2020 retention · County Court · Larimer County
44 percentile · rank 21 of 37
composite 0100
35 percentile · rank 65 of 100
composite 0100
49 91st percentile among peers · 81st percentile statewide
380
Composite index 40.09 among peers (36.83 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.40 of 4 · 45.95 percentile
1.504.00
3.50 of 4 · 50.00 percentile
1.503.95
75.00% 24.32 percentile
0.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 75.00%
Non-attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 100.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.40median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.30median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Communications | 3.60median 3.60 | 3.60 | |
| Diligence | 3.40median 3.40 | 3.40 | |
| Demeanor | 3.40median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Fairness | 3.90median 3.90 | 3.90 |
Commission: meets standards (10–0)
The Eighth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously agrees by a vote of 10-0 that the Honorable Mary Joan Berenato MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Judge Berenato presides over criminal, traffic, and civil matters. The Commission finds that Judge Berenato has excelled in making sure all participants understand the courtroom proceedings, giving the proceedings a sense of dignity, respecting those appearing before her, and treating people who represent themselves fairly. Judge Berenato values speaking directly to defendants so that she can better understand them and she prides herself on equal treatment for all who appear before her. Judge Berenato is well-prepared for the cases appearing before her. She identifies and analyzes the relevant facts and issues rulings and decisions promptly. One criticism of her courtroom is that Judge Berenato does not accept fully stipulated plea agreements in criminal cases. During her interview, Judge Berenato explained that she does accept partially stipulated agreements but believes the length and type of jail sentence to be imposed remains the duty of the Court. The Commission believes that Judge Berenato has the judicial temperament and skills needed to perform well as a judicial officer
The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Berenato, reviewed opinions she authored, observed her in court, and reviewed judicial performance survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who appeared in Judge Berenato’s courtroom. A total of forty-nine individuals, thirty-five attorneys and fourteen non-attorneys, believed they had sufficient knowledge to express their opinion of Judge Berenato. When asked whether Judge Berenato meets performance standards: Of the attorneys responding to the survey, 75% answered yes; 9% answered no; and 16% had no opinion. Of the non-attorneys responding to the survey, 100% answered yes. The small number of non-attorney responses makes this percentage difficult to consider as a reliable measure. It should be noted that for the retention cycle in 2020, different methods for non-attorney survey distribution and collection were utilized statewide on a trial basis. This transition may account for the low response rate from non-attorneys. Responses from the survey scored Judge Berenato higher than the average for all county court judges standing for retention in the state in the categories of Communications. She rated equal to in the categories of Application and Knowledge of Law, Diligence, and Demeanor, and was only slightly lower than average in the area of Case Management.
Judge Berenato was appointed to the County Court bench in 2013. Prior to her appointment as a County Court Judge, Judge Berenato served as a District Court Magistrate for ten years. During her tenure as a Magistrate, Judge Berenato presided over matters in the Juvenile Court, the Dependency and Neglect Court, and the Domestic Relations Court. Judge Berenato has been named Outstanding Judicial Officer of the Year for the 8th Judicial District and for the State of Colorado. Judge Berenato received her undergraduate degree from Colorado State University and her law degree Temple University.
2016 retention · County Court · Larimer County
45 percentile · rank 20 of 36
composite 0100
45 percentile · rank 59 of 108
composite 0100
82 56th percentile among peers · 56th percentile statewide
5140
Composite index 41.67 among peers (44.60 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.53 of 4 · 51.39 percentile
3.113.84
3.49 of 4 · 48.61 percentile
3.023.84
70.00% 25.00 percentile
50.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.23
- Say “meets standards”
- 70.00%
Non-attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.73
- Say “meets standards”
- 90.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.45median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.50median 3.49 | 3.49 | |
| Communications | 3.54median 3.65 | 3.65 | |
| Diligence | 3.46median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Demeanor | 3.36median 3.62 | 3.62 | |
| Fairness | 3.66median 3.66 | 3.66 |
Commission: meets standards (10–0)
The Eighth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously (10-0) recommends that Judge Mary Joan Berenato BE RETAINED.
Judge Berenato was appointed to the Larimer County Court in 2013. As a Larimer County Court Judge, she presides over criminal, traffic, and civil cases, including small claims. Prior to her appointment, Judge Berenato served as a District Court Magistrate in the 8th Judicial District for ten years, presiding over matters in the Juvenile Court, the Juvenile Drug Court, and the Domestic Relations Court. In 2007, she was named Outstanding Judicial Officer of the Year for the 8th Judicial District and for the State of Colorado for her service as a district court magistrate. Judge Berenato received her Bachelor of Arts from Colorado State University in 1986 and her law degree from Temple University in 1990. Judge Berenato is engaged in community service activities and makes herself available as a guest speaker at Colorado State University, the University of Northern Colorado, and local schools regarding the role of a judicial officer.
The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Berenato, reviewed opinions she authored, observed her in court, reviewed comments received from interested parties during the evaluation, and reviewed survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who had experience with Judge Berenato. The survey asked “How strongly do you recommend that Judge Berenato be retained in office?” Of the attorneys and non-attorneys completing surveys 82% of the combined groups recommended retention. Of the attorneys responding, 70% recommended retention, 24% recommended non-retention, and 6% made no recommendation. Of the non-attorneys responding, 90% recommended retention, 8% recommended non-retention, and 2% made no recommendation. A total of 33 attorneys and 49 non-attorneys completed the judicial performance surveys regarding Judge Berenato.
Judge Berenato received high marks from both attorneys and non-attorneys who responded to survey questions in the areas of case management, application and knowledge of the law, communications, demeanor, and diligence. The Commission finds that there is a concern among some that Judge Berenato’s judicial philosophy does not allow for certainty in negotiated agreements. The Commission further finds that this philosophy is rooted in her belief that it is her judicial duty to retain decision making authority. The Commission finds that Judge Berenato is highly professional and she treats all parties with dignity and respect. Judge Bernato is self-reflective in her desire to improve her performance as evident in the improved judicial survey results from mid-term to the most current scores. The Commission believes she is a strong judge who is dedicated to learning and whose performance will only improve over time.