2024 retention · County Court · Larimer County
96 percentile · rank 2 of 47
composite 0100
98 percentile · rank 2 of 107
composite 0100
36 75th percentile among peers · 54th percentile statewide
671
Composite index 96.10 among peers (96.42 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.80 of 4 · 97.87 percentile
2.103.80
3.73 of 4 · 96.81 percentile
2.173.75
100.00% 93.62 percentile
27.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 100.00%
Non-attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 94.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.80median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.70median 3.10 | 3.10 | |
| Communications | 3.80median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Diligence | 3.70median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Demeanor | 3.70median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Fairness | 3.70median 3.20 | 3.20 |
Commission: meets standards (10–0)
The Eighth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance, by a vote of 10-0, agrees that Judge Joshua Blake Lehman MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Judge Lehman handles a mixed docket consisting of civil, misdemeanor, traffic, and small claims. Judge Lehman presents himself in court as approachable, knowledgeable, and respectful of all parties. He strives to ensure that all parties are afforded equal access and equal opportunity in court proceedings. He enjoys his position as a County Court Judge, and it is evident to all parties appearing before him as demonstrated by his judicial performance survey scores. He feels he is making a difference in people’s lives and in his community. The Commission believes Judge Lehman is a dedicated, efficient, and respectful judge and appreciates his continued efforts for the community. During observations of Judge Lehman in court, he appeared respectful of all those in the courtroom, and he was efficient in handling his cases. He allows remote appearances in most situations, which the Commission finds effective in improving access to justice. Judge Lehman strives to do a good job for the community and puts in the effort to keep up with changes in the law.
The Commission personally interviewed Judge Lehman, observed him in court (both in person and virtually), analyzed judicial performance survey data, reviewed a sample of written orders, considered written comments from attorneys and non-attorneys, and reviewed his self-evaluation. In addition, the Commission received comments from representatives of the District Attorney’s Office and the Public Defender’s Office. A total of 28 individuals, 12 attorneys and 16 non-attorneys, believed they had sufficient knowledge to assess whether Judge Lehman meets performance standards. When asked whether Judge Lehman meets performance standards: Of the attorneys responding to the survey, all 12 answered yes. Of the non-attorneys responding to the survey, 15 answered yes and one expressed no opinion. His overall performance score based on a total of 36 responses is 3.8 out of 4 for all performance categories combined (case management, application and knowledge of law, communications, diligence, demeanor, and fairness). Given significantly low response rates to the surveys overall, the Commission gave the appropriate weight to the survey responses in its evaluation.
Judge Lehman was appointed to the bench in 2014. Before he was appointed, he served nearly ten years as a deputy district attorney in Fort Collins. Prior to his time in the District Attorney’s Office, he represented federal employees in adverse employment actions and discrimination claims. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Administration of Justice from the University of Wyoming in 1998, and his Juris Doctorate from the Wyoming College of Law in 2001. He was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 2001.
2020 retention · District Court · 8th Judicial District
85 percentile · rank 9 of 59
composite 0100
85 percentile · rank 15 of 100
composite 0100
38 51st percentile among peers · 65th percentile statewide
1488
Composite index 87.01 among peers (86.50 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.80 of 4 · 90.68 percentile
2.203.90
3.82 of 4 · 88.98 percentile
2.423.88
94.00% 81.36 percentile
39.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 94.00%
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 | 3.80median 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 Eighth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously agrees by a vote of 10-0 that the Honorable Joshua B. Lehman MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Judge Lehman presides over criminal, traffic, and civil matters. The Commission finds Judge Lehman to be thorough, respectful, and self-aware. He makes court proceedings accessible to self-represented parties, is patient, and ensures those who appear in front of him are heard. Judge Lehman comes to court prepared and knowledgeable about the law. His written orders are well-researched and well-written. Judge Lehman has built processes to ensure that he runs an efficient courtroom, reviews and issues orders on written pleadings outside of the courtroom, while maintaining flexibility to handle emergency matters. Judge Lehman’s judicial philosophy balances protecting an individual’s rights with allowing the victim to be heard and protecting community safety. The Commission believes he is a strong judge, who continues to sharpen his skills by reflecting on his performance and process with an eye toward improvement.
The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Lehman, reviewed opinions he authored, observed him in court, and reviewed judicial performance survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who appeared in Judge Lehman’s courtroom. A total of thirty-eight individuals, thirty-six attorneys and two non-attorneys, believed they had sufficient knowledge to express their opinion of Judge Lehman. When asked whether Judge Lehman meets performance standards: Of the attorneys responding to the survey, 94% answered yes; 3% answered no; and 3% had no opinion. Of the non-attorneys responding to the survey, 100% answered yes. The small number of non-attorney responses makes this percentage difficult to consider as a reliable measure. It should be noted that for the retention cycle in 2020, different methods for non-attorney survey distribution and collection were utilized statewide on a trial basis. This transition may account for the low response rate from non-attorneys. Judge Lehman received ratings above the statewide average among all county court judges standing for retention in all areas surveyed: Case Management, Application and Knowledge of Law, Communications, Demeanor, and Diligence.
Joshua B. Lehman was appointed to the County Court bench in 2014. Judge Lehman received his undergraduate degree in Administration of Justice from the University of Wyoming in 1998 and his law degree from the Wyoming College of Law in 2001. Prior to his appointment, Judge Lehman served as a deputy district attorney in Fort Collins for nearly ten years. Before working as a deputy district attorney, Judge Lehman represented federal employees in appeals of adverse employment actions and discrimination claims.
2016 retention · County Court · Larimer County
81 percentile · rank 7 of 36
composite 0100
90 percentile · rank 10 of 108
composite 0100
84 59th percentile among peers · 57th percentile statewide
5140
Composite index 77.78 among peers (85.19 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.70 of 4 · 75.00 percentile
3.113.84
3.69 of 4 · 76.39 percentile
3.023.84
96.00% 81.94 percentile
50.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.70
- Say “meets standards”
- 96.00%
Non-attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.69
- Say “meets standards”
- 95.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.70median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.63median 3.49 | 3.49 | |
| Communications | 3.67median 3.65 | 3.65 | |
| Diligence | 3.69median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Demeanor | 3.79median 3.62 | 3.62 | |
| Fairness | 3.67median 3.66 | 3.66 |
Commission: meets standards (10–0)
The Eighth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously (10-0) recommends that Judge Joshua B. Lehman BE RETAINED.
Judge Lehman was appointed to the Larimer County Court bench in 2013. As a County Court Judge, he presides over both criminal and civil cases, including small claims. Judge Lehman previously served as deputy district attorney in Fort Collins and also represented Federal Employees in appeals of adverse employment actions and discrimination claims. Judge Lehman received his Bachelor of Science degree from Wyoming University in 1998 and his law degree there in 2001. Judge Lehman enjoys his job and providing judicial excellence is important to him. As a jurist, he is aware of the heightened tension among litigants that appear before him and strives to create a courtroom environment in which all sides can have their voices fairly heard.
The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Lehman, reviewed opinions he authored, observed him 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 Lehman. The survey asked “How strongly do you recommend that Judge Lehman be retained in office?” Of the attorneys and non-attorneys completing the survey, 95% of the combined groups recommended retention. Of the attorneys responding, 96% recommended retention, 0% recommended non-retention, and 4% made no recommendation. Of the non-attorneys responding, 95% recommended retention, 5% recommended non-retention, and 0% made no recommendation. A total of 27 attorneys and 57 non-attorneys completed the judicial performance survey regarding Judge Lehman.
The very positive responses to the survey questions regarding Judge Lehman’s performance are indicative of his broad approval among the people that appear before him. Both attorneys and non-attorneys rated him well above average in every specific category surveyed. Among attorneys, his scores were particularly high the area of analysis of relevant facts and impartiality. Among non-attorneys, his highest scores were in the areas of demeanor and treating participants with respect. The Commission finds that despite being a relatively recent appointment to the bench, Judge Lehman is performing at a very high level. Commissioners were impressed with his response to interview questions and his demonstrated ability to be flexible in dealing with different parties under different circumstances. He is conscientious, fair and his performance will only improve over time.