Jonathan Bruce Pototsky

Commission: meets standards (6–0)

The Ninth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance agrees by a vote of 6-0, with 1 commissioner recusing, one commissioner absent and two commission vacancies, that Judge Jonathan Bruce Pototsky MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.

The Commission reviewed several of Judge Pototsky’s opinions and found them to be thoughtful, fair, and well-reasoned. Comments from Judge Pototsky’s self-evaluation and interview suggest that he issues decisions in a timely manner, manages cases well, and maintains an active and engaging demeanor in the courtroom. The Commission agrees.

During live court observations, the Commission found Judge Pototsky to be open, concise, and effective in his communication. The Commission appreciates the length of time that Judge Pototsky has served on the bench and the clear expertise that he brings to his docket. As is common with many experienced jurists who manage busy dockets and difficult matters, the Commission discussed with Judge Pototsky the importance of continuing to ensure that all parties and attorneys feel heard and that proceedings reflect the court’s impartiality. The Commission found Judge Pototsky to be open to the discussion, receptive to feedback, and committed to maintaining the fairness and impartiality expected of the judiciary. The Commission has full confidence in Judge Pototsky’s continued ability to do so. The Commission believes that Judge Pototsky meets performance standards and is an asset to the Courts and the State of Colorado.

The Commission considered Judge Pototsky’s performance over the past term by interviewing Judge Pototsky, reading a selection of his legal opinions, observing him in court, reviewing his judicial performance survey report, interviewing the district attorney and the head of the district’s public defender’s office, and reviewing Judge Pototsky’s self-evaluation. The Commission applied the following criteria when considering Judge Pototsky’s performance: integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and the public.

Jonathan Bruce Pototsky was appointed to the Garfield County Associate Court bench in September, 2010 by Governor Ritter. Prior to taking the bench, he worked as a Deputy Public Defender in Michigan, a Deputy District Attorney in Colorado, and also was in private practice in the fields of family law, neglect/abuse, criminal defense, civil litigation and, real estate. He graduated from the University of Miami in 1987 with a BBA and from Thomas Cooley law school in 1991. He has been married for almost 34 years and together they have a son who is a professional screenwriter. In his free time, he likes to ski, hike, run, paddle board and visit beaches.

State evaluation page · 2026 survey report (PDF)

Commission: meets standards (10–0)

The Ninth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously agrees by a vote of 10-0 that the Honorable Jonathan Bruce Pototsky 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.

As a county court judge, Judge Pototsky handles a wide array of matters, including civil litigation, domestic relations, criminal prosecutions, misdemeanor cases, traffic citations, and small claims cases. He received exceedingly high commendation for his intelligence, work ethic, diligence, case management, impartiality, and integrity. He is known as a firm but fair judge who cares about the litigants who appear before him. He commands respect in his courtroom but also is empathetic. He received high marks for his demeanor, legal knowledge, case management, and administrative performance.

In evaluating Judge Pototsky’s performance, the commission observed him in court and conducted interviews with representatives from the public defender’s office, the district attorney’s office, and the chief judge for the Ninth Judicial District. The commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Pototsky and reviewed legal rulings he has authored. The commission also reviewed surveys 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 and case administration. A vast majority of the 59 individuals who responded to surveys believed that Judge Pototsky meets judicial performance standards, earning that rating from 89% of attorneys surveyed and 96% of non-attorneys surveyed. When compared with all county court judges in Colorado, Judge Pototsky exceeded the median ranking in every category.

Judge Pototsky was appointed to the bench as a Garfield County Court Judge in Rifle, Colorado, in 2010. Prior to his judicial appointment, he was a deputy felony public defender in Michigan and a deputy district attorney in Colorado, he was also in private practice in the fields of family law, neglect/abuse, criminal defense, civil litigation, and real estate law. Judge Pototsky received a B.B.A. from the University of Miami in 1987 and a law degree from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1991. He served as the president of the County Court Judges Association and was a nominee for Colorado’s Judicial Officer of the Year award. Judge Pototsky’s community involvement includes his volunteering with the Rifle High School Mock Trial Program and the Rifle High School Job Shadow program.

State evaluation page · 2022 survey report (PDF)

Commission: meets standards (9–0)

The Ninth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously agrees by a vote of 9-0 that Judge Jonathan Bruce Pototsky MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.

Judge Pototsky was appointed to the Garfield County Court bench (Rifle, CO) in December 2010. Prior to his appointment, he was a deputy felony public defender, and a deputy district attorney. Judge Pototsky received a B.B.A. from the University of Miami, FL in 1987 and a juris doctor law degree from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1991. He is the current president of the County Court Judges Association and was a nominee for Colorado’s Judicial Officer of the Year award. Judge Pototsky has been involved in the Rifle High School Mock Trial Program for 5 years and the Rifle High School Job Shadow program for the past 4 years.

The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Pototsky, reviewed opinions he authored, observed him in court, reviewed comments received from interested parties during the evaluation, and reviewed survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who had experience with Judge Pototsky. Among the survey questions was the question, “based on your responses to the previous questions related to the performance evaluation criteria, do you think Judge Pototsky meets judicial performance standards?” Of the attorneys responding to the survey, 100% answered yes, meets performance standards. Of non-attorneys responding to the survey, 90% answered yes, meets performance standards, 3% answered no, does not meet performance standards, and 7% had no opinion regarding whether Judge Pototsky meets or does not meet performance standards. A total of 14 attorneys and 30 non-attorneys responded to the judicial performance surveys expressing their opinion of Judge Pototsky’ s performance.

This term, Judge Pototsky presided over criminal, traffic, domestic relations, small claims and other civil matters. Based on the Commission’s overall evaluation, Judge Pototsky has demonstrated that he meets or exceeds performance standards in all categories. In surveys Judge Pototsky was ranked well above other county court judges in case management, application and knowledge of the law, communications, diligence, demeanor, and fairness. Judge Pototsky was described as being one of the best county court judges in the state. He takes the time with self-represented parties to ensure they understand the nature of the proceedings and the reasons for his ruling. The Commission members observed these traits during their evaluation and interview with Judge Pototsky. Judge Pototsky’s opinions reflect his knowledge of the law and his logical and understandable communication style. Based on these findings the Commission unanimously agreed that Judge Pototsky meets performance standards.

State evaluation page · 2018 survey report (PDF)