Theresa L. Kilgore

Commission: meets standards (6–0)

The Fourth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance voted 6-0 (with 4 absent) that Judge Theresa L. Kilgore 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 Kilgore’s docket includes approximately 25 percent civil and 75 percent criminal, with 35 percent of criminal cases composed of traffic/DUI cases and 27 percent misdemeanor and domestic violence. Judge Kilgore’s overall combined score on the 2022 Judicial Performance Survey was 3.5 out of 4.0, which is higher than the average county court combined score of 3.4 out of 4.0. Of the 44 individual surveys submitted, with 19 attorneys and 25 non-attorneys responding, 89 percent of attorneys rated Judge Kilgore as meeting performance standards, substantially higher than the county court judge average of 83 percent. Similarly, 85 percent of non-attorneys also rated Judge Kilgore as meeting performance standards, two percentage points higher than the 83 percent average for county court judges. Attorneys scored Judge Kilgore 3.7 in case management, 3.4 in application of the law, 3.7 in communications, 3.6 in demeanor, and 3.4 in fairness. Non-attorney scores in the same categories were all consistently higher than average. Attorneys commented that Judge Kilgore was kind, professional and respectful, and ensures that pro-se litigants don’t feel “walked on”. Non-attorneys commented that Judge Kilgore is a good judge but could take more time for additional dialogue.

The Commission interviewed Judge Kilgore and several members observed her in court. The Commission also reviewed court cases, written decisions and reviewed her self-evaluation and survey scores and comments from the 2022 Judicial Review Performance Surveys. The Commission also interviewed the Chief Judge, District Attorney and Public Defender about Judge Kilgore. All asserted that Judge Kilgore meets performance standards. In the interview with Judge Kilgore, the members of the commission were impressed with Judge Kilgore’s demeanor and felt her judicial temperament and performance were a good fit in her role as the Teller County Court Judge and is an asset to the bench.

Judge Theresa L. Kilgore has served as the Teller County Court Judge since September 2015. Prior to her appointment, Judge Kilgore worked at Colorado Legal Services for 18 years, 8 years as the Managing Attorney. Her primary practice area was family law. Judge Kilgore received her B.A. from The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, and her law degree from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. She received the 2013 Portia Award for Outstanding Woman Lawyer from the El Paso County Chapter of the CWBA. She is a member of the Colorado Bar Association, the El Paso County Bar Association, and the Colorado Women’s Bar Association.

State evaluation page · 2022 survey report (PDF)

Commission: meets standards (6–0)

The Fourth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously (6-0) agrees that Teller County Court Judge Theresa L. Kilgore MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.

Judge Kilgore was appointed to the Teller County Court in August, 2015. Prior to her appointment, during the period 2007 through 2015, Judge Kilgore served first as staff attorney, then as managing attorney of the Colorado Springs Legal Services office. Prior to that she worked as a senior legal editor for the McGraw Hill Publishing Company and in private practice. Judge Kilgore received an undergraduate degree from the College of William & Mary, and a law degree from Catholic University. Judge Kilgore is member of Communities that Care, an organization that was formed to prevent substance abuse among young people in Teller County. She is also a volunteer judge with both Teen Court and the High School Mock Trial program. Judge Kilgore is a Trustee of the El Paso County Bar Association. The Commission conducted a personal interview of Judge Kilgore, reviewed opinions she authored, observed her in court, reviewed comments received from interested parties during the evaluation, and reviewed survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who had experience with Judge Kilgore. Of the attorneys who responded to the survey, 64% stated that they believe that Judge Kilgore meets performance standards and 36% responded that she does not meet performance standards. Among non-attorneys who responded to the survey, 88% stated that they believe that Judge Kilgore meets performance standards while 3% responded that Judge Kilgore does not meet performance standard. Another 9% expressed no opinion. The Commission notes the relatively small sample size among responding attorneys. Only 16 attorneys responded to the survey, as compared to the 93 non-attorneys who provided a response.

Among non-attorneys who responded to the survey, Judge Kilgore had very high scores in all categories. Ninety percent (90%) of non-attorney respondents felt she made sure that all participants understood the proceedings, and 91% felt that she used language that everyone understood. The non-attorneys also rated her very high in diligence, punctuality, and in maintaining proper control over the proceedings. Judge Kilgore received lower scores among responding attorneys. Attorneys scored Judge Kilgore lower on her application and knowledge of the law and on diligence. However, the Commission again notes the extremely small number of attorneys who responded to the survey. In reporting her strengths, recurring themes among the non-attorneys were that Judge Kilgore is compassionate and fair. At her personal interview and in her self-evaluation, Judge Kilgore expressed her strong ongoing commitment to continue to develop as a Judge. The Commission felt she was an above average jurist who ran a fair, compassionate, and efficient courtroom.

State evaluation page · 2018 survey report (PDF)