2024 retention · District Court · 18th Judicial District
43 percentile · rank 30 of 52
composite 0100
35 percentile · rank 69 of 107
composite 0100
40 57th percentile among peers · 63rd percentile statewide
14112
Composite index 45.51 among peers (41.59 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.20 of 4 · 48.08 percentile
2.303.80
3.23 of 4 · 52.88 percentile
2.273.80
80.00% 35.58 percentile
29.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 80.00%
Non-attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 75.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.10median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 2.90median 3.10 | 3.10 | |
| Communications | 3.40median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Diligence | 2.90median 3.20 | 3.20 | |
| Demeanor | 3.60median 3.20 | 3.20 | |
| Fairness | 3.50median 3.10 | 3.10 |
Commission: meets standards (7–0)
The Eighteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously agrees by a vote of 7-0, with three commissioners absent from voting, that Judge Ben L. Leutwyler III MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Judge Leutwyler presides over civil matters in Arapahoe County, Colorado. Judge Leutwyler’s strengths include his passion for the law, his judicial demeanor, and his work ethic. As described by those that interact with him, he is patient and respectful, knowledgeable in the law, well-prepared, dependable, fair, and he conducts himself professionally at all times. Commission members observed these qualities in him during his personal interview and while observing him in court proceedings. Judge Leutwyler works to continuously improve the management of his docket in an effort to increase efficiency. He strives for balanced sentencing, utilizing plain and easy to understand language in rulings, and equity in his decisions. He uses the knowledge gained in these reviews to refine his judicial officer skills and written decisions. Based on these findings the Commission unanimously agreed that Judge Leutwyler meets performance standards.
The Commission met with Chief Judge Michelle A. Amico to discuss her interactions with Judge Leutwyler, as well as with members of the District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office and the Probation Office, to discuss their impressions of Judge Leutwyler’s performance. The Commission members also conducted a personal interview with Judge Leutwyler, observed him during court proceedings, and reviewed judicial performance survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys that interacted with him in his courtroom. The surveys reflected personal opinions on Judge Leutwyler’s Case Management, Application and Knowledge of the Law, Communications, Diligence, Demeanor, and Fairness. Of the thirty-nine (39) completed surveys returned, Judge Leutwyler achieved an overall performance rating of 3.2 of a possible 4.0. His ratings for meeting performance standards from attorneys was 80%, and 75% from non-attorneys.
Judge Leutwyler was appointed to the bench on July 1, 2016. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa and his law degree from Georgia State University. Prior to his appointment as a district court judge he served as a magistrate in the Eighteenth Judicial District presiding over domestic relations and misdemeanor cases. Judge Leutwyler volunteers with the high school mock trial program, serves on the Colorado Judicial Conference planning committee, and serves on the Advisory Committee for the Arapahoe Community College paralegal program.
2018 retention · District Court · 18th Judicial District
87 percentile · rank 7 of 52
composite 0100
90 percentile · rank 13 of 128
composite 0100
78 62nd percentile among peers · 64th percentile statewide
29158
Composite index 84.62 among peers (86.46 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.78 of 4 · 91.35 percentile
2.963.81
3.75 of 4 · 91.35 percentile
2.913.86
92.00% 71.15 percentile
44.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.65
- Say “meets standards”
- 92.00%
Non-attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.86
- Say “meets standards”
- 97.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.53median 3.49 | 3.49 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.67median 3.43 | 3.43 | |
| Communications | 3.80median 3.58 | 3.58 | |
| Diligence | 3.75median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Demeanor | 3.85median 3.51 | 3.51 | |
| Fairness | 3.89median 3.59 | 3.59 |
Commission: meets standards (10–0)
The Eighteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously (10-0) agrees that Judge Ben L. Leutwyler III MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Judge Leutwyler was appointed to the District Court on July 1, 2016. Judge Leutwyler received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa in 1983 and earned his law degree from Georgia State University College of Law in 1990. Prior to his appointment as a district court judge, he served as a magistrate in Arapahoe County where he presided over domestic relations and misdemeanor cases. While in private practice he handled criminal defense, domestic relations, and personal injury cases. He previously served as a prosecutor in the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and in the State of Georgia. He also served as a faculty member for the National College of District Attorneys. Judge Leutwyler is a member of the Board of Directors of the Arapahoe County Bar Association, co-chair of the Youth Education Committee, and supervises the Arapahoe County High School Mock Trial Tournament.
The Commission conducted extensive research in making this recommendation, including the use of surveys, interviews of attorneys and non-attorneys who appear in his courtroom, review of his self-evaluation, observations in his courtroom by Commissioners, and review of opinions he authored. Thirteen attorneys and sixty-five non-attorneys responded to the judicial performance surveys expressing their opinion of Judge Leutwyler’s performance. Among the survey questions was, “based on your responses to the previous questions related to the performance evaluation criteria, do you think Judge Leutwyler meets judicial performance standards?” Of the attorneys responding to the surveys, 92% answered yes, that he met performance standards, 0% answered no, does not meet performance standards, and 8% expressed no opinion on whether or not Judge Leutwyler met performance standards. Of the non-attorneys surveyed, 97% answered yes, meets performance standards, 2% answered no, does not meet performance standards, and 2% had no opinion (These percentages may not total 100% due to rounding).
During the current term, Judge Leutwyler presided in primarily criminal cases. The surveys were overwhelmingly positive in all categories, with comments like “excellent job of understanding the law and issuing appropriate rulings.” It was mentioned many times that he is kind, very fair, respectful, intelligent, and even-keeled. Those on the Commission who observed the courtroom proceedings agreed that he was thoughtful and respectful to everyone. Therefore, the Commission unanimously agrees that Judge Ben Leutwyler meets performance standards.