Eighteenth Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Joseph R. Whitfield Jr.
Retention Year: 2024
Recommendation: Meets Performance Standards
Reports:
2024 Retention Survey Report (PDF)
2023 Interim Survey Report (PDF)
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The Eighteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance voted 5-2, with three commissioners absent from voting, that Judge Joseph R. Whitfield, Jr. MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Judge Whitfield presides over a criminal docket in Arapahoe County, Colorado. His strengths include his willingness to make decisions free from outside pressures, maintaining appropriate control of proceedings, preparation, and providing litigants with ample time to present their case. Judge Whitfield has learned issuing decisions from the bench advantages his docket management. Judge Whitfield takes pride in “being himself” on the bench. The Commission believes Judge Whitfield is passionate about serving his community. He makes commendable efforts to stay apprised of developing law and works hard to manage a busy docket and trial schedule.
The Commission observed Judge Whitfield in court and reviewed judicial performance survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who appeared in his courtroom. Among the attorneys responding to the survey, 54% answered yes that Judge Whitfield meets performance standards; 38% answered no; and 8% had no opinion. Of the non-attorneys responding to the survey, 78% answered yes; 11% answered no; and 11% had no opinion. A total of 24 attorneys and 13 non-attorneys responded to the judicial performance survey expressing their opinion of Judge Whitfield. In addition to meeting with Judge Whitfield and Chief Judge Amico, the Commission interviewed members of the District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, and Probation regarding their interactions with and impressions of Judge Whitfield’s performance. While some raised concerns about Judge Whitfield’s timeliness, case management, and a bias in favor of prosecutors when making decisions, a healthy sampling of appellate judges gave Judge Whitfield extremely high marks based on their review of his rulings The Committee anticipates that Judge Whitfield will remain receptive to constructive criticism as he continues to grow in his role as a judicial officer.
Judge Whitfield received his undergraduate degree from Occidental College, and both his law degree and LL.M. from the School of Law at Washington University in St. Louis. Judge Whitfield was appointed to the 18th Judicial District Court in February 2021. Prior to his appointment, Judge Whitfield served as a Deputy District Attorney in the 18th Judicial District from 2011 to 2021. Judge Whitfield serves on several local boards and state commissions and coaches youth sports.