2026 retention · Court of Appeals · Statewide
1st of 7 (too few for a percentile)
composite 0100
99 percentile · rank 1 of 108
composite 0100
27 4th most of 7 among peers · 59th percentile statewide
1936
Composite index 83.33 among peers (94.60 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.90 of 4
3.603.90
4.00 of 4
2.854.00
100.00%
75.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 100.00%
Non-attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 100.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 4.00median 3.60 | 3.60 | |
| Writing | 4.00median 3.60 | 3.60 |
| Year | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade | 3.60 | 3.70 | 3.60 | 3.40 | 3.70 | 3.40 |
| Responses | 34 | 23 | 20 | 44 | 39 | 20 |
Commission: meets standards (9–0)
The State Commission on Judicial Performance finds that Judge Rebecca Rankin Freyre, by vote of 9-0 with one commissioner absent, and one commission vacancy, MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. Colorado’s statutory judicial performance standards are integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, and service to the legal profession and the public.
Judge Freyre was appointed to the Colorado Court of Appeals in 2015 and has served with distinction for 11 years. She successfully stood for retention in 2018 and has now served a full eight-year term. The Commission finds her written opinions to be thoughtful, well-reasoned, and drafted with clarity that makes the information accessible to litigants, practitioners, and the public. We find her judicial demeanor at oral arguments to be respectful, engaging, and present. Judge Freyre served as the Deputy Chief Judge from January 2022 to January 2026. She currently chairs the PERA Board and sustains a broad range of civic and volunteer commitments to serve the legal profession and the public, including providing mentorship to law students and emerging judges. In summary, the Commission finds Judge Freyre to be an exemplary jurist and a valuable member of the Court of Appeals.
To conduct its evaluation, the Commission interviewed Judge Freyre, reviewed her self-evaluation, observed oral arguments, examined a selection of her legal opinions, and considered survey responses from attorneys and judges. Every survey respondent agreed that Judge Freyre meets applicable judicial performance standards. She received positive comments from respondents with respect to her strong writing skills, astute oral argument questions, strong legal analysis for reaching fair outcomes in gray areas, and her receptiveness and incorporation of feedback from her fellow judges.
Judge Freyre earned her undergraduate degree in Economics at Smith College and her law degree from the University of Denver College of Law. She began her career in law as a law clerk at a private criminal defense firm in Denver, Colorado before dedicating 25 years as a Deputy State Public Defender, working in the Appellate Division in Denver and the Trial Office in Arapahoe County before appointment to the bench in 2015.
2018 retention · Court of Appeals · Statewide
2nd of 5 (too few for a percentile)
composite 0100
62 percentile · rank 49 of 128
composite 0100
61 4th most of 5 among peers · 44th percentile statewide
56129
Composite index 56.67 among peers (58.85 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.65 of 4
3.273.72
3.56 of 4
3.023.74
82.00%
65.00%98.00%
Attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.56
- Say “meets standards”
- 82.00%
Non-attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.70
- Say “meets standards”
- 97.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 3.72median 3.58 | 3.58 | |
| Writing | 3.40median 3.43 | 3.43 |
Commission: meets standards (9–0)
The State Commission on Judicial Performance finds that Judge Rebecca Rankin Freyre MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, by a vote of 9-0. The judicial performance standards are: integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and the public.
Judge Freyre was appointed to the Colorado Court of Appeals on September 18, 2015. She received her undergraduate degree from Smith College, worked as a manager with Oppenheimer Funds and as a banking management consultant for Penquite & Associates, and then earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver in 1990. She was a Deputy State Public Defender in the Arapahoe County Trial Office and served for ten years as Deputy State Public Defender, Appellate Division. Judge Freyre’s civic engagement includes West Middle School Mock Congressional Hearings, University of Denver law school oral arguments, several activities with Courts in the Community, and diversity internship programs.
The Commission interviewed Judge Freyre, read a selection of her legal opinions, observed her in court, reviewed her self-evaluation, and considered survey responses from attorneys and judges. One survey question asked whether Judge Freyre met judicial performance standards. Of the attorneys who responded to that question, 82% answered yes, 9% answered no, and 9% had no opinion. Of the judges who responded to that question, 97% answered yes and 3% had no opinion. A total of 30 attorneys and 31 judges completed the survey.
Judge Freyre has been on the bench for about three years, and this is her first retention review. She has quickly adapted to her judicial duties and has demonstrated competence and efficiency similar to other judges reviewed. Attorneys generally agree that she is fair and impartial, she treats parties equally, and she is courteous. Attorneys also commented that she is hard working and well prepared for oral argument. The Commission agrees with the survey results and also finds that Judge Freyre issues timely, well-organized, and concise opinions.