2020 retention · County Court · Lake County
82 percentile · rank 7 of 37
composite 0100
85 percentile · rank 15 of 100
composite 0100
14 27th percentile among peers · 10th percentile statewide
380
Composite index 82.88 among peers (86.50 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.70 of 4 · 77.03 percentile
1.504.00
3.75 of 4 · 81.08 percentile
1.503.95
100.00% 90.54 percentile
0.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 100.00%
Non-attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 100.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.70median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.60median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Communications | 3.70median 3.60 | 3.60 | |
| Diligence | 3.60median 3.40 | 3.40 | |
| Demeanor | 3.90median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Fairness | 4.00median 3.90 | 3.90 |
Commission: meets standards (10–0)
The Fifth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously (10-0) agrees that Lake County Court Judge Jonathan Shamis MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS based on the following judicial performance criteria: Integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and the public.
Judge Shamis’ Lake County court caseload is 46% misdemeanors, 23% civil cases, 18% traffic cases, 10% criminal cases, and 3% other. The Commission notes Judge Shamis’ ability to adapt to challenging circumstances in Lake County, including substandard judicial facilities and no jail facility. The nature of his caseload and infrastructure limitations, have required Judge Shamis to actively employ Personal Recognizance Bonds and to advance emerging Community Justice models. Judge Shamis has implemented an innovative roundtable approach to Drug Court that actively engages people in the justice system. The goal is to set participants up for future success by addressing underlying mental and behavioral health issues, good decision-making skills, and engaging mentors when possible. It is clear that Judge Shamis has a genuine appreciation for the position he holds and the community he serves. From the Commission’s examination of Judge Shamis’ self-evaluation, written rulings, survey data and comments from attorneys and non-attorneys, and interviews with the District Attorney and Public Defender, Judge Shamis is considered a very “good fit” for the community and caseload he serves.
In the 2020 Judicial Performance Survey Report, Judge Shamis received an overall grade of 3.7 out of 4.0, which compares to an overall score of 3.4 for all County Court judges. In the same survey of both attorneys and non-attorneys, he received an overall score of 100% for “yes, meets performance standards.” His personal ratings exceeded those of county judges overall in all performance metrics. Survey respondents gave Judge Shamis very favorable feedback for demeanor, compassion, temperament/caring, fairness, and personality. There were no negative comments of note other than continuing to build legal knowledge.
Judge Shamis earned his law degree from DePaul University College of Law. Before being appointed, Judge Shamis was the Executive Director of Alpine Legal Services, where he practiced family law, real estate law, collections, protection orders, and criminal law. He also has experience in private legal practice and as a Public Defender. Judge Shamis is past president of the Colorado County Judges Association and currently serves as Chairman of the Rural and County Track planning committee for the Annual State Judicial Conference. Judge Shamis serves on multiple committees and boards related to mental health services and judicial education. He also serves the Lake County community as Chairman of the Board of the Cloud City Conservation Center, and he is a member of the Board of the Lake County Community Fund and the Board of the Hope Center, a crisis response organization. Judge Shamis is also an adjunct faculty member at Colorado Mountain College.
2016 retention · County Court · Lake County
20 percentile · rank 29 of 36
composite 0100
31 percentile · rank 74 of 108
composite 0100
45 31st percentile among peers · 20th percentile statewide
5140
Composite index 26.39 among peers (33.80 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.25 of 4 · 9.72 percentile
3.113.84
3.30 of 4 · 12.50 percentile
3.023.84
85.00% 56.94 percentile
50.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.43
- Say “meets standards”
- 85.00%
Non-attorneys
- Overall grade
- 3.18
- Say “meets standards”
- 73.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.29median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 3.26median 3.49 | 3.49 | |
| Communications | 3.39median 3.65 | 3.65 | |
| Diligence | 3.24median 3.50 | 3.50 | |
| Demeanor | 3.34median 3.62 | 3.62 | |
| Fairness | 3.26median 3.66 | 3.66 |
Commission: meets standards (9–0)
The Fifth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance recommends 9-0 that Judge Jonathan Shamis BE RETAINED, with one member absent.
Judge Shamis was appointed to the Lake County Court in August, 2013. Judge Shamis received his undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago before receiving his law degree from DePaul Law School. He was a public defender in Chicago and was the Executive Director for Alpine Legal Services in Glenwood Springs before being appointed to the bench. Judge Shamis is exceptionally active in the community, volunteering his time as a board member with the Cloud City Conservation Center, United Way of the Eagle River Valley, the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado and Access to Justice. Judge Shamis also enjoys community activities and operates as a professor for Colorado Mountain College.
The Commission conducted a personal interview with the Judge, reviewed opinions he wrote, observed him in court, looked at a case management report, interviewed the Public Defender, District Attorney, law enforcement and the Chief Judge, and considered surveys sent to attorneys and non-attorneys. Of attorneys completing the surveyed 85% recommended to retain, 8% not to retain, and 8% made no recommendation. Of non-attorneys completing the survey 73% recommended to retain, 13% not to retain, and 13% were undecided or didn't have enough information to make a recommendation. (These percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.)
Judge Shamis is viewed as an asset by both attorneys and non-attorneys for his performance, welcoming demeanor on the bench and overall diligence. He is perceived as being compassionate, communicative, and caring, and treats parties with respect on a consistent basis. In addition to handling traffic and misdemeanor cases and some civil matters, Judge Shamis has assisted in family law matters. Judge Shamis is also in charge of the sobriety court program in Lake County which has a goal of assisting repeat offenders by addressing their treatment needs while also keeping the community safe. Judge Shamis recognizes areas for improvement and demonstrates a willingness to engage in various trainings and utilize resources. Overall, he received high survey marks and favorable comments regarding his level of attentiveness and compassion for others.