Tamara McSherry Sullivan
County Court · Costilla County · retention evaluations: 2026
2026 retention · County Court · Costilla County
23 percentile · rank 28 of 36
composite 0100
18 percentile · rank 88 of 108
composite 0100
10 1st percentile among peers · 0th percentile statewide
1060
Composite index 27.78 among peers (24.54 statewide): the mean of the three percentiles below. Rank orders by it.
3.00 of 4 · 31.94 percentile
1.903.80
2.97 of 4 · 29.17 percentile
1.873.75
67.00% 22.22 percentile
0.00%100.00%
Attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 67.00%
Non-attorneys
- Say “meets standards”
- 67.00%
| Category | Score | Peer median | Peer range (dot is this judge, line is the median) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Management | 3.20median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Application and Knowledge of Law | 2.90median 3.20 | 3.20 | |
| Communications | 3.00median 3.40 | 3.40 | |
| Diligence | 2.80median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Demeanor | 2.90median 3.30 | 3.30 | |
| Fairness | 3.00median 3.10 | 3.10 |
| Year | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Grade | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Responses | 21 | 26 |
Commission: meets standards (6–0)
The Twelfth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously (6-0), with two commission vacancies and two commissioners absent, finds that Judge Tamara McSherry Sullivan, Costilla County Court Judge, MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS. The commission evaluated Judge Sullivan based on several criteria, including integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and the public.
The evaluation of Judge Sullivan reflects a strong alignment between her personal judicial philosophy and the feedback provided by the legal community and the Judicial Performance Commission. Judge Sullivan’s self-evaluation emphasizes that her decade of experience with Colorado Legal Services in the San Luis Valley deeply informed her commitment to "promoting access to justice" and "maintaining patience and neutrality". These self-identified strengths are directly echoed in the performance survey results, where respondents specifically praised her patience, professional demeanor, and "nuanced understanding of the human element in legal disputes". Furthermore, her background in managing a legal office translated into high marks for "organizational aptitude" and "administrative performance". Ultimately, the Commission’s unanimous (6-0) finding that she meets performance standards serves as a strong validation of her goal to provide a "fair and respectful courtroom environment for all individuals."
In her capacity as the Costilla County Court Judge, it is imperative to clarify that Judge Sullivan's judicial mandate does not grant her any authority regarding the management, operational oversight, or policy formulation of the Costilla County Sheriff’s Office or any other law enforcement agencies. This separation of powers ensures that her role remains focused on the fair and neutral administration of justice within the courtroom. Consequently, she is not involved in the administrative decisions or broader law enforcement activities currently occurring within Costilla County.
A native of Cortez, Colorado, Judge Sullivan obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English from Regis University in 2006, followed by a Master of Arts in Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School in 2007. She subsequently earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Denver in 2012. Before her appointment to the Costilla County Court, Judge Sullivan practiced as a staff attorney with Colorado Legal Services within the San Luis Valley.