Sixteenth Judicial District - Bent County Judge
Honorable Samuel Scott Vigil
Retention Year: 2020
Recommendation: Meets Performance Standard
The Sixteenth Judicial District Judicial Performance Commission voted unanimously (9-0) that Judge Samuel Scott Vigil MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Judge Vigil has continued to improve through his 8 years on the bench. Judge Vigil participated in an interim evaluation 2 years ago, where although he was excelling in most areas, the Commission did identify some areas where improvements could be made. Over the past 2 years Judge Vigil appears to have worked very hard to improve in the identified areas as well as his judicial performance as a whole. Judge Vigil, like all Colorado judges has been faced with a new challenge this past year, in attempting to continue Court business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Judge Vigil has worked very hard to continue holding Court on a virtual platform and has done so quite well.
The Commission came to these conclusions by way of Court room observations, survey results from both the public and Court participants, in-person interviews with the District Attorney, the Head Deputy Public Defender, the Chief Judge, and Judge Vigil. In utilizing all available methods, the commission is confident that Judge Vigil is excelling as a County Court Judge for Bent County.
Judge Samuel Vigil attended University of New Mexico for his undergraduate degree, and then went on to attend Tulane University Law School for his Juris Doctorate. After working as deputy district attorney in the 16th judicial district Judge Vigil was appointed to the Bent County, County Court bench in 2013. Judge Vigil donates much of his free time to his community as a youth, junior high and high school wrestling coach.