Eighth Judicial District - Jackson County Court Judge
Honorable Chelsea W. Rengel
Retention Year: 2022
Recommendation: Meets Performance Standard
The Eighth Judicial District Commission by a vote of 9-0 determines that the Honorable Chelsea W. Rengel 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 Rengel is a part-time judicial officer who presides over traffic, misdemeanor, small claims, and civil cases in Jackson County. Presiding over cases within a small community can be challenging; however, Judge Rengel has implemented strategies to remain impartial while still being connected to her community. Survey comments highlighted Judge Rengel’s knowledge of the law as well as her treatment of those who appear before her with respect, fairness and dignity. The Commission observed these qualities throughout her evaluation, during court observations and interview.
The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Rengel, reviewed opinions she authored, observed her in court, and reviewed judicial performance survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who appeared in Judge Rengel’s courtroom. The Commission also met with representatives of the District Attorney’s Office and the Office of the Public Defender. A total of eight individuals, four attorneys and four non-attorneys, believed they had sufficient knowledge to express their opinion of Judge Rengel. Given that Jackson County is a small community, the small response size is not surprising to the Commission. When asked whether Judge Rengel meets performance standards: Of the attorneys responding to the survey, 100% answered yes. Of the non-attorneys responding to the survey, 75% answered yes and 25% answered no. Judge Rengel received particularly high ratings in the area of case management.
Judge Rengel was appointed as a County Court Judge in the 8th Judicial District in July of 2019. Judge Rengel received her undergraduate degree from Marquette University in 2008 and her Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga University School of Law in 2011. Prior to her appointment, Judge Rengel practiced as an associate attorney with Miller and Associates Law Offices in Denver, Colorado, specializing in administrative and appellate law. Judge Rengel previously served as a Deputy Public Defender in the First Judicial District.