2024 retention · District Court · 7th Judicial District
68 percentile · rank 17 of 52
composite 0100
66 percentile · rank 36 of 107
composite 0100
34 38th percentile among peers · 49th percentile statewide
14112
Composite index 66.03 among peers (63.86 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.40 of 4 · 74.04 percentile
2.303.80
3.38 of 4 · 70.19 percentile
2.273.80
86.00% 53.85 percentile
29.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 86.00%
Non-attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 91.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.50median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.30median 3.10 | 3.10 | |
| Communications | 3.50median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Diligence | 3.30median 3.20 | 3.20 | |
| Demeanor | 3.50median 3.20 | 3.20 | |
| Fairness | 3.20median 3.10 | 3.10 |
Commission: meets standards (8–0)
The Seventh Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously agrees by a vote 8-0, with one absent and one Commissioner vacancy, that Judge Steven Louis Schultz MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
The Commission observed Judge Schultz to be professional, patient, polite to parties and counsel, and to maintain control of his courtroom. The Commission interviews and the 2021 and 2024 Judicial Performance Surveys indicate that Judge Schultz is thoughtful, conscientious, and knowledgeable, while also suggesting that Judge Schultz could more promptly issue rulings and should learn to control his body language and facial expressions in the courtroom, as such often mirror his feelings concerning witness testimony and lawyer argument. The Commission found Judge Schultz’s written orders to be excellent, with him receiving higher than average scores in his 2024 Judicial Performance Survey. Judge Schultz’s lowest Survey scores were in the fairness category, with his overall fairness score nonetheless being well above average. The Commission therefore concludes that Judge Schultz meets judicial performance standards in all the statutory criteria, i.e., integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and the public.
Judge Schultz presides over criminal, juvenile, probate, domestic relations, and mental health cases in Delta County. Commission members observed Judge Schultz in court, either in person or via electronic means, and interviewed the Chief District Attorney, the Chief Public Defender, and the Chief District Court Judge. The Commission also interviewed Judge Schultz via video conference on April 22, 2024, and reviewed Judge Schultz’s 2021 Interim Judicial Performance Survey, 2024 Judicial Performance Survey, 2024 self-evaluation materials, and three of his written orders.
Judge Schultz received his law degree with honors from Brooklyn Law School in 1994. Judge Schultz was in private practice as a litigation attorney for more than eleven years in New York and ten years in Hotchkiss, Colorado, before being appointed District Court Judge in 2015.
2018 retention · District Court · 7th Judicial District
56 percentile · rank 23 of 52
composite 0100
51 percentile · rank 62 of 128
composite 0100
49 14th percentile among peers · 24th percentile statewide
29158
Composite index 53.21 among peers (51.43 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.42 of 4 · 29.81 percentile
2.963.81
3.45 of 4 · 45.19 percentile
2.913.86
95.00% 84.62 percentile
44.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.54
- Say “meets standards”
- 95.00%
Non-attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.38
- Say “meets standards”
- 86.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.47median 3.49 | 3.49 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.47median 3.43 | 3.43 | |
| Communications | 3.55median 3.58 | 3.58 | |
| Diligence | 3.45median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Demeanor | 3.40median 3.51 | 3.51 | |
| Fairness | 3.37median 3.59 | 3.59 |
Commission: meets standards (9–0)
The Seventh Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously (9-0), with one Commissioner absent, agrees that Judge Steven L. Schultz MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
Judge Schultz was appointed to District Court for the Seventh Judicial District in January 2015. He received an undergraduate degree in History from Wesleyan University in 1988. Judge Schultz received his law degree, cum laude, from Brooklyn Law School in 1993. Prior to appointment to the bench, Judge Schultz was in private practice. He completed the Executive Leadership Development Course for Judicial Officers.
The Commission observed Judge Schultz in court, reviewed opinions he authored, reviewed survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who had experience with the Judge, interviewed the Chief Judge, the District Attorney and the Public Defender, reviewed Judge Schultz’ written self-evaluation and conducted a personal interview. Those who responded to a judicial performance survey were asked to respond to the question, based on your responses to the previous questions related to the performance evaluation criteria, do you think Judge Schultz meets judicial performance standards?” Of attorneys completing the survey 95% responded yes, meets performance standards and 5% responded no, does not meet performance standards. Of non-attorneys completing the survey, 86% responded yes, meets performance standards, 10% responded no, does not meet performance standards, and 3% had no opinion (the percentages do not equal 100% due to rounding).
Judge Schultz presides over criminal, juvenile, civil, domestic relations, probate, misdemeanor and mental health matters. Based on the Commission’s overall evaluation, Judge Schultz has demonstrated he meets or exceeds performance standards in all categories. He demonstrates a strong aptitude for managing a very heavy docket and works diligently to maintain an efficient and productive courtroom.