Sixth Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Kim Soon Shropshire
Retention Year: 2024
Recommendation: Meets Performance Standards
Reports:
2024 Retention Survey Report (PDF)
2023 Interim Survey Report (PDF)
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The Sixth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance by a vote of 10-0 that Judge Kim Soon Shropshire MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
The Commission noted Judge Shropshire’s time and effort; her presence on the bench; and her increased criminal docket. She prepares extensively prior to hearings, reading briefs and relevant case law. Her written orders are particularly comprehensive; many survey respondents commented to the effect that they are able to understand her application of the law whether or not they agree with the decision. She has taken steps to improve efficiency since her interim evaluation, while retaining much of what parties appearing before her value. The Commission’s observations of Judge Shopshire confirmed her high ratings for communications, demeanor, and fairness. Judge Shopshire has a calm and organized presence in the courtroom, and prioritizes all parties being heard in a balanced manner. One survey respondent described her to be “as fair as a human could be.” Finally, since her interim evaluation in 2023, Judge Shropshire has taken on a larger share of the criminal docket. She has still yet to preside over a criminal jury trial, though she has several scheduled for the second half of 2024, at least one of which should go to trial. The Public Defender commented that Judge Shropshire continues to work on her implementation of the rules of criminal vs civil procedure.
The Commission reviewed comments from the public and analyzed survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who had appeared in Judge Shropshire’s courtroom. The Commission observed her in court (both in person and via Webex); reviewed decisions she authored and her self-evaluation; met (separately) with Chief Judge Wilson, the Public Defender, and the District Attorney; and conducted a personal interview with Judge Shropshire. A total of 34 people provided sufficient responses to the survey questions. From those 34, Judge Shropshire received an average overall score of 3.4 out of 4. When asked: “Do you think Judge Shropshire meets judicial performance standards?” 91% of the responding attorneys and 86% of the responding non-attorneys answered “Yes, meets performance standards.”
Judge Shropshire received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Georgia and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. She has been a resident of Colorado for 27 years, and a resident of Durango for 24 of those years. The majority of her legal practice has been as a staff attorney for Colorado Legal Services, serving indigent Coloradans in civil matters, focusing on domestic relations, violence family law, public benefits, and housing issues. Judge Shropshire is a member of the local Access to Justice Committee. Her years at Colorado Legal Services have informed her professional philosophy of practice - that one’s individual circumstances, identity, or socioeconomic status does not diminish one’s right to access the judicial system, one’s right to be treated with dignity and respect, and the right to fair and impartial treatment by the judiciary.