Chad C. Miller

Commission: meets standards (7–0)

District Court Judge Chad C. Miller has been evaluated as MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS by the Fourth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance. The Commission voted 7-0 in favor of Judge Miller, with three commissioners absent. 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.

This decision is based on a thorough process including an interview with Judge Miller, review of his survey results, a self-evaluation, submission of written rulings, court observations completed by multiple members of this commission and interviews with the Chief Judge, and the leaders in both the Public Defender’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office. Judge Miller’s docket includes 15% Civil, 35% Criminal and 50% Domestic Relations cases. Judge Miller is viewed by others as someone who presides over his cases in a very even, unbiased way. He is seen as efficient, prepared, cordial, and fair. He is someone who maintains and upholds standards in both what he expects from others and how he presides in his courtroom.

Judge Miller’s overall combined performance score on the 2022 Judicial Performance Survey was 3.3 out of 4.0, this is lower than the average score of 3.4 for all District Court Judges. 90% of attorneys and 70% of non-attorneys stated that Judge Miller does meet judicial performance standards, with his score for attorneys being above average compared to all District Judge score of 83%. In nearly all categories, Judge Miller scored 3.2 or above average on a 4.0 scale. He received high scores of 3.5 in knowledge of law, as well as 3.7 in demeanor, fairness and communications. However, Judge Miller is displeased with scoring below average in any area and is working to correct these concerns. He discussed many possible explanations for the 2022 scores being lower and is committed to implementing ways to rectify these below average areas in the very near future.

Judge Miller attended Lehigh University and attended law school at Denver University. He practiced criminal law for 16 years as a Public Defender prior to being appointed to the district court bench. As a Judge, he engages in Teen Court, is a member of the Community Corrections board, and is the Presiding Criminal Judge. He has been heavily involved in local high schools and colleges mock trial programs for over 13 years and believes that it is important to his role as a judicial officer, to be engaged in community service.

State evaluation page · 2022 survey report (PDF)