William David Alexander

Commission: does not meet standards (7–3)

The Tenth Judicial District Judicial Performance Commission by majority vote finds that Judge William David Alexander DOES NOT MEET PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. Of the 10 Commissioners, 7 voted that Judge Alexander does not meet performance standards and 3 voted that he does meet performance standards. The Commission evaluates judges on six standards: legal knowledge, communication, administrative performance, integrity, judicial temperament and service to the legal profession.

Judge Alexander presides over 100% of the dependency and neglect docket and 15% of the criminal docket. The Commission conducted personal interviews with Judge Alexander, reviewed his written orders, observed him in court, reviewed his self-evaluation, reviewed his survey results, as well as a letter of support and other comments received by the Commission. The Commission also interviewed the Chief Judge, the Pueblo District Attorney, and the head of the Pueblo Public Defenders’ office. While Judge Alexander’s courtroom demeanor is generally friendly and professional, there have been reports of occasional rude and disrespectful conduct directed at professionals appearing before the court. Judge Alexander demonstrates extensive experience as a judge and a good understanding of the law. However, there are concerns. In criminal cases there seems to be general knowledge by the attorneys who appear in front of him that he tends to treat defense more favorable in sentencing decisions, which inhibits the prosecution in negotiating what they feel is a more appropriate disposition. Moreover, this affects decisions by both prosecution and defense attorneys on whether to take a case to trial or resolution through a plea agreement. While the Commission acknowledges and respects Judge Alexander’s commitment to rehabilitation and treatment measures, rather than punitive measures, it finds this perspective may impede justice generally and more directly, the accountability of criminal defendants in many cases. The other issue that many of the Commissioners found concerning is related to allegations of Judge Alexander’s engagement in ex parte communications, which means more specifically allegations that Judge Alexander communicates with attorneys on one side of a case about the facts of that case when the attorneys on the other side of the case are not present nor have proper notification of the communication. When asked about various concerns during the interview process, the Judge’s responses reflected limited acknowledgment of personal responsibility and tended to emphasize external factors and the conduct and actions of others.

Judge Alexander graduated from the University of Denver College of Law in 1990. From 1990 to 1994, he worked as a Public Defender. In 1994, he became a Magistrate in Pueblo County. In 2002, he became the Municipal Judge for the City of Pueblo. In 2012, Judge Alexander was appointed by Governor John Hickenlooper as a District Court Judge in Pueblo. The Commission commends Judge Alexander as to his service to the legal profession. He is very committed to the Pueblo community and engages in frequent community service, including working with CASA volunteers, participating in the Boys and Girls Club events, giving presentations to the Leadership of Pueblo Program, and participating in events at Pueblo schools.

State evaluation page · 2026 survey report (PDF)

Commission: meets standards

The Tenth Judicial Performance Commission unanimously agrees that Judge William David Alexander MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. There were eight votes and one recusal.

During his last term, he has presided over the following dockets: Juvenile Delinquency, Behavioral Health Treatment Court, Veterans’ Treatment Court, Mental Health, Criminal, and Juvenile Dependency and Neglect. On the Judicial Performance Survey Report, Judge Alexander’s overall survey results were slightly higher than average –3.5 out of 4.0 – compared to the statewide average of 3.4. Eighty-one percent of the attorney respondents concluded that Judge Alexander met performance standards. In specific categories, Judge Alexander scored above average for his Fairness, Demeanor, Communications, and Case Management, scoring a 4.0, 3.7, 3.7, and 3.6 respectively. In the categories of Application of the Law and Diligence, he scored 3.2 out of 4.0 in both areas, slightly below average. Attorney and non-attorneys commented that Judge Alexander has a good judicial temperament, efficient case management, and treats participants with respect and dignity. During courtroom observations, Commissioners observed that he is articulate, calm, and punctual. He is willing to undertake new and challenging duties, such as Safe Baby Court. He enjoys working with children and families. His out-of-the-box thinking is well suited for treatment courts, where he can engage in collaborative and creative problem solving. Judge Alexander sincerely cares about coming to the right outcome, although some attorneys reported that this might cause him to appear to be too active in directing proceedings toward a particular result. He is always looking for ways to improve his performance on the bench, and recognizes there may be room for improvement on his decisions, since a survey four appellate judges rated him a 3.0 out of 4.0, compared to the statewide average of 3.6 out of 4.0. Based on the Commission’s overall evaluation, Judge Alexander meets or exceeds performance standards.

The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Alexander and other community stakeholders, performed courtroom observations, and reviewed judicial opinions, a hearing transcript, and the 2020 Judicial Performance Survey Report.

Governor John Hickenlooper appointed Judge Alexander as a District Court Judge for the Tenth Judicial District on April 28, 2012. Prior to his appointment, Judge Alexander served as Municipal Court Judge for the City of Pueblo, a Deputy State Public Defender, and a Magistrate. Judge Alexander received his undergraduate degree from Columbia College in 1986 and his law degree from the University of Denver College of Law in 1990. He is involved in community organizations, including serving on the board of the Colorado Lawyer Trust Account and conducts swearing-in ceremonies for local volunteer organizations.

State evaluation page · 2020 survey report (PDF)