2024 retention · District Court · 15th Judicial District
60 percentile · rank 21 of 52
composite 0100
54 percentile · rank 49 of 107
composite 0100
22 17th percentile among peers · 23rd percentile statewide
14112
Composite index 60.26 among peers (54.67 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.20 of 4 · 48.08 percentile
2.303.80
3.12 of 4 · 37.50 percentile
2.273.80
100.00% 95.19 percentile
29.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 100.00%
Non-attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 69.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.40median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.00median 3.10 | 3.10 | |
| Communications | 3.20median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Diligence | 3.40median 3.20 | 3.20 | |
| Demeanor | 3.00median 3.20 | 3.20 | |
| Fairness | 2.70median 3.10 | 3.10 |
Commission: meets standards (6–0)
Fifteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously voted 6-0, with two commissioners absent and two vacancies, finds that Judge Michael J. Davidson MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS and unanimously recommends him for retention. 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.
The Commission relied on several sources of information to make its determination that Judge Davidson meets performance standards. The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Davidson, reviewed his written opinions, observed him in court, and interviewed representatives from the Public Defender’s office and the District Attorney’s office. The Commission also reviewed survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who had the opportunity to interact with Judge Davidson. 100% of all attorneys surveyed opined that Judge Davidson met performance standards. Of the non-attorneys surveyed, 69% stated that Judge Davidson met performance standards, 15% stated that he did not meet performance standards, and 15% had no opinion. The survey also asked questions about each of the statutory performance standards, and Judge Davidson scored consistently higher in each category than other district court judges.
Judge Davidson presides over civil, domestic relations, juvenile, and criminal matters in the Fifteenth Judicial District. Judge Davidson has excellent command of the courtroom and docket control. He consistently displays a calm temperament and respectful demeanor. Further, he has demonstrated an exceptional ability to understand and apply the law. His rulings, both written and oral, are thorough, articulate, and well-reasoned. However, as it relates to certain low-level offenses, the bond schedule he uses could use updating to reflect recent changes in law. Finally, he has demonstrated service to the legal profession and public through community outreach in his district. Specifically, he is working to get a mock trial program started at the local high school to make the legal profession more accessible to youth in his district.
Judge Davidson obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado in 1991 and his law degree from Texas Southern University in 1995. Prior to his appointment to the bench in 2015, Judge Davidson was a prosecutor in the 15th Judicial District (1997-2009) and an attorney in private practice focusing on criminal defense and family law (2009-2015). Judge Davidson has two adult children and lives in Lamar with his wife.
2018 retention · District Court · 15th Judicial District
43 percentile · rank 30 of 52
composite 0100
41 percentile · rank 75 of 128
composite 0100
49 14th percentile among peers · 24th percentile statewide
29158
Composite index 41.67 among peers (43.10 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.51 of 4 · 52.88 percentile
2.963.81
3.47 of 4 · 49.04 percentile
2.913.86
79.00% 23.08 percentile
44.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.31
- Say “meets standards”
- 79.00%
Non-attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.60
- Say “meets standards”
- 89.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.57median 3.49 | 3.49 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.23median 3.43 | 3.43 | |
| Communications | 3.56median 3.58 | 3.58 | |
| Diligence | 3.53median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Demeanor | 3.39median 3.51 | 3.51 | |
| Fairness | 3.53median 3.59 | 3.59 |
Commission: meets standards (8–0)
The Fifteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously recommends by a vote of 8-0 that Judge Michael Davidson MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Judge Davidson received his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado and his Juris Doctorate from Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Judge Davidson began his career as a Deputy District Attorney in the Fifteenth Judicial District and later served two full terms as the elected District Attorney. Prior to his appointment as a district court judge, Judge Davidson worked as an associate attorney at Scranton Specht & Associates, P.C. in Lamar, Colorado, practicing in the areas of criminal defense, family law, and civil litigation.
The Commission conducted extensive research in recommending that Judge Davidson meets performance standards, including surveys, courtroom observations, a review of caseload data, a review of his self-evaluation and written orders, and interviews. Non-attorneys (35) and attorneys (14) who submitted responses to our survey gave Judge Davidson excellent scores overall, with 86% recommending that Judge Davidson meets performance standards. Two appellate court judges who submitted surveys gave Judge Davidson perfect scores.
The Commission found that Judge Davidson’s performance is excellent in many areas. In particular, the Commission found that Judge Davidson’s preparation, knowledge and application of the law are superb. The Commission also found that Judge Davidson’s calm and neutral demeanor and his willingness to listen to litigants create fair and professional proceedings that foster the public’s trust in the criminal justice system. Lastly, the Commission notes Judge Davidson’s participation in the Dependency and Neglect System Reform program (DANSR) which integrates family drug court practices into dependency and neglect cases and is widely credited with helping local youth and struggling parents overcome addiction.