2026 retention · District Court · 19th Judicial District
85 percentile · rank 10 of 65
composite 0100
81 percentile · rank 20 of 108
composite 0100
17 19th percentile among peers · 21st percentile statewide
1054
Composite index 77.95 among peers (75.00 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.40 of 4 · 76.15 percentile
2.103.80
3.38 of 4 · 73.08 percentile
2.073.82
100.00% 84.62 percentile
25.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 100.00%
Non-attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 82.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.40median 3.20 | 3.20 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.30median 3.10 | 3.10 | |
| Communications | 3.30median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Diligence | 3.50median 3.10 | 3.10 | |
| Demeanor | 3.40median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Fairness | 3.40median 3.10 | 3.10 |
| Year | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade | 3.80 | 3.70 | 3.60 | 3.80 | 3.30 | 3.60 |
| Responses | 23 | 26 | 45 | 32 | 29 | 16 |
Commission: meets standards (8–0)
The Nineteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously agrees by vote of 8-0, with two commissioners absent, that Judge Timothy Gerard Kerns MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Judge Kerns currently presides over a criminal docket in District Court in Weld County, Colorado. His performance was evaluated using the following statutory criteria: integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and the public. The Commission found that Judge Kerns generally excelled in each category. His personable demeanor produces a courtroom atmosphere focused on respect for everyone involved. His oral rulings from the bench clearly frame the legal issues and reflect a solid knowledge of the law. His written rulings are thorough and intelligently expressed. Furthermore, the Commission found his judicial style to be authentic and thoughtful, and appreciated his ability to adapt to the uniqueness of each case.
The Commission’s conclusions are based on observing Judge Kerns in court, a personal interview, reviewing opinions he authored, and reviewing survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who had been involved in cases in his courtroom. Those survey responses produced an overall score of 3.8 out of 4, which is higher than the state average. Additionally, 100% of attorneys and 82% of non-attorneys responding to the survey stated that he meets performance standards. These high marks are consistent with the independent evaluations of Commission members.
Judge Kerns was appointed to the District Court bench in January 2011, after serving three years as a County Court judge. Prior to becoming a judge, he was a partner in a law firm that focused on mediation, family law, dependency and neglect proceedings, and general civil matters. He received his undergraduate degrees from Central Methodist College in 1991. He earned his law degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City in 1994. Finally, Judge Kerns serves on several community boards, including the Weld County Pretrial Services Board, Weld County Bar Association Board, and Peer to Peer Judicial Coaching Board.
2020 retention · District Court · 19th Judicial District
88 percentile · rank 7 of 59
composite 0100
89 percentile · rank 11 of 100
composite 0100
24 11th percentile among peers · 23rd percentile statewide
1488
Composite index 89.83 among peers (88.50 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.80 of 4 · 90.68 percentile
2.203.90
3.83 of 4 · 93.22 percentile
2.423.88
95.00% 85.59 percentile
39.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 95.00%
Non-attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 100.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.80median 3.60 | 3.60 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.70median 3.40 | 3.40 | |
| Communications | 3.90median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Diligence | 3.80median 3.40 | 3.40 | |
| Demeanor | 3.80median 3.60 | 3.60 | |
| Fairness | 4.00median 4.00 | 4.00 |
Commission: meets standards (10–0)
The Nineteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously agrees by a vote of 10-0 that Judge Timothy G. Kerns MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Judge Kerns presides over criminal matters in Greeley, Weld County, Colorado, but he has previously presided over civil and probate matters. In his present role, Judge Kerns also presides over Adult Treatment Court, a rehabilitation focused court dealing primarily with criminal defendants with substance abuse issues. Judge Kerns has been described as being fair, neutral, respectful, prepared, and diligent. Judge Kerns is well-prepared, and it is evident how seriously he takes his obligations and how hard he tries to make the right decision in every case. Judge Kerns understands the importance of setting an appropriate demeanor in his courtroom – one of neutrality and respect for all persons present. Individuals who have appeared before Judge Kerns noted his respectful demeanor. Judge Kerns maintains appropriate control of his docket, prioritizing moving cases efficiently, while understanding extraordinary circumstances on a case-by-case basis. Judge Kerns’ written decisions are well-written and well-reasoned, such that even the losing party in cases before him commented that they have understood how Judge Kerns reached his conclusion, from a legal and factual standpoint.
Commission members observed these qualities during their evaluations and WebEx interview (due to COVID-19) with Judge Kerns. The commission observed Judge Kerns to be very professional and genuine and saw how Judge Kerns conducted his courtroom with courtesy and kept appropriate control. The Commission also read Judge Kerns’ written rulings, along with judicial performance survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who had courtroom interactions with Judge Kerns. Notably, 95% of attorneys and 100% of non-attorneys (a total of two responses) indicated Judge Kerns is meeting performance standards. Based on all findings, the Commission unanimously agreed that Judge Timothy Kerns MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Judge Timothy Kerns was appointed District Court Judge on January 1, 2011. Previously he served as a County Court Judge from October 2007 through December 2010. Prior to appointment to the bench, Judge Kerns was a partner in a law firm, with an emphasis in family law, dependency and neglect through appointments as a guardian ad litem and parent’s counsel, civil law, and mediation. Judge Kerns has undergraduate degrees in history, political science, and French from Central Methodist College in Fayette, Missouri. Judge Kerns obtained his law degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. Judge Kerns has participated as a judge for the Colorado Bar Association Mock Trial program and serves as a reviewer for treatment courts in other jurisdictions and a mentor for other treatment court judicial officers.