Colorado Court of Appeals
Honorable Timothy J. Schutz
Retention Year: 2024
Recommendation: Meets Performance Standards
Reports:
2024 Retention Survey Report (PDF)
2023 Interim Survey Report (PDF)
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The State Commission on Judicial Performance finds that Judge Timothy J. Schutz MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, by a vote of 10-0 with one recusal. Colorado’s statutory judicial performance standards are integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, and service to the legal profession and the public.
Judge Schutz has been on the Colorado Court of Appeals since January 2022, and this is his first time standing for retention as a Court of Appeals Judge. The Commission finds that his opinions are thoughtful, organized, and well-written. At oral argument he has an excellent judicial demeanor, engages with questions, and is conscientious of all parties. The Commission commends Judge Schutz especially for his extraordinary service to the Access to Justice Commission and his efforts on issues surrounding race and the justice system. In sum, the Commission finds judge Schutz is a valuable addition to the Court of Appeals.
To conduct its evaluation, the Commission interviewed Judge Schutz, reviewed his self-evaluation, observed oral arguments, read a selection of his legal opinions, and considered survey responses from attorneys and judges. Survey respondents agreed Judge Schutz meets judicial performance standards. 78% of attorneys and 94% of judges who responded to that question answered “yes.” He received an overall score of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Judge Schutz received positive comments from lawyers with respect to his courteous and empathetic demeanor during oral arguments, and from fellow judges especially with respect to the valuable perspective that he brings as a former trial court judge. A total of 19 attorneys and 31 judges responded to the survey.
Judge Schutz earned his undergraduate degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead and his law degree from the University of North Dakota. He started his career at the law firm of Holland & Hart. Later he practiced at the law firm of Hanes & Schutz in the areas of intellectual property, civil litigation, land use disputes, and the representation of special districts. After two decades in private practice, Judge Schutz was appointed to the District Court for the Fourth Judicial District (El Paso County Colorado) as a trial court judge, and for eleven years he managed active criminal, civil, juvenile, and domestic cases. Judge Schutz is a champion for race equality in our justice system.