Fifth Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Rachel J. Olguin-Fresquez
Retention Year: 2024
Recommendation: Meets Performance Standards
Reports:
2024 Retention Survey Report (PDF)
2023 Interim Survey Report (PDF)
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The Fifth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance finds that Judge Rachel J. Olguin-Fresquez in a 9-0 vote and one recusal, MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, based on standardized judicial performance criteria.
The Commission observed that Judge Olguin-Fresquez is patient, compassionate, introspective, and possesses a desire to learn. She maintains a calm, steady demeanor on the bench, even in difficult situations. Judge Olguin-Fresquez reflects that she “strive[s] to always be a positive and trustworthy representative of the judicial system.” She identified this year at the District Court level as a year of growth, working toward becoming more proficient in new areas of law. Her District Court docket comprises approximately 7% civil litigation, 49% domestic relations, 10% juvenile, 11% mental health, 19% criminal, 1% misdemeanor, and 2% traffic cases. The Commission encourages Judge Olguin-Fresquez to continue expanding her knowledge base in domestic relations and civil matters. The Commission suggests Judge Olguin-Fresquez remain cognizant of long-term effects of her orders, especially within family law/domestic relations cases. The Commission hopes her recent legal writing training translates to producing written orders that support her verbal orders providing prompt, thorough, and clear application of the law to the parties appearing before her. This will provide greater stability for parties already struggling with civility and reduce legal financial burdens and issues for family litigants. The Commission continues to suggest she take advantage of local and Colorado-wide professional development opportunities; professionally engage with the local bar; and leverage technology for courtroom accessibility, efficiency, and time management.
The Commission conducted a personal interview with the Judge, reviewed opinions she wrote, observed her in court, and considered survey results provided by 20 attorneys and 29 non- attorneys, which was a relatively small sample. Judge Olguin-Fresquez received consistently positive reviews in her surveys from attorneys and non-attorneys, with lower marks from non- attorneys. The partial year-to-year trend showed a slight decline in overall score, which may be attributed to the smaller survey sample size this year. Management of her docket was rated at 3.7 out of 4 for Attorney responses. The most consistent constructive feedback provided in the surveys reflect a desire for more education in family law and its associated complexities, clear direction regarding case management and scheduling, and ensuring parties are provided a fair opportunity to be heard. The Commission previously made certain training and resource recommendations that the Commission felt were not pursued by Judge Olguin-Fresquez. Her Recovery Court uses best practices to strive for sobriety for the participants, setting a model for all other problem-solving courts.
Judge Olguin-Fresquez was appointed to the District Court for the Fifth Judicial District on November 1, 2022. Prior to her District Court appointment, Judge Olguin-Fresquez served as a County Court Judge, predominantly focused on criminal cases, within the Fifth Judicial District from 2006 to 2022. She prioritizes family and is active in her church, the local soccer program, and Habitat for Humanity. She is also working towards a more active role in Our Courts Colorado.