The Colorado statutory judicial performance standards are integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and the public.

Justice Hood has served on the Colorado Supreme Court since January 2014. The Commission finds that Justice Hood is courteous to attorneys and treats parties equally without regard to race, sex, or economic status. He demonstrates an admirable work ethic and issues decisions in a timely manner. During oral arguments, he is respectful of the attorneys and their allotted time, and he asks insightful questions. His opinions are well organized, and he has a clear writing style that makes the reader’s job easier. The Commission believes that Justice Hood is a valuable member of the Colorado Supreme Court.

To conduct our evaluation, the Commission interviewed Justice Hood, reviewed his self-evaluation, observed oral arguments, read a selection of his legal opinions, and considered survey responses from attorneys and judges. A total of 7 attorneys and 24 judges responded to the survey; overall, respondents affirmed that Justice Hood meets performance standards.

Before joining the Colorado Supreme Court, Justice Hood spent seven years as a judge on the Denver District Court. Before becoming a judge, Justice Hood was a litigation partner at a Denver law firm and served as a prosecutor for ten years in Colorado’s 18th Judicial District. Justice Hood graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law and Syracuse University. In 2014, the Colorado Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers gave him its Distinguished Jurist Award. In 2011, he received the Denver Bar Association’s (DBA’s) Judicial Excellence Award. He is a 2007 graduate of the Colorado Bar Association’s leadership training program (COBALT). He has also taught several courses related to advocacy as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

Colorado’s statutory judicial performance standards are integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, and service to the legal profession and the public.

Judge Freyre was appointed to the Colorado Court of Appeals in 2015 and has served with distinction for 11 years. She successfully stood for retention in 2018 and has now served a full eight-year term. The Commission finds her written opinions to be thoughtful, well-reasoned, and drafted with clarity that makes the information accessible to litigants, practitioners, and the public. We find her judicial demeanor at oral arguments to be respectful, engaging, and present. Judge Freyre served as the Deputy Chief Judge from January 2022 to January 2026. She currently chairs the PERA Board and sustains a broad range of civic and volunteer commitments to serve the legal profession and the public, including providing mentorship to law students and emerging judges. In summary, the Commission finds Judge Freyre to be an exemplary jurist and a valuable member of the Court of Appeals.

To conduct its evaluation, the Commission interviewed Judge Freyre, reviewed her self-evaluation, observed oral arguments, examined a selection of her legal opinions, and considered survey responses from attorneys and judges. Every survey respondent agreed that Judge Freyre meets applicable judicial performance standards. She received positive comments from respondents with respect to her strong writing skills, astute oral argument questions, strong legal analysis for reaching fair outcomes in gray areas, and her receptiveness and incorporation of feedback from her fellow judges.

Judge Freyre earned her undergraduate degree in Economics at Smith College and her law degree from the University of Denver College of Law. She began her career in law as a law clerk at a private criminal defense firm in Denver, Colorado before dedicating 25 years as a Deputy State Public Defender, working in the Appellate Division in Denver and the Trial Office in Arapahoe County before appointment to the bench in 2015.

Colorado’s statutory judicial performance standards are integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, and service to the legal profession and the public.

The Commission finds that her opinions are clear, well-written, and reasonably timely. At oral arguments, she is well-prepared, succinct in her questions, respectful, and seeks to draw out the issues most important to the Court’s decision-making process. Judge Harris received positive comments from lawyers about her preparation, intelligence, familiarity with the record on appeal, and knowledge of the law. Lawyers noted the length of time required for Judge Harris to issue an opinion as a weakness. Judge Harris received positive comments from fellow judges for her writing ability, her thoughtfulness and her engagement in committee work for Colorado Courts. Judges also noted Judge Harris’ timeliness in issuing decisions as a weakness. The Commission commends Judge Harris for her commitment to community service and the Court of Appeals/Supreme Court summer internship program. Such efforts beyond the daily work of the Court of Appeals demonstrate dedication to serving the legal profession and the public. In sum, the Commission finds Judge Harris to be a valuable member of the Court of Appeals.

To conduct our evaluation, the Commission interviewed Judge Harris, reviewed her self-evaluation, observed oral arguments, read a selection of her legal opinions, and considered survey responses from attorneys and judges. The Commission received survey responses from only 5 attorneys and 22 judges. Nevertheless, the Commission is confident in this opinion because 93% of responding judges and attorneys agreed, and all remaining sources of information available supported a finding that Judge Harris “Meets Performance Standards.”

Judge Harris is a graduate of Georgetown University and New York University School of

Law. She began her legal career as a law clerk for the Honorable John Porfilio of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. After her clerkship, she spent five years at the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Colorado and then joined the law firm of Jacobs Chase, which was later acquired by Husch Blackwell. In 2013, she opened her own law firm where she focused on appellate litigation. She was appointed to the Colorado Court of Appeals in 2015.

Colorado’s statutory judicial performance standards are integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, and service to the legal profession and the public.

Judge Lum was appointed to the Colorado Court of Appeals in 2022 and has served for four years. This is her first time standing for retention. The Commission finds she embodies the qualities of an outstanding appellate judge and is a valuable asset to the Colorado Court of Appeals. Her opinions are fair and thoughtful, and she delivers well-reasoned decisions based on the law and facts. She is an exceptional judicial writer who conveys her opinions in a clear and accessible style understood by litigants, practitioners, and members of the public alike. She arrives well-prepared to oral arguments, and is engaged, present, and respectful in the Courtroom. She also serves as the Liaison to the 15th Judicial District. Beyond her duties as a judge, she participates in community service activities that advance the court’s mission.

The Commission conducted its evaluation of Judge Lum by considering her self-evaluation, observing her oral arguments, examining a selection of her legal opinions (including dissents), conducting an in-person interview with her, and reviewing survey responses submitted by attorneys and judges. Every survey respondent agreed that Judge Lum meets performance standards. She received positive feedback in regard to her strong listening, polite and respectful nature, and thorough preparation.

Judge Lum earned her JD from the University of California Berkeley School of Law. Prior to joining the bench, she was Of Counsel with Cooper Ramp Cage Bucar Lewis (and predecessor firms) where she specialized in domestic relations law at the trial and appellate levels; and she clerked for the Honorable Gregory J. Hobbs Jr. of the Colorado Supreme Court. She serves on the Supreme Court Standing Committee on Family Issues; as the Court of Appeals liaison and coordinator for a long-standing externship program with Colorado law schools; and as a board member of the Minoru Yasui Inn of Court.

Colorado’s statutory judicial performance standards are integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, and service to the legal profession and the public.

Judge Moultrie was appointed to the Colorado Court of Appeals in January 2024, and this is her first time standing for retention as a Court of Appeals Judge. The Commission finds that her opinions are thoughtful, accessible, and well written. At oral argument, she has an excellent judicial demeanor, engages with the attorneys, and is respectful of all parties. The Commission commends Judge Moultrie for her service to the judicial branch’s well-being efforts to support judicial officers and employees as well as her efforts to educate the community about the courts. In sum, the Commission finds Judge Moultrie is a valuable addition to the Court of Appeals.

To conduct its evaluation, the Commission interviewed Judge Moultrie, reviewed her self-evaluation, observed oral arguments, read a selection of her legal opinions, and considered survey responses from attorneys and judges. Every surveyed respondent agreed that Judge Moultrie meets Colorado’s Judicial Performance Standards. She received positive comments from lawyers with respect to her courteous demeanor during oral arguments and her ability to write in plain language so that both lawyers and laypersons can understand her opinions. Judge Moultrie received positive comments from fellow judges, especially with respect to the valuable perspective she brings as a former juvenile court judge.

Judge Moultrie earned her bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis and her law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. She began her legal career as a law clerk in the 1st Judicial District, which was followed by a clerkship with the Colorado Supreme Court. She then represented county departments of human services in dependency and neglect matters and juvenile delinquency matters. Before joining the Court of Appeals, she served as a district court judge for Denver Juvenile Court, where she presided over a docket consisting of dependency and neglect cases, juvenile delinquency cases, and adoptions. She also previously served as a magistrate in the 1st Judicial District. She is a member of several specialty bar associations, including the Sam Cary Bar Association and the Colorado Women’s Bar Association. She is a Fellow of the Colorado Bar Foundation and is a founding member of the Irving P. Andrews Inn of Court. Judge Moultrie has served as an appointed board member of law-related and community non-profit organizations and is currently active in the Colorado Judicial Branch’s well-being efforts to support judicial officers and employees.

Colorado’s statutory judicial performance standards are integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, and service to the legal profession and the public.

Judge Schock was appointed to the Colorado Court of Appeals in 2022 and has served for four years. The Commission finds that he has the qualities of an excellent Court of Appeals judge. His written opinions are clear and easy to understand. At oral argument, he is respectful, curious, and well-prepared on both the facts and the law. He also serves on committees that work on model criminal jury instructions and probation services, which helps improve the courts.

To reach its decision, the Commission interviewed Judge Schock; reviewed his self-evaluation; watched several oral arguments; and read many of his opinions, concurrences, and dissents. It also reviewed survey responses from attorneys and judges. Every person surveyed agreed that Judge Schock meets Colorado’s judicial performance standards. Many praised his clear writing. Some noted that his separate concurrences and dissents show care in his work. Others said his questions at oral argument made them feel he took their legal issues seriously.

Judge Schock earned his undergraduate degree from Northern Arizona University and his law degree from the University of Colorado in 2006. He then clerked for Judge Michael Murphy on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. After clerking, he joined the law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck until 2015 when he served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Appellate Division before being appointed to the bench in 2022.

The judicial performance standards include integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and the public.

Judge Sullivan began service on the Colorado Court of Appeals in January of 2024. The Commission found the judge’s written opinions to be consistently well-reasoned, fair, and thoughtfully articulated, demonstrating a strong command of the law and clear judicial reasoning. Although Judge Sullivan joined the Court of Appeals in January 2024, the Commission notes a strong and confident transition into the role of appellate judge. The judge has proactively established systems to manage workload efficiently and collaborates regularly with judicial colleagues, reflecting a dedication to continuous improvement and excellence in service.

As part of this evaluation, the Commission conducted a thorough review of Judge Sullivan’s performance. This included an in-depth interview with the judge, a review of selected legal opinions, courtroom observations, analysis of the judicial performance survey report, and a review of the judge’s self-evaluation. Judge Sullivan was observed to be clear, open, and highly effective in communication, and consistently maintained courtroom decorum. While appropriately assertive in managing proceedings, the judge’s tone and demeanor remained balanced, reflecting impartiality and professionalism. These qualities contribute meaningfully to the public’s confidence in the judiciary. Judge Sullivan’s self-evaluation and interview reflected a deep commitment to timely, transparent, and respectful engagement with all parties, an approach that aligns with courtroom observations and stakeholder feedback.

Judge Sullivan practiced law as a trial and appellate litigator with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, specializing in constitutional law, voting rights, election law, tax, administrative law, and appeals. He previously practiced law with the Denver office of a national firm and served as a Supreme Court Fellow with the National Association of Attorneys General. He clerked on both the Colorado Court of Appeals and the Colorado Supreme Court. Judge Sullivan earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Colorado Law School and his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas at Austin. In addition to his duties as a judge on the Court of Appeals, Judge Sullivan participates in the Court of Appeals’ “Courts in the Community” program and serves on numerous court committees (including the Judicial Department’s Reclassification Review Board, an Appellate Rules Subcommittee, and a planning committee for the annual Colorado Judicial Conference). He also volunteers as a guest coach and judge for the CU Mock Trial and Moot Court programs and volunteers with the Food Bank of the Rockies.

The judicial performance standards are integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and public.

Judge Ellison is highly supportive of access to justice in her courtroom, making effective use of remote appearances to accommodate out-of-state parties, individuals in inpatient treatment, and those who live far from the Larimer County Justice Center. Judge Ellison maintains impartiality in her rulings and actively seeks input from her colleagues to help ensure balanced and fair decisions. She works diligently to make the legal process fair and understandable for pro se parties, while remaining mindful of her role as the neutral judicial officer. Judge Ellison has demonstrated strong legal writing skills in her opinions and orders. At the same time, she acknowledges that she can further improve the reasoning and articulation of her oral rulings. The Commission also appreciates her commitment to mentoring younger members of the legal profession.

For this evaluation, the Commission interviewed Judge Ellison, read a selection of her legal opinions, observed her in court, reviewed her judicial performance survey report, interviewed the chief judge for the district, the district attorney and head of the public defenders’ office for the district, reviewed case management statistics, and reviewed her self-evaluation. As to the survey data, a total of 16 individuals, 9 attorneys and 7 non-attorneys, completed the survey, which is a markedly low response rate. Given the significantly low response rates to the surveys overall, the Commission gave the appropriate weight to the survey responses in its evaluation.

Judge Katharine "Jenny" Ellison was appointed to the Eighth Judicial County Court bench by Governor Jared Polis on February 27, 2020. Before her appointment to the bench, Judge Ellison practiced civil litigation and she also served in the District Attorney’s Office in the Eighth Judicial District from 2004 to 2018, where her work focused primarily on appeals and juvenile law. Judge Ellison received her bachelor’s degree from Colorado College in 1999 and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 2004.

The judicial performance standards are integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and public.

Judge Lynch believes in the importance of a streamlined and efficient courtroom. He has developed innovative processes to support these efforts. Examples include making local service providers available in his courtroom to assist in the use of Medically Guided Treatment Supervision and encourages utilizing free mediation services in landlord tenant cases. Judge Lynch employs specific processes and requirements for virtual appearances. He identifies limitations of the current virtual technology. Through his written procedures, he strives to ensure that courtroom decorum is maintained. Judge Lynch is currently participating in a pilot program for virtual appearances utilizing a new more secure and dedicated program developed exclusively for use in courtroom settings. The Commission believes that Judge Lynch is a competent and capable judicial officer. He is respectful and ensures that parties feel heard in his courtroom. His demeanor is calm and professional when addressing those appearing before him. The Commission believes that Judge Lynch is an asset to the Courts and the State of Colorado.

For this evaluation, the Commission interviewed Judge Lynch, read a selection of his legal opinions, observed him in court, reviewed his judicial performance survey report, interviewed the chief judge for the district, the district attorney and head of the public defenders’ office for the district, reviewed case management statistics, and reviewed his self-evaluation. As to the survey data, a total of 23 individuals, 11 attorneys and 12 non-attorneys, completed the survey, which is a markedly low response rate. Given the significantly low response rates to the surveys overall, the Commission gave the appropriate weight to the survey responses in its evaluation.

Judge Lynch was appointed as a Larimer County Court Judge by Governor Bill Ritter and took the bench in December 2010. His experience prior to the bench includes service as a deputy district attorney and non-legal work in the private sector. Judge Lynch received his Bachelor of Science degree in computer science and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Wyoming.

The judicial performance standards are integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and public.

Judge Zehe strives to conduct an efficient courtroom that meets the needs of those who appear before him and promotes the fair administration of justice. Judge Zehe exhibits great self-awareness, willingness to listen, and receptiveness to ideas and suggestions. Judge Zehe thoughtfully considers the survey comments about his communication style, in both his traditional docket and his Problem-Solving DUI Court and identifies strategies to improve his presentation in court. Judge Zehe expands access to his courtroom through the appropriate use of technology. The Commission believes Judge Zehe performs his duties well and possesses a strong knowledge of the law. The Commission appreciates his commitment and thoughtful approach to self-growth. The Commission believes that Judge Zehe is an asset to the Courts and the State of Colorado.

For this evaluation, the Commission interviewed Judge Zehe, read a selection of his legal opinions, observed him in court (including his problem-solving court docket), reviewed his judicial performance survey report, interviewed the chief judge for the district, the district attorney and head of the public defenders’ office for the district, reviewed case management statistics, and reviewed his self-evaluation. As to the survey data, a total of 24 individuals, 10 attorneys and 14 non-attorneys, completed the survey, which is a markedly low response rate. Given the significantly low response rates to the surveys overall, the Commission gave the appropriate weight to the survey responses in its evaluation.

Matthew Zehe was sworn in as a judge for the County Court in the Eighth Judicial District on November 14, 2022. Previously, Judge Zehe served as a magistrate for the Eighth Judicial District of Colorado since November of 2006. In that role he presided over the juvenile delinquency docket and the Juvenile Recovery Court, the First Appearance Center in Division, and the DUI Recovery Court. Judge Zehe also served as an attorney for the Colorado State Public Defender’s Office from December 1995 to October 2006. He graduated from Indiana University in 1991 with a degree in Philosophy and earned his J.D. from the University of Denver in 1995. Judge Zehe permanently presides at the Loveland County Court, and he continues to preside over the DUI Recovery Court.