2022 retention · District Court · 5th Judicial District
84 percentile · rank 11 of 67
composite 0100
76 percentile · rank 31 of 134
composite 0100
53 53rd percentile among peers · 61st percentile statewide
15132
Composite index 80.35 among peers (73.63 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.60 of 4 · 81.34 percentile
2.603.80
3.58 of 4 · 73.88 percentile
2.583.82
96.00% 85.82 percentile
43.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 96.00%
Non-attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 86.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.60median 3.40 | 3.40 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.50median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Communications | 3.60median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Diligence | 3.70median 3.40 | 3.40 | |
| Demeanor | 3.60median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Fairness | 3.50median 3.40 | 3.40 |
Commission: meets standards (10–0)
The Fifth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance by a unanimous vote of 10-0 vote recommends that District Judge Paul R. Dunkelman 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 Dunkelman was appointed to the District Court bench in December 2013. He was appointed as Chief Judge of the Fifth Judicial District in October 2021 on an interim basis and in February 2022 on permanent basis. Judge Dunkelman presided over a mixed docket of felony criminal, civil, domestic relations, mental health, and juvenile delinquency cases this term. Based on the Commission’s overall evaluation, Judge Dunkelman has demonstrated he meets or exceeds performance standards in all categories. Judge Dunkelman received consistently positive reviews in his surveys from attorneys and non-attorneys. Judge Dunkelman is held in high regard by the Commission, as well as the attorneys and non-attorneys that appear before him. He is proud to serve, enjoys his work and strives to improve his performance by participating in continuing legal education and keeping current with changes in the laws. He has created programs focused on educating other judges and is engaged in his local community and bar associations. The Commission notes that Judge Dunkelman routinely reflects on his real-world experiences to grow as a judge. He acclimated quickly in his new role as chief judge to preserve the administration of justice and is taking strides to elevate the bench as a whole in the Fifth Judicial District. The Commission finds his writing and decisions easy to read, concise, and exceptionally well-written.
The Commission conducted a personal interview with the Judge, reviewed opinions he wrote, observed him in court, looked at a case management report, interviewed the Public Defender, District Attorney, and law enforcement and considered surveys sent to attorneys and non-attorneys in 2021-2022. Of attorneys who completed the survey, 96% found he meets performance standards, and 4% had no opinion. Of non-attorneys completing the survey, 86% found he meets performance standards and 14% found he did not.
Prior to his appointment, Judge Dunkelman worked in private practice for twenty years, most recently with the law firm of Carlson, Carlson & Dunkelman, LLC in Frisco, Colorado, where his practice focused primarily on family law, criminal law, and civil litigation. Judge Dunkelman has been an active member of his community serving on the board of directors of many local non-profit agencies. He has been on the Board for the Mountain Chapter of the Women’s Bar Association since 2020. Judge Dunkelman received the Judicial Excellence Award from the Colorado Judicial Institute in 2021. Judge Dunkelman earned a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Colgate University in 1988 and a J.D. from the Sturm College of Law at the University of Denver in 1993.
2016 retention · District Court · 5th Judicial District
97 percentile · rank 2 of 61
composite 0100
97 percentile · rank 3 of 108
composite 0100
47 20th percentile among peers · 22nd percentile statewide
17164
Composite index 96.17 among peers (95.99 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.80 of 4 · 97.54 percentile
2.793.84
3.80 of 4 · 95.90 percentile
2.813.84
100.00% 95.08 percentile
40.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.73
- Say “meets standards”
- 100.00%
Non-attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.87
- Say “meets standards”
- 91.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.72median 3.38 | 3.38 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.76median 3.41 | 3.41 | |
| Communications | 3.84median 3.53 | 3.53 | |
| Diligence | 3.77median 3.48 | 3.48 | |
| Demeanor | 3.83median 3.47 | 3.47 | |
| Fairness | 3.88median 3.68 | 3.68 |
Commission: meets standards (9–0)
The Fifth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends 9-0 with one member absent that Judge Paul R. Dunkelman BE RETAINED.
This is Judge Dunkelman’s first performance review since being appointed to the Fifth Judicial District Court in 2013. Prior to his appointment, Judge Dunkelman was in private practice with the law firm of Carlson, Carlson and Dunkelman, LLC with a focus in family, criminal, civil and business law. In addition to his private practice Judge Dunkelman was also an adjunct professor at Colorado Mountain College and the Town Prosecutor for the Town of Leadville. Judge Dunkelman earned his undergraduate degree from Colgate University and his law degree from the Sturm College of Law, University of Denver. Despite his relatively short time on the bench Judge Dunkelman is already being recognized as one of Colorado’s best District Court judges, winning the 2014-2015 Judicial Officer of the Year for the Fifth Judicial District and being nominated for the 2015 Judicial Excellence Award by the State Judicial Department. Judge Dunkelman believes community involvement is also important in his role as District Court Judge. His recent community involvement included working on the planning committee and faculty for the Domestic Relations Institute and volunteering as a Mock Trial Judge for the Mock Trial Western Slope Regional Tournament.
The Commission had a very high opinion of Judge Dunkelman and that opinion is obviously shared by those who appear in Judge Dunkelman’s courtroom. The Commission reviewed survey results of attorneys and non-attorneys who have appeared in Judge Dunkelman’s court, survey results from appellate judges, interviewed Judge Dunkelman and reviewed three of the Judge’s written opinions, as well as his self-evaluation. Members of the Commission also observed Judge Dunkelman in court. Of the twenty-five attorneys completing the survey, 100% recommended retention. Of non-attorneys completing the survey, 91% recommended retention, 5% recommended against retention, and 5% expressed no opinion. (These percentages may not total 100% due to rounding). Judge Dunkelman’s survey results, from attorneys and non-attorneys, also revealed an overall combined average rating well above that of the combined rating of all district judges standing for retention in every category including case management, application and knowledge of law, communications, diligence, demeanor and fairness.
The written comments given in the surveys further support the recommendation to retain Judge Dunkelman. His reported strengths far outweighed and outnumbered any reported weaknesses. Attorneys described Judge Dunkelman as “thorough, kind, even mannered and prepared.” Others commented that Judge Dunkelman is an “excellent new judge,” that he has an “intimate knowledge of the law,” and that he is “fair, impartial and extremely smart.” Non-attorneys gave similar responses, describing Judge Dunkelman as calm, professional, patient and observant. Non-attorneys also gave the judge a very high rating in the category of “Communications,” stating that “he made the unfamiliar courtroom experience less intimidating for all the participants” and that “he is excellent at making sure everyone understands the proceedings.”