2022 retention · District Court · 9th Judicial District
81 percentile · rank 13 of 67
composite 0100
75 percentile · rank 34 of 134
composite 0100
56 60th percentile among peers · 67th percentile statewide
15132
Composite index 78.61 among peers (72.01 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.60 of 4 · 81.34 percentile
2.603.80
3.60 of 4 · 78.36 percentile
2.583.82
94.00% 76.12 percentile
43.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 94.00%
Non-attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 83.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.60median 3.40 | 3.40 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.50median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Communications | 3.60median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Diligence | 3.70median 3.40 | 3.40 | |
| Demeanor | 3.60median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Fairness | 3.60median 3.40 | 3.40 |
Commission: meets standards (10–0)
The Ninth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously agrees by a vote of 10-0 that the Honorable John Fowler Neiley 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 Neiley consistently receives high praise for his excellent judicial temperament, patience, impartiality, and integrity. His strong work ethic and leadership skills are displayed through his attention to detail, preparation, and thoroughness. His fair and thoughtful rulings demonstrate his extensive knowledge of the law. Despite the challenges the judiciary faced during COVID Judge Neiley received high marks for case management and administrative performance. He was described as a superb judge and consummate professional. Th 9 th Judicial District is fortunate to have him.
In evaluating Judge Neiley’s performance, the commission observed him in court and conducted interviews with the public defender, the district attorney, and the chief judge for the 9 th Judicial District. The commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Neiley, reviewed opinions he authored as well as a self-evaluation. The commission also reviewed surveys from 2021 filled out by attorneys, non-attorneys (such as jurors and litigants), and court personnel; a self-evaluation completed by the judge; and performance statistics relating to his docket management.
Judge Neiley was appointed to the Ninth Judicial District as a District Court Judge in 2013. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado in 1981 and a J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1987. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Neiley had a civil litigation and real estate/land use practice in Glenwood Springs. Additional law experience includes medical malpractice defense, insurance defense, enforcement of Federal Trade Commission consumer protection laws and enforcement of antitrust laws. Judge Neiley was the 2015 Judicial Office of the Year Nominee and a graduate of the Colorado Judicial Executive Leadership Program. He is the District Representative of the Colorado Judicial Wellbeing Committee, and a member of both the Alpine Legal Services Strategic Planning Committee and Greater Colorado Law Student Experience Program. Judge Neiley also volunteers his time as a Tournament Director and Coach of the Colorado High School Mock Trial, as a member of the Roaring Fork Conservancy and Trout Unlimited, and volunteers for the Carbondale Community Bike Program and Roaring Fork Outdoors.
2016 retention · District Court · 9th Judicial District
69 percentile · rank 19 of 61
composite 0100
68 percentile · rank 34 of 108
composite 0100
53 27th percentile among peers · 27th percentile statewide
17164
Composite index 68.85 among peers (68.83 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.52 of 4 · 48.36 percentile
2.793.84
3.52 of 4 · 63.11 percentile
2.813.84
100.00% 95.08 percentile
40.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.78
- Say “meets standards”
- 100.00%
Non-attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.26
- Say “meets standards”
- 73.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.83median 3.38 | 3.38 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.41median 3.41 | 3.41 | |
| Communications | 3.59median 3.53 | 3.53 | |
| Diligence | 3.42median 3.48 | 3.48 | |
| Demeanor | 3.63median 3.47 | 3.47 | |
| Fairness | 3.24median 3.68 | 3.68 |
Commission: meets standards (10–0)
The Ninth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously recommends by a vote of 10-0 that Judge John Fowler Neiley BE RETAINED.
Judge Neiley was appointed as a district court judge in June 2013. Judge Neiley earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado in 1981 and a J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1987. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Neiley had a civil litigation and real estate/land use practice in Glenwood Springs. Additional experience includes medical malpractice defense, insurance defense, enforcement of Federal Trade Commission consumer protection laws and enforcement of antitrust laws. Since his appointment, Judge Neiley has been an active participant in community service activities, including the Ninth Judicial Access to Justice Committee, the Colorado Bar Association Mock Trial Committee and the Colorado High School Mock Trial Program.
The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Neiley, evaluated three opinions he wrote, observed him in court, considered comments received from interested parties during the evaluation, and reviewed survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who had experience with Judge Neiley. Among the survey questions was “how strongly do you recommend Judge Neiley be retained in office, or not be retained in office?” Of attorneys completing the survey, 100% recommended retention. Of non-attorneys completing the survey, 73% recommended retention, 23% not to retain and 4% expressed no opinion. (These percentages might not total 100% due to rounding.) A total of 53 attorneys and non-attorneys completed judicial performance surveys regarding Judge Neiley this evaluation.
Judge Neiley has presided over civil and criminal matters in his first term, including Drug Court, which provides for frequent review and intervention by the judge in order to allow criminal defendants with severe drug and alcohol addictions an opportunity to take advantage of treatment options in lieu of incarceration. Through survey results, Judge Neiley received mostly positive comments and consistently high marks in case management, application and knowledge of law, communication, and demeanor. His overall combined rating of 3.52 exceeds the combined rating of all district judges standing for retention. Consistent with survey comments and results, Commission members observed that Judge Neiley works hard to ensure that every person who appears before him is treated respectfully and has the opportunity to be heard. He occupies the bench as a true public jurist—a judge who not only performs his duties at the highest level, but also fundamentally believes that his role is one of public and community service.