Kilgore, Theresa 2022 Evaluation

Reports:

2022 Retention Survey Report

2021 Interim Survey Report

The Fourth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance voted 6-0 (with 4 absent) that Judge Theresa L. Kilgore MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. The Colorado statutory judicial performance standards are integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and the public

Judge Kilgore’s docket includes approximately 25 percent civil and 75 percent criminal, with 35 percent of criminal cases composed of traffic/DUI cases and 27 percent misdemeanor and domestic violence.  Judge Kilgore’s overall combined score on the 2022 Judicial Performance Survey was 3.5 out of 4.0, which is higher than the average county court combined score of 3.4 out of 4.0.  Of the 44 individual surveys submitted, with 19 attorneys and 25 non-attorneys responding, 89 percent of attorneys rated Judge Kilgore as meeting performance standards, substantially higher than the county court judge average of 83 percent. Similarly, 85 percent of non-attorneys also rated Judge Kilgore as meeting performance standards, two percentage points higher than the 83 percent average for county court judges.  Attorneys scored Judge Kilgore 3.7 in case management, 3.4 in application of the law, 3.7 in communications, 3.6 in demeanor, and 3.4 in fairness. Non-attorney scores in the same categories were all consistently higher than average.  Attorneys commented that Judge Kilgore was kind, professional and respectful, and ensures that pro-se litigants don’t feel “walked on”.  Non-attorneys commented that Judge Kilgore is a good judge but could take more time for additional dialogue.

The Commission interviewed Judge Kilgore and several members observed her in court.  The Commission also reviewed court cases, written decisions and reviewed her self-evaluation and survey scores and comments from the 2022 Judicial Review Performance Surveys.  The Commission also interviewed the Chief Judge, District Attorney and Public Defender about Judge Kilgore.  All asserted that Judge Kilgore meets performance standards. In the interview with Judge Kilgore, the members of the commission were impressed with Judge Kilgore’s demeanor and felt her judicial temperament and performance were a good fit in her role as the Teller County Court Judge and is an asset to the bench.

Judge Theresa L. Kilgore has served as the Teller County Court Judge since September 2015. Prior to her appointment, Judge Kilgore worked at Colorado Legal Services for 18 years, 8 years as the Managing Attorney. Her primary practice area was family law. Judge Kilgore received her B.A. from The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, and her law degree from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. She received the 2013 Portia Award for Outstanding Woman Lawyer from the El Paso County Chapter of the CWBA. She is a member of the Colorado Bar Association, the El Paso County Bar Association, and the Colorado Women’s Bar Association.