Elizabeth Joan McCarthy

Commission: meets standards (10–0)

The Second Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously agrees by a vote of 10-0 that Judge Elizabeth Joan McCarthy MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. The Colorado statutory judicial performance criteria are integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and the public.

Judge McCarthy is the Presiding Judge for the Denver Juvenile Court. Judge McCarthy meets all aspects of the performance criteria on which she is evaluated. The Commission commends Judge McCarthy for her commitment to improve the experience of all those who appear before her in Denver Juvenile Court. Judge McCarthy’s written decisions are clear, accessible, and well-reasoned. Her notable strengths, as observed by the Commission and described in survey responses, include exceptional communication and listening skills, a commitment to treating all participants with dignity and respect, and knowledge of juvenile law. The Commission, based on its observation and analysis of survey responses, did not identify any evaluation category in which Judge McCarthy displayed a notable weakness as to the performance criteria. Judge McCarthy exceeded 5 out of 6 of the productivity benchmarks for juvenile cases and the Commission is satisfied that she is working diligently to improve productivity.

The Commission met with the Chief Judge of Denver District Court to discuss challenges facing the court system and also met with the Chief Probation Officer, the Denver District Attorney, and a representative of the Denver Office of the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender regarding Judge McCarthy’s performance. The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge McCarthy and observed her during court proceedings. It also reviewed opinions she authored, comments received from interested parties during the evaluation, case management data, and judicial performance survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who interacted with her. The surveys reflected personal opinions regarding Judge McCarthy in the categories of case management, application and knowledge of the law, communications, diligence, demeanor, and fairness. A total of 10 attorneys and 4 non-attorneys responded to the judicial performance surveys expressing their opinion of Judge McCarthy. The overall information and data reviewed supports the Commission’s recommendation that Judge McCarthy meets performance standards.

Judge McCarthy has been on the bench since 2019, when she was appointed as a Magistrate Judge in Denver Juvenile Court. Following her appointment as a Judge in January 2024, Judge McCarthy was appointed as the Presiding Judge for the Denver Juvenile Court in March 2024. Prior to her appointment as a Magistrate Judge, Judge McCarthy was a Senior Assistant Attorney General from 2016 to 2019, Assistant Attorney General from 2011 to 2016, and a Deputy District Attorney in Denver from 2008 to 2009. Judge McCarthy is a member of the Irving P. Andrews Inn of Court and the Women’s Bar Association. Judge McCarthy earned her undergraduate degree from Indiana University and her law degree from the University of Colorado Law School.

State evaluation page · 2026 survey report (PDF)