2022 retention · District Court · 16th Judicial District
22 percentile · rank 52 of 67
composite 0100
15 percentile · rank 113 of 134
composite 0100
24 5th percentile among peers · 14th percentile statewide
15132
Composite index 26.37 among peers (19.53 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.30 of 4 · 35.07 percentile
2.603.80
3.27 of 4 · 29.10 percentile
2.583.82
67.00% 14.93 percentile
43.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 67.00%
Non-attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 85.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.30median 3.40 | 3.40 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.00median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Communications | 3.50median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Diligence | 3.40median 3.40 | 3.40 | |
| Demeanor | 3.40median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Fairness | 3.00median 3.40 | 3.40 |
Commission: meets standards (10–0)
The Sixteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously agrees by a vote of 10-0 that Judge Mark A. MacDonnell 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 MacDonnell presides over civil, domestic relations, juvenile, mental health, probate, and criminal matters in Otero, Bent and Crowley County, Colorado. Judge MacDonnell’s demeanor is described as dignified, respectful, kind, and understanding to defendants in the court room. Judge MacDonnell has exceptional written orders and understanding of complex legal issues. Judge MacDonnell exhibits excellent command of the courtroom and docket control. Commission members observed these qualities during their evaluation and interview. Based on these findings the Commission unanimously agreed that Judge Mark MacDonnell meets performance standards.
The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge MacDonnell, interviewed both the Public Defender and District Attorney, reviewed opinions Judge MacDonnell authored, observed him in court, reviewed a self-evaluation survey and reviewed judicial performance survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who had interaction in Judge MacDonnell’s court. Among the survey questions asked, “Based on your responses to the previous questions related to the performance evaluation criteria, do you think Judge MacDonnell meets judicial performance standards?” Of the attorneys responding to this question, 85% answered yes; and 15% answered no. Of the non-attorneys responding to the survey, 85% answered yes; 15% answered no. A total of ten attorneys and fourteen non-attorneys responded to the judicial performance surveys expressing their opinion of Judge MacDonnell.
Judge MacDonnell has been appointed to the District Court since 2013. He graduated from Adams State University with a B.A. degree and received his law degree from the University of Colorado. Judge MacDonnell is active in the legal community, having served in numerous leadership positions in the 16 th Judicial District Bar Association and the Colorado Bar Association. Judge MacDonnell and his wife have three children and four grandchildren.
2016 retention · District Court · 16th Judicial District
40 percentile · rank 37 of 61
composite 0100
46 percentile · rank 58 of 108
composite 0100
57 37th percentile among peers · 33rd percentile statewide
17164
Composite index 42.35 among peers (44.75 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.52 of 4 · 48.36 percentile
2.793.84
3.42 of 4 · 38.52 percentile
2.813.84
78.00% 40.16 percentile
40.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.16
- Say “meets standards”
- 78.00%
Non-attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.68
- Say “meets standards”
- 89.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.10median 3.38 | 3.38 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.32median 3.41 | 3.41 | |
| Communications | 3.46median 3.53 | 3.53 | |
| Diligence | 3.46median 3.48 | 3.48 | |
| Demeanor | 3.44median 3.47 | 3.47 | |
| Fairness | 3.73median 3.68 | 3.68 |
Commission: meets standards (9–0)
The Sixteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends unanimously (9-0 with one recusal) that Chief Judge Mark A. MacDonnell BE RETAINED.
Judge MacDonnell was appointed to the District Court bench in 2014, after serving as a county court judge in Bent County since 1993. In addition to holding court in the three counties of the district, he performs the administrative duties of Chief Judge. He earned his undergraduate degree from Adams State College and Juris Doctorate from the University of Colorado. In private practice he served as Bent and Crowley County Attorney and represented the Departments of Social Services of Bent, Crowley, and Prowers Counties as well as the City of Las Animas and several Special Districts. Judge MacDonnell has always been active in community service. In his current role, he finds time to serve his church and to mentor men at Fort Lyon Supportive Residential Community.
The Commission considered the Judge’s written self-evaluation, results from the Judicial Performance Survey of attorneys and non-attorneys involved in proceedings in his courtroom, written decisions submitted by the Judge, courtroom observations by the Commissioners, input from representatives of the District Attorney and Public Defender’s offices, comments made during public hearings, and an interview with the Judge. The survey results reflect completed surveys from 18 attorneys: 78% recommended retention, 12% non-retention, and 11% made no recommendation. The completed survey results reflect 39 non-attorney responses: 89% recommended retention, 5% non-retention, and 5% made no recommendation. (These percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.)
Judge MacDonnell’s calm, strong, and controlled demeanor on the bench is exemplary. He is patient with unrepresented litigants and ensures that the proceedings in his courtroom have an air of dignity and respect. In his written orders and rulings Judge MacDonnell uses clear and direct language to explain his rulings in a methodical and step-by-step analysis, giving weight to the arguments of each litigant. In criminal cases he shows great compassion to those he sentences, continually strives to use evidence-based sentencing, and always has words of encouragement for those he sentences. In his role as Chief Judge, he endeavors toward increasing the efficiency of the courts and the accessibility of the courts to all citizens. Toward that end, Judge MacDonnell will soon begin a specialty dependency and neglect court to assist unrepresented parties in dependency and neglect cases. The Commission on Judicial Performance was impressed with the humility of Judge MacDonnell and his willingness to accept and act upon constructive criticism. Throughout his career as an attorney, county court judge, and now as the Chief District Court Judge, Judge MacDonnell demonstrates a willingness to change, grow, and mature as legal practitioner and judge.