Olguin-Fresquez, Rachel 2020 Evaluation

Reports:
2020 Retention Survey Report
2019 Interim Survey Report

The Fifth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously (10-0) agrees that Eagle County Court Judge Rachel J. Olguin-Fresquez MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS based on the following judicial performance criteria: Integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and the public.

Judge Olguin-Fresquez presides over traffic cases, misdemeanors, felonies, County Court civil cases and Small Claims cases.  Based on the Commission’s overall evaluation, Judge Olguin-Fresquez has demonstrated she meets or exceeds performance standards in all categories.  Judge Olguin-Fresquez received consistently positive reviews in her surveys from attorneys and non-attorneys.  Judge Olguin-Fresquez is quick to acknowledge that case management is an area that needs attention, and she appears to be constantly searching for ways to improve her case management and docket flow.  The Commission concludes that Judge Olguin-Fresquez is working diligently to address case management issues.

The Commission conducted a personal interview with the Judge, reviewed opinions she wrote, observed her in court, looked at a case management report, interviewed the Public Defender, District Attorney, and the Chief Judge, and considered surveys sent to attorneys and non-attorneys in 2019-2020.  Twenty-eight attorneys and 2 non- attorneys completed the survey.  Of attorneys who completed the survey, 85% said Judge Olguin-Fresquez does meet performance standards, 12% said does not meet performance standards and the remainder had no opinion.  Of non-attorneys completing the survey, 100% said Judge Olguin-Fresquez does meet performance standards.  Judge Olguin-Fresquez is held in high regard by the attorneys and non- attorneys who appear before her.  She is proud to serve, truly enjoys her work and strives to improve her performance by participating in continuing education and keeping current with changes in the laws.  She frequently attends continuing legal education programs like the annual Judicial Conference, the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada, the annual Colorado Collaborative Justice Conference, and other online trainings.  The Commission finds her writing and decisions easy to read, concise, and exceptionally well written.

Judge Olguin-Fresquez is a Colorado native who graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder with a degree in Sociology and a Colorado Elementary Teaching Certificate.  She taught K-2 for three years before attending Tulane University School of Law in New Orleans, LA.  She worked as a Deputy District Attorney in the Fifth District from 1999 until her appointment to the Clear Creek County Court bench in 2006.  Since appointment to the County Court bench in Eagle County January 17, 2018, and relocating to Eagle County, Judge Olguin-Fresquez has served on the Colorado Judicial Discipline Committee, been the judicial officer on the Eagle RISE (DUI recovery) Court team and the Fifth Judicial District Recovery Court Steering Committee.