Seventeenth Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Teri L. Vasquez
Retention Year: 2024
Recommendation: Meets Performance Standards
Reports:
2024 Retention Survey Report (PDF)
2023 Interim Survey Report (PDF)
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The Seventeenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously agrees by a vote of 10-0 that the Honorable Teri L. Vasquez MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
This past term Judge Vasquez has presided over a Civil (50%) and a Domestic Relations (50%) docket. Judge Vasquez is described by most that appear before her as intelligent, fair, and respectful to all parties while also running an efficient courtroom. It is clear in her courtroom demeanor that Judge Vasquez is very patient, but also will not back down from maintaining decorum in the courtroom. Judge Vasquez manages her docket in a respectful way while also, appropriately, keeping in charge of the proceedings. Judge Vasquez has worked very hard over the past year to learn an area of law that she had not presided over in the past, and the attorneys appearing in front of her all praised Judge Vasquez’ quick understanding of the material and her impartiality. Judge Vasquez ensures that her rulings are based on law and valid legal argument and not on improper factors. There was no consistent criticism of Judge Vasquez and of the seven appellate judges who had worked with Judge Vasquez, all seven of them gave Judge Vasquez top marks for overall performance as a judge. In her practice as a Domestic Relations judge, Judge Vasquez handles a lot of cases where the litigants do not have lawyers. Judge Vasquez takes the time to explain to litigants without lawyers what the next steps are in the proceedings so that they can understand their obligations and what is coming next in the case.
The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Vasquez, read opinions from the Colorado Court of Appeals reviewing her orders, observed her in court, and interviewed the Chief Judge. In addition, the Commission reviewed judicial performance survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who had interaction with Judge Vasquez. Among survey questions was whether the survey participant believes that Judge Vasquez meets performance standards? Of the attorneys responding to the survey 91% answered yes; 8% answered no, and 2% had no opinion. Of the non-attorneys responding to the survey 46% said yes, 46% said no and 9% had no opinion. It should be noted that a total of 53 attorneys and 11 non-attorneys completed this question.
Judge Teri L. Vasquez was appointed to the District Court in January of 2021. Prior to her appointment she was a Shareholder at Bayer & Carey, P.C from 2014 to 2021. Her practice consisted of insurance defense litigation, primarily personal injury matters. Previously Judge Vasquez served as an Associate with Bayer & Carey, P.C (2011 – 2014), Stuart S. Jorgensen & Associates (1999- 2011), Thelen, Reid, and Priest (1996-1999), Duque & Hazletine (1994-1996). Judge Vasquez received her B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1989 and she received her JD from the University of California Los Angeles in 1994.