First Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Christie Bachmeyer Phillips
Retention Year: 2012
Recommendation: Retain
Reports:
2012 Retention Survey Report (PDF)
2011 Interim Survey Report (PDF)
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The First Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends by a unanimous vote that Judge Christie Bachmeyer Phillips BE RETAINED.
Judge Phillips received her Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University and her law degree from the University of Colorado Law School. She was appointed to the First Judicial District Court in 2009. Before her appointment to the court, Judge Phillips was Chief Deputy District Attorney for the First Judicial District and in private practice. She handles a mix of civil, domestic relations, and criminal cases. Her community interests include being on the Board of the Footsteps, a program which serves poor women with multiple needs who are incarcerated and need help transitioning to the outside. She has been a mentor for law students and involved as a coach and judge for high school mock court trial teams.
The Commission considered responses to anonymous surveys sent to attorneys and non-attorneys who had been in Judge Phillips’s courtroom, unannounced courtroom visitations by Commission members, a self-evaluation by Judge Phillips, a personal interview with Judge Phillips, and other information in reaching its recommendation regarding Judge Phillips. This is the first time that Judge Phillips has been reviewed by the Commission. Judge Phillips scored above average in every category in which she was rated, and well above the average for all District Retention Judges surveyed. Comments received from both attorneys and non-attorneys stated that Judge Phillips was stunningly smart, compassionate, well prepared, articulate, caring, listened intently through the proceedings, and made fair and thoughtful rulings. Judge Phillips describes her judicial philosophy as one that allows all litigants that appear before her the opportunity to be heard with dignity and respect. They should walk out of her courtroom believing they were heard, and the judge was fair. The only concern identified in surveys related to Judge Phillips was her need to improve docket management. These concerns were addressed with the judge during our interview with her, and the Commission was satisfied that these were not significant weaknesses.
Of all attorneys surveyed about retention, 83% recommended to retain, 10% not to retain, and 7% were undecided or didn’t have enough information to make a recommendation. Of those expressing an opinion to retain or not to retain, 90% recommended to retain and 11% not to retain. Of all non-attorneys surveyed, 79% recommended to retain, 11% not to retain, and 9% were undecided or didn’t have enough information to make a recommendation. Of those expressing an opinion to retain or not to retain, 88% recommended to retain and 13% not to retain. (These percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.) Based upon its review of the information presented to it, the First Judicial District Performance Commission is pleased to recommend unanimously that Judge Christie Bachmeyer Phillips of the First Judicial District Court BE RETAINED.