Ann M. Rotolo

Commission: meets standards (10–0)

The Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously agrees by a vote of 10-0 that Judge Ann M. Rotolo MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. The judicial performance standards are integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and the public.

Judge Rotolo’s docket is primarily misdemeanor cases and some (approximately 20%) civil cases. Survey respondents rate her performance overall at 3.5 out of 4.0, and 21 of 23 respondents believe she meets performance standards. Judge Rotolo’s strengths include her deep legal knowledge from many years of experience, communication skills, and demeanor. When participants in the legal proceedings seem overwhelmed, she attempts to slow the proceedings and offer additional explanations. This ensures that each person appearing before her is equipped and empowered. The Commission received concerns that Judge Rotolo may overstep her judicial role and become overly involved in case resolution prior to trial. Judge Rotolo explained that she does encourage parties to negotiate a satisfactory resolution in appropriate cases because, as the saying goes, “When two elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers.”

The Commission’s decision is based on a thorough process that included interviews with Judge Rotolo, Chief Judge Sokol, and representatives from the offices of the Public Defender and the District Attorney, as well as a review of the judge’s self-evaluation, written rulings, and survey report.

Judge Rotolo has served on the County Court since her 2008 appointment by Governor Bill Ritter. She graduated with honors from Miami University in Ohio and earned her J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 1991. Before taking the bench, she worked as a deputy county attorney, in private practice, and as a magistrate. Judge Rotolo sat on the Colorado Judicial Disciplinary Review Board for almost 17 years. She recently resigned from the State Personnel Rules Committee after over 13 years and the ComCor Board after over 5 years. She participates in Teen Court.

State evaluation page · 2026 survey report (PDF)

Commission: meets standards (5–0)

2022 Retention Survey Report 2021 Interim Survey Report

The Fourth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance voted 5-0 with 5 absent that Judge Ann M. Rotolo 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 Rotolo’s docket includes 30% civil, 60% misdemeanor and traffic cases and 10% criminal. Judge Rotolo’s overall combined score on the 2022 Judicial Performance Survey was 3.6 out of 4.0. This is higher than the average score of 3.4 for all County Court Judges. 22 attorneys and 21 non-attorneys responded to the survey. 84% of attorneys stated that Judge Rotolo meets judicial performance standards. It is unusual to see a 100% score for any judge, but all 21 non-attorneys stated she meets performance standards. All county court judges receive an 83% score from attorneys and an 83% score from non-attorneys. Attorneys scored Judge Rotolo 3.4 in case management, 3.3 in application of the law, 3.4 in communications, 3.4 in demeanor, 3.2 in diligence, and 3.4 in fairness. Non-attorney scores in the same categories were all 3.8 or 3.9. Attorneys commented that Judge Rotolo is unbiased, thoughtful, courteous, respectful and applies the law justly. Non-attorney comments indicate she is very fair, polite, attentive, and professional. A small number of attorney comments were critical of Judge Rotolo but the Commission is satisfied that a large majority of all the respondents had very positive comments about her performance.

The Commission interviewed Judge Rotolo and several members observed her in Court. The Commission reviewed her self-evaluation, written opinions, comments from attorneys and non-attorneys, and the judicial performance survey results from 2022. The Commission also spoke with the Chief Judge of the 4 th Judicial District and representatives of the District Attorney’s Office and the Public Defender’s Office. In the interview with Judge Rotolo the Commission was impressed with her efforts to mentor newer lawyers and to handle her docket efficiently. She is willing to make difficult decisions when she believes the law requires it even if the decision may displease one of the parties. The Commission finds Judge Rotolo to be a very experienced and dedicated judge who is an asset to the County Court Bench.

Judge Rotolo was appointed to the El Paso County Court in July 2008. She obtained her law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 1991. Prior to her appointment she was an assistant County Attorney in El Paso County and a magistrate in the 4 th JD. She volunteers with Teen Court and currently serves on the Board of ComCor, the State Personnel Rules Committee and the Personnel Board of Review for the State Judicial Department.

State evaluation page · 2022 survey report (PDF)

Commission: meets standards (9–0)

The Fourth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously (9-0) agrees that El Paso County Judge Ann M. Rotolo Meets Performance Standards.

Judge Rotolo was appointed to the El Paso County Court in 2008. Judge Rotolo received an undergraduate degree from Ohio University in 1985, and her law degree from the University of Denver Law in 1991. Prior to her appointment, Judge Rotolo served as a Magistrate in the Fourth Judicial District. She has also been an assistant El Paso County attorney, and in private practice. Judge Rotolo sits on the State Personnel Rules Committee and the Disciplinary Review Board. She participates in the Judicially Speaking Program, Our Courts, and Teen Court, and volunteers time to a number of other non-law related non-profit organizations.

The Commission met with Judge Rotolo for a personal interview and observed her in the courtroom. She completed a self-evaluation and submitted examples of her written orders which were reviewed by the Commission. Thirty (30) attorneys and 55 non-attorneys responded to a survey which asked both attorneys and non-attorneys about their personal experience appearing before Judge Rotolo. Among attorneys, 73% stated that they believed that Judge Rotolo met performance standards. Fourteen percent (14%) stated that they did not believe that Judge Rotolo met performance standards and the remainder of those attorneys surveyed did not express an opinion. Of the non-attorneys surveyed, 79% believed that Judge Rotolo met performance standards, 17% responded no, does not meet performance standards. No recommendation was made by the remaining 3% of the non-attorneys’ who responded to the survey.

Judge Rotolo had very high scores among attorneys for her communication skills. Ninety-five percent (95%) stated that they believed that Judge Rotolo makes sure that participants fully understand the proceedings. Attorneys scored Judge Rotolo almost as strong on her courtroom demeanor. Ninety-one percent (91%) of the responding attorneys stated that Judge Rotolo conducted proceedings in her courtroom with dignity, and 86% felt she treated participants with respect. Judge Rotolo received somewhat lower scores from non-attorneys. However, non-attorneys gave her more than a 3.0 on a 4-point scale in all categories rated, and Judge Rotolo received a perfect 4.0 in Application and Knowledge of the Law, Communications, Diligence and Demeanor by all jurors, a subgroup of the non-attorneys. In reporting her strengths recurring themes were fairness, understanding and compassion. At the interview, the Commission was impressed by Judge Rotolo’s commitment to the law and her commitment to treat every person who appears before her individually and with dignity. Overall, the Commission felt Judge Rotolo was an above average judge who runs a fair, compassionate and efficient courtroom.

State evaluation page · 2018 survey report (PDF)