Mark MacDonnell
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Mark A. MacDonnell is a judge on the 16th District Court in Colorado. He was initially appointed by Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) on December 21, 2012, to replace retiring Judge M. Jon Kolomitz. MacDonnell took office on February 3, 2013. That same month, he was named chief judge of the court by Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Bender. Kolomitz had served as chief judge before his retirement, as well. MacDonnell is the eighth chief judge of the 16th District Court.
MacDonnell won retention in the general election on November 8, 2016. He had previously served as judge of the Bent County Court from 1993 until his elevation to the district court. He last won retention to the county court judgeship in 2012.
Biography
MacDonnell received his undergraduate degree from Adams State College and his J.D. from the University of Colorado. He worked in private practice during his part-time county judgeship.[1][2]
Elections
2016
Colorado held judicial retention elections in 2016. Fifty-eight district court judges sought retention to six-year terms in the general election on November 8, 2016.
Mark MacDonnell was retained in the Colorado 16th Judicial District, Mark MacDonnell Retention Election with 70.95 percent of the vote.
| Colorado 16th Judicial District, Mark MacDonnell Retention Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Yes votes | |
 Mark MacDonnell | 70.95% | |
| Source: Colorado Secretary of State, "Unofficial election results," accessed November 8, 2016 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Assisted appointment
There are 164 judges on the Colorado District Courts, each appointed by the governor from a list of names compiled by a nominating commission. Initial terms last at least two years, after which judges must stand for retention in a yes-no election. Subsequent terms last six years.[3]
The court's chief judge is appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court to serve indefinitely.[3]
Qualifications
To serve on the district court, a judge must be:[3]
- a qualified elector in the district;
- licensed to practice law in state for five years; and
- under the age of 72 (retirement by 72 is mandatory).
2012
- See also: Colorado judicial elections, 2012
MacDonnell was retained in the general election on November 6, 2012, winning 77.76 percent of the vote.[4]
Judicial performance evaluation
The Sixteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance announced its recommendations for judges up for retention in 2012. According to its website, the commission evaluates judges based on the following criteria: integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, and administrative performance.[5]
Judge MacDonnell was recommended for retention in 2012 by an unanimous vote. [1]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation, Mark A. MacDonnell
- ↑ Chief Judge Mark MacDonnell sworn in, La Junta Tribune Democrat, February 4, 2013
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Colorado," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, 2012 Official General Election Results
- ↑ Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation, Press Release: Judge Evaluations Available on Internet August 7 (dead link)
Federal courts:
Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Colorado • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Colorado
State courts:
Colorado Supreme Court • Colorado Court of Appeals • Colorado District Courts • Colorado County Courts • Denver Probate Court • Denver Juvenile Court • Colorado Municipal Courts • Colorado Water Courts
State resources:
Courts in Colorado • Colorado judicial elections • Judicial selection in Colorado
