2024 retention · District Court · 4th Judicial District
32 percentile · rank 35 of 52
composite 0100
25 percentile · rank 80 of 107
composite 0100
36 43rd percentile among peers · 54th percentile statewide
14112
Composite index 36.54 among peers (31.78 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.10 of 4 · 35.58 percentile
2.303.80
3.20 of 4 · 48.08 percentile
2.273.80
77.00% 25.96 percentile
29.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 77.00%
Non-attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 75.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.20median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.10median 3.10 | 3.10 | |
| Communications | 3.30median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Diligence | 3.30median 3.20 | 3.20 | |
| Demeanor | 3.10median 3.20 | 3.20 | |
| Fairness | 3.20median 3.10 | 3.10 |
Commission: meets standards (6–0)
The Fourth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance voted 6-0 with three absent and one recusal that Judge Linda Margaret Billings-Vela MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Judge Billings-Vela’s docket includes 50% juvenile (a mix of dependency and neglect, delinquency, adoption and paternity) and 50% criminal. She recently completed her term as the Presiding Juvenile Court Judge where in addition to her own docket she oversaw the administrative needs of supervising nine direct reports including five juvenile court magistrates. Judge Billings-Vela’s overall combined score on the 2024 Judicial Performance Survey was 3.1 out of 4.0. However, the Commission is concerned that the surveys are not helpful because of the very small number of responses in comparison to the number of surveys circulated. The 27 attorneys who did respond overwhelmingly stated that Judge Billings-Vela meets performance standards. Comments about Judge Billings-Vela stated that she is one of the most thorough judges on the bench when it comes to making a ruling, that she does her homework before a case, and that she diligently ensures that the victim’s voice is included where appropriate. She is clear in her communications and orders, and she has a great demeanor in court. She is fair and she knows the law well. The few negative comments state that she cuts off counsel before they have finished stating a position and that she can be temperamental and does not always manage her docket well.
The Commission interviewed Judge Billings-Vela and several members observed her in Court. The Commission reviewed her self-evaluation, written opinions, comments from attorneys and non-attorneys, and the judicial performance survey results from 2024. The Commission also spoke with the Chief Judge of the Fourth Judicial District and representatives of the District Attorney’s Office and the Public Defender’s Office. In the interview with Judge Billings-Vela, the Commission was impressed by her management of a very heavy caseload in juvenile court and her sensitivity to the demands of the juvenile justice systems as a system aimed at rehabilitation. She is aware of the comments about her appearing to be curt with counsel. She is dedicated to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to state their position while balancing the need to move cases along efficiently. When appealed, her decisions have been affirmed by a large percentage. She has no disciplinary history. She has filed her financial disclosures on time.
Judge Billings-Vela was appointed to the Fourth Judicial District Court in July 2015. She served as the Teller County Court judge from 2011 until she was appointed to the District Court. She obtained her law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Prior to her appointment she was an assistant District Attorney El Paso County and a magistrate in the Fourth Judicial District. She volunteers with Teen Court and Judicially Speaking and is on the advisory board of the Community Partnership Family Resource Center.
2018 retention · District Court · 4th Judicial District
93 percentile · rank 4 of 52
composite 0100
97 percentile · rank 3 of 128
composite 0100
69 52nd percentile among peers · 52nd percentile statewide
29158
Composite index 93.27 among peers (94.27 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.78 of 4 · 91.35 percentile
2.963.81
3.78 of 4 · 93.27 percentile
2.913.86
100.00% 95.19 percentile
44.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.81
- Say “meets standards”
- 100.00%
Non-attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.76
- Say “meets standards”
- 92.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.76median 3.49 | 3.49 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.79median 3.43 | 3.43 | |
| Communications | 3.83median 3.58 | 3.58 | |
| Diligence | 3.77median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Demeanor | 3.79median 3.51 | 3.51 | |
| Fairness | 3.75median 3.59 | 3.59 |
Commission: meets standards (7–0)
The Fourth Judicial District Judicial Performance Commission unanimously (7-0) agrees that District Judge Linda Margaret Billings-Vela MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Judge Billings-Vela was appointed to the District Court for the Fourth Judicial District on July 1, 2015. Prior to her appointment, Judge Billings-Vela served as a Teller County Court Judge from October 1, 2011, to June 30, 2015. Before that she served as a Fourth Judicial District Court Magistrate. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Billings-Vela worked in the Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office and in private practice. Judge Billings-Vela obtained her undergraduate degree at Colorado College and her law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Judge Billings-Vela serves on the Boards of Directors for the Kiwanis Club of the Ute Pass-Woodland Park Region, Joint Initiatives for Youth and Families, and the Community Partnership Family Resource Center. In her judicial role, Judge Billings-Vela serves as an instructor for the National Judicial College and volunteers with the Teen Court and Judicially Speaking programs. Additionally, she periodically makes presentations to Court Appointed Special Advocates (“CASA”) on supervised parenting time in domestic relations and civil protection order cases.
The Commission personally interviewed Judge Billings-Vela, observed her in Court, and reviewed judicial performance data, several of her written opinions and orders, judicial performance survey results, and written comments from attorneys and non-attorneys. Judge Billings-Vela's overall combined performance score for all categories of respondents (attorneys, non-attorneys, jurors, law enforcement, defendants, litigants, and witnesses) is among the highest of all judges surveyed, at 3.78 out of 4.00, with a combined 94% of survey respondents agreeing that Judge Billings-Vela meets judicial performance standards.
Since July 5, 2017, Judge Billings-Vela has presided over all District Court cases in Teller County, which includes civil, domestic relations, juvenile, probate, mental health, criminal, and traffic cases. Judge Billings-Vela takes her responsibility to stay current in all these areas of law seriously, and spends a significant amount of time participating in judicial training, research, and educational opportunities. She also works to implement programs that meet the specific needs of the Teller County community, such as reinstating a Juvenile Best Practices Committee that promotes health, stable families and the protection of children. Judge Billings-Vela is consistently commended for her excellent judicial demeanor, thorough and well reasoned rulings, preparation, efficiency, fairness, impartiality, and consistency. The Commission strongly believes that Judge Billings-Vela meets the performance standards for the position of Fourth Judicial District Judge.