Kellie L. Starritt

Commission: meets standards (9–0)

The Seventh Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance agrees by a vote of 9-0, with one Commission vacancy, that Judge Kellie L. Starritt MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.

The Commission observed Judge Starritt to have an excellent demeanor, and to be patient, professional, polite and respectful to parties and counsel, and to maintain control of her courtroom. The Judicial Performance Survey and the Commission’s interviews demonstrate that Judge Starritt is organized, prepared for court proceedings, and takes time to research issues with which she is unfamiliar. Judge Starritt told the Commission she wants to issue rulings more promptly in the general civil and criminal cases on her docket. To accomplish that, Judge Starritt regularly meets with a Colorado Judicial Department mentor for guidance on managing her caseload more effectively, and also for suggestions on being more proactive in addressing pretrial disputes and unprofessional behavior in her courtroom. Judge Starritt presides over civil, criminal, domestic relations, juvenile, mental health and probate cases in Gunnison County, and in domestic relations cases in Montrose County. The Commission observed Judge Starritt in court and interviewed the District Attorney for the 7th Judicial District, the Head of the 7th Judicial District Public Defender’s Office, and the Chief Judge of the 7th Judicial District. The Commission also personally interviewed Judge Starritt on April 14, 2026, and reviewed Judge Starritt’s Judicial Performance Survey, her Self-Evaluation, and three of her written orders.

The comments in the Judicial Performance Survey were overwhelmingly positive, with a total of 11 attorneys and 13 non-attorneys responding to the Survey. Ten of the attorneys responding to the Survey opined that Judge Starritt meets performance standards, and three of the non-attorney responders opined that Judge Starritt meets performance standards. The Commission notes that 24 total Survey responses are a small sample size and takes that into account in weighing the Survey responses relative to its own interviews and observations. The Commission ultimately unanimously concludes that Judge Starritt meets judicial performance standards in all six of the statutory criteria, which are: integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and to the public.

Judge Starritt was appointed as a District Court Judge in July 2024. Prior to her appointment, she served for seven years as a District Court Magistrate handling domestic relations cases for the 7th Judicial District. Before then, Judge Starritt served as a Guardian Ad Litem in child welfare cases and as a county attorney and was in private practice for over 15 years. Judge Starritt presently serves on the Access to Justice Committee for the 7th Judicial District, serves as a committee co-chairperson on the statewide Children’s Justice Act Task Force, and leads the Domestic Relations Best Practices Group for the 7th Judicial District. Judge Starritt received her undergraduate degree from Marquette University and her law degree from the University of Wyoming.

State evaluation page · 2026 survey report (PDF)