David A. Archuleta

Commission: meets standards (10–0)

The Commission on Judicial Performance for the 20th Judicial District unanimously agrees by a vote of 10-0 that Judge David A. Archuleta MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. 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.

Judge Archuleta presides over civil, criminal, misdemeanor, small claims, and traffic matters in Boulder County, Colorado. Judge Archuleta is described as thoughtful and respectful to attorneys and litigants. Representatives of the Boulder County Defense Bar and the District Attorney’s Office have a positive view of his performance, saying he works well with both prosecutors and defense attorneys, overseeing a low-key courtroom environment. Judge Archuleta handles a heavy docket efficiently, while at the same time ensuring that all participants are heard. He works well with juries and his legal analyses are well considered and based on a sound knowledge of the law. His communication skills reflect empathy and understanding. His bench rulings and written opinions are clear and thorough.

The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Archuleta, reviewed opinions he authored, observed his performance in court, and reviewed judicial performance survey responses from both attorneys and non-attorneys who participated in Judge Archuleta’s court proceedings. The Commission also received comments on Judge Archuleta’s performance from the district attorney and representatives of the defense bar and hosted a public hearing, at which citizens provided additional input regarding his performance as a judge.

Judge Archuleta was appointed to the Boulder County Court bench in July 1999. A Colorado native, he was raised in Boulder, and earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Colorado. Previously, Judge Archuleta served as Deputy District Attorney for the Twentieth Judicial District in the 1990’s. He also worked for a short time in private practice. He is the past President of the Colorado Trial Judges’ Council and the Colorado County Judges’ Association. He is a faculty member for the Colorado Institute for Faculty Excellence and New Judge Orientation. He is a Judicial Coach and enjoys interacting with the public and other members of the judicial branch.

State evaluation page · 2022 survey report (PDF)

Commission: meets standards (10–0)

The 20th Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously (10-0) finds that Judge David Archuleta MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.

Judge Archuleta received his law degree from the University of Colorado, worked for a short time in private practice, and served nine years as a Deputy District Attorney for the 20th Judicial District prior to his appointment to the Boulder County Court in June 1999. Judge Archuleta is the past president of the Colorado Trial Judges’ Council and the Colorado County Judges’ Association. His caseload includes misdemeanor and traffic offenses, civil matters, small claims, and preliminary felony matters. The Commission evaluated Judge Archuleta based on criteria enumerated in state law (C.R.S. 13-5.5-107): integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and the public. Each Commissioner observed Judge Archuleta in his courtroom. Each Commissioner also reviewed Judge Archuleta’s self-evaluation, samples of his rulings and orders, a report on his caseload, and anonymous results of qualitative surveys sent to people who appeared in his courtroom during 2017. The Commission met with the Chief Judge, the District Attorney, and the Chair of the Boulder Chapter of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar. The Commission held a public hearing on May 15, 2018, to gather input from the community. The Commission also interviewed Judge Archuleta. Due to concerns about the limited number of survey responses, Commissioners gave less weight to the survey results. Of the 35 attorneys who responded to the survey, 80% said Judge Archuleta meets performance standards. Of the 59 non-attorneys who responded to the survey, 93% said Judge Archuleta meets performance standards. The Commission found that court observations (totaling 42 hours for all Commissioners), meeting with various stakeholders, and interviewing Judge Archuleta provided the best insights.

The Commission believes Judge Archuleta continues to improve in the areas of administrative performance and judicial temperament. He has high integrity and good communication skills. He is the senior county court judge in the 20th Judicial District and maintains an active role in expanding his legal knowledge through teaching and learning from the other judicial officers of the district. His service to the legal profession continues with the Colorado Institute for Excellence in Judicial Education, where he will be a faculty member again this year. His service to the public includes improving the legal system through his contributions to a panel studying bond procedures and his attention to the interaction of the justice system with homeless persons and persons with mental health needs and substance abuse issues. Based on the Commission’s overall evaluation, Judge Archuleta has demonstrated that he meets or exceeds performance standards in all categories.

State evaluation page · 2018 survey report (PDF)