Eighteenth Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Bonnie Heather McLean
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 Bonnie Heather McLean MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Judge McLean is the Presiding Judge for the Domestic Relations and Juvenile Dockets and the Problem-Solving Courts. Judge McLean’s strengths include her experience with and dedication to specialty courts, her pragmatic approach, her compassion to all parties and participants, and her leadership on the bench. Those who interact with Judge McLean describe her as respectful, empathetic, kind, passionate, and hard-working, Commission members noted Judge McLean’s passion for and commitment to the District’s Specialty Courts in courtroom observations and during her interview. Judge McLean is praised for treating everyone with dignity and respect, managing a busy docket, and appropriately issuing sentences. In addition to her extensive service to the legal profession, Judge McLean avoids impropriety, applies the law and rules fairly, communicates clearly, and efficiently manages her docket. Based on these findings the Commission unanimously agreed that Judge McLean meets performance standards.
In addition to meeting with Chief Judge Amico, the Commission interviewed members of the District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office and Probation regarding their interactions with and impressions of Judge McLean’s performance. Survey responses reviewed from both attorneys and non-attorneys praised Judge McLean’s communication skills, temperament, and control of her docket. In her interview with the Commission, Judge McLean acknowledged the few criticisms in her surveys constructively, with a plan on how to improve her communication and managing her busy docket and mentoring schedule. Judge McLean’s surveys reflected feedback on her Case Management, Application and Knowledge of the Law, Communications, Diligence, Demeanor, and Fairness. Of the forty-two (42) completed surveys returned Judge McLean achieved an overall performance rating of 3.6 of a possible 4.0. Her ratings for meeting performance standards from attorneys was 85% and 94% from non-attorneys.
Judge McLean was appointed in 2015. She graduated cum laude from the University of Colorado at Boulder and earned her law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Prior to her appointment, Judge McLean served as a County Court Magistrate for the Eighteenth Judicial District, presiding over specialty courts. Judge McLean worked as a Deputy District Attorney in the Eighteenth Judicial District before becoming a magistrate. Her public service was recognized by the Arapahoe County Bar Association in 2022. She is a member of the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline and Chair of the Arapahoe County Domestic Relations Best Practice Team.