Twelfth Judicial District - Rio Grande County Court Judge
Honorable John W. Stenger
Retention Year: 2024
Recommendation: Meets Performance Standards
Reports:
2024 Retention Survey Report (PDF)
*Insufficient responses to publish 2023 Interim Survey Report
Need an accessible PDF Document Version?
Please click on the link below and email our staff
The Twelfth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance finds by a 5 to 3 vote, with two absent, that the Honorable Judge John W. Stenger MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. The performance standards contemplate the judge’s integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and the public. The Commission, by a 6 to 2 vote, with two absent, recommends that Judge Stenger be retained as the Rio Grande County Judge.
The Commission met with Judge Stenger, observed him in the courtroom on multiple occasions, reviewed his work since being appointed to the bench in 2022, and assessed feedback surveys from attorneys and non-attorneys before concluding that Judge Stenger meets performance standards. The 2024 Judicial Performance Survey Report for Judge Stenger had 23 individuals – a majority of whom were non-attorneys – provide an overall grade of 3.2 out of 4.0. 100% of attorneys surveyed believe that he meets performance standards. 53% of non-attorneys surveyed believe he meets performance standards, as opposed to the 29% who state he did not and the 18% who took no position. Judge Stenger scored a 3.4 out of 4.0 in the area of case management, and a 3.2 out of 4.0 in the areas of communication, diligence, demeanor, and fairness. Those surveyed indicated that Judge Stenger’s strengths include his patience, preparation, organization, professionalism, thoughtfulness, attention to detail, and his openness to constructive criticism/feedback.
Judge Stenger’s lowest score (2.9 out of 4.0) was in the area of application and knowledge of law. Multiple comments provided by those surveyed reflected this score, with some responses expressing concerns about Judge Stenger’s understanding of the law and how his decision may impact the greater community. During his interview, Judge Stenger admitted to needing more experience in the areas of evidence and criminal procedure, and detailed the ways in which he has tried to improve. The Commission unanimously agreed that Judge Stenger could use more training, education, and mentorship in order to strengthen his application and knowledge of the law.
Judge Stenger graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder Law School in 2019 and was admitted to the Colorado Bar that same year. Following law school, he moved to the San Luis Valley, practicing as a child welfare attorney and also serving as the Twelfth Judicial District's Family Court Facilitator from 2020 to 2021. Prior to entering the legal field, Judge Stenger received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Queens College, CUNY, in 2001. In addition to his work on the bench, Judge Stenger is an accomplished musician who has recorded dozens of albums and performed internationally. Judge Stenger is an active member of the Twelfth Judicial District’s Access to Justice committee and has organized volunteer opportunities for himself and other judicial officers in the San Luis Valley.