Sixteenth Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Mark A. MacDonnell
Retention Year: 2022
Recommendation: Meets Performance Standard
Reports:
2022 Retention Survey Report (PDF)
2019 Interim Survey Report (PDF)
Need an accessible PDF Document version?
Please click on the link below and email our staff
The Sixteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously agrees by a vote of 10-0 that Judge Mark A. MacDonnell 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 MacDonnell presides over civil, domestic relations, juvenile, mental health, probate, and criminal matters in Otero, Bent and Crowley County, Colorado. Judge MacDonnell’s demeanor is described as dignified, respectful, kind, and understanding to defendants in the court room. Judge MacDonnell has exceptional written orders and understanding of complex legal issues. Judge MacDonnell exhibits excellent command of the courtroom and docket control. Commission members observed these qualities during their evaluation and interview. Based on these findings the Commission unanimously agreed that Judge Mark MacDonnell meets performance standards.
The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge MacDonnell, interviewed both the Public Defender and District Attorney, reviewed opinions Judge MacDonnell authored, observed him in court, reviewed a self-evaluation survey and reviewed judicial performance survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who had interaction in Judge MacDonnell’s court. Among the survey questions asked, “Based on your responses to the previous questions related to the performance evaluation criteria, do you think Judge MacDonnell meets judicial performance standards?” Of the attorneys responding to this question, 85% answered yes; and 15% answered no. Of the non-attorneys responding to the survey, 85% answered yes; 15% answered no. A total of ten attorneys and fourteen non-attorneys responded to the judicial performance surveys expressing their opinion of Judge MacDonnell.
Judge MacDonnell has been appointed to the District Court since 2013. He graduated from Adams State University with a B.A. degree and received his law degree from the University of Colorado. Judge MacDonnell is active in the legal community, having served in numerous leadership positions in the 16th Judicial District Bar Association and the Colorado Bar Association. Judge MacDonnell and his wife have three children and four grandchildren.