor, and his work ethic. As described by those that interact with him, he is patient and respectful, knowledgeable in the law, well-prepared, dependable, fair, and he conducts himself professionally at all times. Commission members observed these qualities in him during his personal interview and while observing him in court proceedings. Judge Leutwyler works to continuously improve the management of his docket in an effort to increase efficiency. He strives for balanced sentencing, utilizing plain and easy to understand language in rulings, and equity in his decisions. He uses the knowledge gained in these reviews to refine his judicial officer skills and written decisions. Based on these findings the Commission unanimously agreed that Judge Leutwyler meets performance standards.
The Commission met with Chief Judge Michelle A. Amico to discuss her interactions with Judge Leutwyler, as well as with members of the District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office and the Probation Office, to discuss their impressions of Judge Leutwyler’s performance. The Commission members also conducted a personal interview with Judge Leutwyler, observed him during court proceedings, and reviewed judicial performance survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys that interacted with him in his courtroom. The surveys reflected personal opinions on Judge Leutwyler’s Case Management, Application and Knowledge of the Law, Communications, Diligence, Demeanor, and Fairness. Of the thirty-nine (39) completed surveys returned, Judge Leutwyler achieved an overall performance rating of 3.2 of a possible 4.0. His ratings for meeting performance standards from attorneys was 80%, and 75% from non-attorneys.
Judge Leutwyler was appointed to the bench on July 1, 2016. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa and his law degree from Georgia State University. Prior to his appointment as a district court judge he served as a magistrate in the Eighteenth Judicial District presiding over domestic relations and misdemeanor cases. Judge Leutwyler volunteers with the high school mock trial program, serves on the Colorado Judicial Conference planning committee, and serves on the Advisory Committee for the Arapahoe Community College paralegal program.