Philip James McNulty

Commission: meets standards (10–0)

The First Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously agrees by a vote of 10-0 that Judge Philip James McNulty 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 McNulty presides over a mixed docket of domestic relations, civil, and criminal cases. From 2014 thru 2019, Judge McNulty served as the Chief Judge in the First Judicial District. Concerned that there be a smooth transition due to COVID process changes, he stayed on the management team for an additional six months to provide guidance as court proceedings went virtual. An experienced jurist, Judge McNulty is efficient in his case management, honest and compassionate to everyone who stands before him. His written communications are articulate and well-reasoned. Judge McNulty is considered a valued mentor to attorneys and judges throughout the First Judicial District and strives to remain current on emerging case law and trends, through the resources provided by the Colorado State Judicial Branch. He is hard- working, prepared, seasoned, thoughtful, and respectful and his courtroom is considered a well-oiled machine. Participants in his courtroom note that he is fair and has a thorough knowledge of the law. Comments about his judicial demeanor are overwhelmingly positive with a few that mention he could be more patient. There are several new attorneys in his courtroom and the number of pro se litigants has increased. To accommodate these changes, Judge McNulty has adjusted his practices to incorporate more frequent recesses and more time for explanations. Among other judges and the judicial staff, Judge McNulty is considered a mentor and leader. He is described as knowledgeable, approachable, collaborative, supportive, and a very valuable member of the First Judicial District.

The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge McNulty, reviewed opinions he authored, observed him in court, reviewed the 2022 Judicial Performance Survey Report from attorneys and non-attorneys appearing before him, as well as received feedback from the Office of the State Public Defender and the First Judicial District Attorney's Office. Based on the Commission’s evaluation, Judge McNulty demonstrated that he meets or exceeds performance standards in all categories under review: case management, application and knowledge of the law, communications, diligence, demeanor, and fairness.

Judge McNulty grew up in Jefferson County, not far from the courthouse, and is a graduate of Wheat Ridge High School. He later attended Colorado State University and received a degree in accounting. While he has never practiced as an accountant, Judge McNulty passed the CPA exam and maintains a retired status with the Board of Accountancy. Judge McNulty graduated from the University of Denver Law School in 1984. After a short stint in private civil practice, he worked as a Deputy District Attorney in the First Judicial District until he was appointed as a Municipal Judge for the City of Lakewood in 1996. In 2008, he was appointed as a District Court Judge.

La Comisión sobre Desempeño Judicial del Primer Distrito Judicial acuerda por unanimidad, con un voto de 10-0, que el Juez Philip James McNulty CUMPLE CON LAS NORMAS DE DESEMPEÑO. Las normas de desempeño judicial de las leyes de Colorado son integridad, conocimiento de la ley, habilidades de comunicación, temperamento judicial, desempeño administrativo y servicio a la profesión jurídica y al público.

El Juez McNulty supervisa un expediente mixto, en el que se incluyen casos penales, civiles y de relaciones domésticas. De 2014 a 2019, el Juez McNulty se desempeñó como juez presidente en el Primer Distrito Judicial. Por su afán de que la transición fuera fluida debido a los cambios en el proceso durante la pandemia por COVID-19, permaneció en el equipo directivo durante seis meses más para guiar los procedimientos judiciales que se desarrollaban de forma virtual. Como jurista experimentado, el Juez McNulty es eficiente en la gestión de sus casos, honesto y compasivo con todos los que se presentan ante él. Sus comunicaciones escritas son articuladas y bien fundamentadas. El Juez McNulty es considerado un valioso mentor de abogados y jueces en todo el Primer Distrito Judicial y se esfuerza por mantenerse al día en lo que respecta a la jurisprudencia y las tendencias emergentes, a través de los recursos proporcionados por el Poder Judicial del estado de Colorado. Es muy trabajador, responsable, experimentado, reflexivo y respetuoso, y su tribunal se considera una máquina bien aceitada. Los participantes de su tribunal señalan que es justo y tiene un profundo conocimiento de la ley. Los comentarios sobre su actitud judicial son sumamente positivos, con unos pocos que mencionan que podría ser más paciente. Hay varios abogados nuevos en su tribunal y el número de litigantes pro se ha aumentado. Para adaptarse a estos cambios, el Juez McNulty ha adaptado sus procedimientos a fin de incorporar recesos más frecuentes y más tiempo para las explicaciones. Entre otros jueces y el personal judicial, el Juez McNulty es considerado un mentor y un líder. Se lo describe como instruido, accesible, colaborador, solidario y un miembro muy valioso del Primer Distrito Judicial.

La Comisión efectuó una entrevista personal con el Juez McNulty, revisó opiniones de su autoría, lo observó en el tribunal, analizó el informe de la encuesta de desempeño judicial de 2022 de los abogados y no abogados que comparecen ante él, y también recibió comentarios de la Defensoría Pública del estado y de la Fiscalía del Primer Distrito Judicial. Conforme a la evaluación de la Comisión, el Juez McNulty demostró que cumple con las normas de desempeño o las excede en todas las categorías objeto de revisión: gestión de casos, aplicación y conocimiento de la ley, comunicaciones, diligencia, actitud y ecuanimidad.

El Juez McNulty creció en el condado de Jefferson, no muy lejos del tribunal, y se graduó en la escuela preparatoria Wheat Ridge High School. Más tarde asistió a la Universidad Estatal de Colorado y recibió su licenciatura en Contabilidad. Aunque nunca ha ejercido como contador, el Juez McNulty aprobó el examen de Contador Público Certificado Uniforme (CPA) y mantiene un estatus de jubilado en la Junta de Contabilidad. El Juez McNulty se graduó de la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de Denver en 1984. Tras un breve periodo en el ámbito civil privado, trabajó como fiscal de distrito interino del Primer Distrito Judicial hasta que fue nombrado juez municipal de la ciudad de Lakewood en 1996. En 2008, fue nombrado juez del Tribunal de Distrito.

State evaluation page · 2022 survey report (PDF)

Commission: meets standards

The First Judicial District Commission of Judicial Performance unanimously recommends that Chief Judge Philip James McNulty BE RETAINED.

Judge McNulty was appointed to the First Judicial District (Jefferson and Gilpin counties) in 2008. Judge McNulty graduated from Colorado State University in 1981 and Denver University Law School in 1984. He worked as a Deputy City Attorney in Lakewood from 1985 to 1988 and served as a Deputy District Attorney from 1988 through 1996. He served as a Lakewood Municipal Judge from 1996 to 2008 before his appointment to the First Judicial District Court bench. Judge McNulty has served as the chief Judge of the First Judicial District since 2014. Judge McNulty is currently the chairman for the Jefferson County Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee. He is a member of the Jefferson County Community Corrections Board, the State Judicial Chief Judge Council, State Judicial Financial Services Division, and the State Judicial Disciplinary Review Board. He has visited grade and high schools to educate the students about the court system. He is also very active in his church and has served on the Parish Council.

The Commission observed Judge McNulty in the courtroom, reviewed decisions, survey results, the Judge’s self-evaluation and case management reports, considered information from other interested parties, and conducted several personal interviews. Forty-one attorneys and seventy-six non-attorneys identified as having experience before Judge McNulty in 2015-2016 completed the judicial performance survey. In the 2016 Final Survey Report, 92% of attorneys completing the survey recommended to retain, 3% made no recommendation, and 5% recommended not to retain. Of the non-attorneys, 96% recommended to retain, 0% made no recommendation, and 4% recommended not to retain. Of the thirteen appellate court judges who evaluated Judge McNulty, 48% applied a grade of “A”, 14% a grade of “B”, and none for grades “C”, “D”, or “F”. 38% of appellate judges responded that they did not know or have enough information to grade Judge McNulty.

Judge McNulty scored significantly higher than all District Court judges in the categories of demeanor, sense of compassion, conducting his courtroom in a neutral manner, treating participants with respect, and projecting a sense of dignity. Judge McNulty works hard to ensure equal treatment of all persons, treats everyone in his court with courtesy and respect, keeps an open mind before making a final decision, and demonstrates an excellent judicial temperament. Judge McNulty keeps a full docket of civil and criminal cases. He carefully manages his court schedule to minimize waiting time for defendants, witnesses, and victims, and attorneys. He is respected by other judges and is a genuine leader. As chief judge he is the chief administrative officer of the First Judicial District. Under Judge McNulty’s management, the First Judicial District has functioned smoothly even though the Court is short five judges because of fiscal limitations.

State evaluation page · 2016 survey report (PDF)