2022 retention · District Court · 4th Judicial District
90 percentile · rank 7 of 67
composite 0100
85 percentile · rank 19 of 134
composite 0100
51 50th percentile among peers · 60th percentile statewide
15132
Composite index 86.07 among peers (81.34 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.70 of 4 · 92.54 percentile
2.603.80
3.65 of 4 · 85.82 percentile
2.583.82
95.00% 79.85 percentile
43.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 95.00%
Non-attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 96.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.50median 3.40 | 3.40 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.60median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Communications | 3.90median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Diligence | 3.70median 3.40 | 3.40 | |
| Demeanor | 3.70median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Fairness | 3.50median 3.40 | 3.40 |
Commission: meets standards (7–0)
The Fourth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance voted 7-0 with 3 absent that Judge Robin Lynn Chittum 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 Chittum’s docket includes 50% Juvenile and 50% Criminal. Judge Chittum maintains an excellent judicial demeanor. She is described as intelligent, efficient, professional, respectful, diligent, prepared, knowledgeable, and fair. Her written opinions are clear and well written. Judge Chittum demonstrates care and empathy with persons in her courtroom. Judge Chittum is an extremely hard worker. Her integrity is impeccable. The Commission believes Judge Chittum is a true asset to the community. Judge Chittum’s overall combined performance score on the 2022 Judicial Performance Survey was 3.7 out of 4.0, which was higher than the average score of 3.4 for all District Court Judges. 95% of attorneys and 96% of non-attorneys believe that Judge Chittum meets judicial performance standards. Judge Chittum received outstanding marks in the survey such as 3.9 for communication, 3.7 for demeanor, 3.7 for diligence, 3.5 for fairness, and 3.6 for application and knowledge of law. The Commission observed Judge Chittum in court and found her to be thoroughly professional, courteous, highly competent, and efficient while handling a busy docket.
In evaluating the performance of Judge Chittum, the Commission considered the results of her 2022 Judicial Performance Survey, which was compiled based on 51 completed surveys (22 attorneys and 29 non-attorneys). The Commission interviewed the chief judge, a representative of the District Attorney’s Office and the lead Public Defender about Judge Chittum. Numerous members of the Commission observed Judge Chittum in court, and the Commission interviewed Judge Chittum. The Commission also considered Judge Chittum’s self-evaluation and written opinions.
Judge Chittum was appointed to the District Court in February 2013. Judge Chittum grew up in the Midwest and attended Michigan State University as an undergraduate. She came to Colorado in 1993 for law school at the University of Denver. She began her legal career as a trial court law clerk in Jefferson County. She then served as a Deputy District Attorney in El Paso County for 11 years. Judge Chittum took the bench in 2008 as a Magistrate and became a District Court Judge in 2013. She handles criminal and child welfare cases, and she actively works to improve the child welfare system.
2016 retention · District Court · 4th Judicial District
82 percentile · rank 11 of 61
composite 0100
81 percentile · rank 20 of 108
composite 0100
104 81st percentile among peers · 72nd percentile statewide
17164
Composite index 81.42 among peers (80.25 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.71 of 4 · 88.52 percentile
2.793.84
3.68 of 4 · 86.07 percentile
2.813.84
91.00% 69.67 percentile
40.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.57
- Say “meets standards”
- 91.00%
Non-attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.79
- Say “meets standards”
- 95.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.54median 3.38 | 3.38 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.62median 3.41 | 3.41 | |
| Communications | 3.82median 3.53 | 3.53 | |
| Diligence | 3.64median 3.48 | 3.48 | |
| Demeanor | 3.69median 3.47 | 3.47 | |
| Fairness | 3.76median 3.68 | 3.68 |
Commission: meets standards (10–0)
The Fourth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously (10-0) recommends that Judge Robin Lynn Chittum BE RETAINED.
Judge Chittum was appointed to the El Paso County District Court in February 2013. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Chittum served for eleven years as an attorney in the El Paso District Attorney’s office. Judge Chittum received her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and her law degree from the University of Denver. Judge Chittum has volunteered for a variety of her children’s activities including involvement with the school band, music programs, show choir and providing support for her son’s Boy Scout troop and daughter’s equestrian team. She believes that educational outreach to inform high school students about the judicial system is very important so she participates in the “Judicially Speaking” program and does job shadowing with students from a career class.
The Commission reviewed Judge Chittum’s survey responses that included individual comments from both attorneys and non-attorneys who had appeared in Judge Chittum’s courtroom. Additionally, Commission members interviewed Judge Chittum, read several of her decisions and observed her in the courtroom. Judge Chittum’s survey question regarding recommendation for retention scores were high; with 91% of attorneys completing the survey recommending retention and 95% of non-attorneys completing the survey recommending retention.
Judge Chittum’s docket during this term has included 25% civil cases, 50% criminal cases and 25% probate cases. Survey results from attorneys rated Judge Chittum above average for all District Judges standing for retention in all five areas surveyed. Non-attorney survey results also rated Judge Chittum above average for all District Judges standing for retention in all surveyed areas. Both attorneys and non-attorneys rated Judge Chittum especially high in “demeanor” and specifically in “treating participants with respect.” The Commission notes that during a courtroom observation of a criminal docket she took the time to ensure that each defendant who came before her fully understood his/her charge, the next steps that would be taken by the Court and explained what was expected of the defendant. Everyone in the courtroom was treated with dignity and respect.