2024 retention · County Court · Phillips County
The state did not publish a 2024 survey report: too few responses. This evaluation is not ranked.
Commission: meets standards (7–0)
The Thirteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously agrees by a vote of 7-0, with two members absent and one vacancy, that Judge Kimbra Killin MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Judge Killin was appointed to the Phillips County Court in May 2014. Judge Killin is a part-time county court judge. She currently hears misdemeanor, traffic and civil county court cases, and does assist other county judges with their dockets as needed. Based upon the Commission’s overall evaluation, Judge Killin has demonstrated that she meets performance standards in all categories (integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and public). Unfortunately, Judge Killin did not receive sufficient survey responses for the Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation to publish a report. Judge Killin readily admits that the surveys would help with the outside perception of what she is doing. However, she balances the lack of surveys by talking with and getting feedback directly from attorneys.
The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Killin, reviewed a sample of her submitted decisions, and observed her in court. Judge Killin answered questions regarding her demeanor in court. Judge Killin has the attitude that people make mistakes. She doesn’t have any angst about people in court and when necessary, she slows things down and asks if they have questions. Judge Killin addresses folks by last name in order to demonstrate that they are on equal footing. Judge Killin stays up to date by utilizing a Listserv, asking opinions of other judges and ultimately finds the time to author updates to the Thirteenth Judicial District’s County Court Criminal Benchbook.
Judge Killin received her bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Regis University in 1990 and her Juris Doctor from the University of Denver in 1994. Judge Killin has limited her private practice of law, now serving as Of Counsel to Kelley Law Ltd. in Holyoke. She continues to participate in management of the family farm, heavy equipment hauling business, and manages the family’s commercial rentals. Judge Killin serves on two local scholarship boards, currently the Leland Trust and the Holyoke Schools Scholarship Trust.
2020 retention · County Court · Phillips County
12 percentile · rank 33 of 37
composite 0100
15 percentile · rank 85 of 100
composite 0100
4 4th percentile among peers · 1st percentile statewide
380
Composite index 22.52 among peers (21.67 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.20 of 4 · 17.57 percentile
1.504.00
3.30 of 4 · 25.68 percentile
1.503.95
75.00% 24.32 percentile
0.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 75.00%
Non-attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 94.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.60median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 2.60median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Communications | 4.00median 3.60 | 3.60 | |
| Diligence | 3.00median 3.40 | 3.40 | |
| Demeanor | 3.30median 3.50 | 3.50 |
Commission: meets standards (6–0)
The Thirteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance finds that the Honorable Kimbra L. Killin MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. Six members of the Commission voted that Judge Killin meets performance standards; no members voted that she does not meet performance standards (three members did not participate and there is one vacancy on the Commission).
Judge Killin has been serving as the Phillips County Court Judge since May of 2014, with a docket consisting primarily of traffic, misdemeanor, civil, and small claims matters. This term, Judge Killin has continued to perform exceptionally well in all areas the Commission is tasked with evaluating. With respect to administrative performance and case management, she is diligent and efficient in managing her docket. As a part-time judge and practicing attorney, this is a balancing act that Judge Killin appears to manage well. She demonstrates willingness to invest the time and do the necessary “homework” that this position entails while still maintaining her legal practice. With respect to legal knowledge, her experience as an attorney and her six years of judicial experience provide a strong foundation, but as expected, she also participates in ongoing continuing education and training, and regularly monitors changes in the law. She has demonstrated a commitment to serving the legal profession and the public. Specifically, she devotes considerable time authoring the Thirteenth Judicial District Bench Book, which is a resource for judges. She also has been working to promote jury service locally, as Phillips County has experienced a higher number of jury trials than usual. Judge Killin’s judicial temperament and integrity continue to be exemplary. She consistently conducts herself in a professional and dignified manner and avoids the appearance of impropriety. She has a reputation of being fair and impartial. She communicates effectively both verbally and in writing. In short, Judge Killin is a well-rounded judicial officer for whom the Commission struggles to identify areas of weakness. The Commission strongly believes that Judge Killin meets performance standards and that she continues to be an asset to the Thirteenth Judicial District.
The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Killin. It also reviewed recordings of court proceedings; written materials, including a self-evaluation and orders issued; and survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who had interaction with Judge Killin in court. While there were a limited number of survey responses (4), they did reflect notably strong performance in case management, application of the law, communication, fairness, demeanor and performance. While survey responses did not raise any notable concerns for the Commission, Judge Killin reflected upon some of them during her interview with the Commission. In doing so, she demonstrated her ability to accept feedback and willingness to adapt if warranted.
In addition to serving as Phillips County Court Judge, Judge Killin is a practicing attorney and farmer. She is active in the community. She serves on the boards of two local scholarships and assists with career fairs and programs such as Every 5 Minutes.
2016 retention · County Court · Phillips County
75 percentile · rank 9 of 36
composite 0100
84 percentile · rank 17 of 108
composite 0100
22 18th percentile among peers · 7th percentile statewide
5140
Composite index 75.93 among peers (82.41 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.71 of 4 · 80.56 percentile
3.113.84
3.56 of 4 · 54.17 percentile
3.023.84
100.00% 93.06 percentile
50.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.39
- Say “meets standards”
- 100.00%
Non-attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.76
- Say “meets standards”
- 84.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.25median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.49median 3.49 | 3.49 | |
| Communications | 3.68median 3.65 | 3.65 | |
| Diligence | 3.57median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Demeanor | 3.65median 3.62 | 3.62 | |
| Fairness | 3.75median 3.66 | 3.66 |
Commission: meets standards (9–0)
The Thirteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously (9-0, with one Commissioner absent) recommends that Judge Kimbra Leigh Killin BE RETAINED.
Judge Killin earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Regis University in 1990, where she graduated magna cum laude, and her Juris Doctor from the University of Denver in 1994. Judge Killin was appointed as Phillips County Court Judge in May of 2014. Her docket consists mostly of traffic, civil, and criminal matters. As a part-time judge, she continues to work as an attorney in private practice, to participate in management of the family farm and ranch businesses, and to serve on community boards, currently the Leland Trust and the Holyoke Schools Scholarship Trust.
The Commission reviewed completed surveys from attorney and non-attorney respondents familiar with Judge Killin. Three attorneys and nineteen non-attorney respondents indicated that they had worked with her enough to evaluate her performance. All of the attorneys recommended retention; among non-attorneys, 84% recommended to retain and 16% had no opinion. In addition to the survey responses and comments, the Commission also reviewed the Judge’s Self-Evaluation, a sampling of her written rulings, and conducted courtroom observations and an interview with the Judge.
When survey results were compared to all County Court Judges in Colorado, Judge Killin’s overall score in each of the following categories was above the state average: knowledge and application of the law, communication, diligence, demeanor, and fairness. Judge Killin scored slightly below the state average in the category of case management. Survey comments were overwhelmingly positive and reflected strength in the areas of legal research, preparedness, humility, communicating effectively with litigants who do not have an attorney, exhibiting a pleasant and respectful demeanor, professionalism, and educating herself on areas of the law with which she is less familiar. The Commission noted that, although Judge Killin did not have significant criminal law experience prior to her appointment, survey comments praised her for taking the initiative to educate herself in this area of the law and it appears that she has been successful in doing so. During her interview with the Commission, Judge Killin demonstrated an understanding of some of the cultural factors which impact cases before her and discussed the unique challenges of serving as a judicial officer in a small, rural community. It was apparent from her interview, courtroom observations, and survey comments that Judge Killin is mindful of setting appropriate boundaries in order to ensure the public’s confidence in the fairness, neutrality, and objectivity of the legal process, and that her familiarity with individuals in the community does not influence the way she treats them in the courtroom. While Judge Killin’s caring and approachable nature is a strength, courtroom observations suggested she might reinforce the public’s perception of the dignity of the court and the seriousness of its proceedings by increasing the formality of proceedings.