Three Colorado trial court judges received unfavorable performance evaluations ahead of the 2026 retention election, an uncommon result in Colorado’s judicial performance system. The commissions evaluating 10th Judicial District Judge William David Alexander, Crowley County Court Judge Jeremy P. Boyce and 13th Judicial District Judge Dina M. Christiansen each concluded that the judge did not meet performance standards.
The 10th Judicial District Commission voted 7-3 that Alexander “Does Not Meet Performance Standard.” The commission raised concerns about his demeanor, potential bias in sentencing, alleged ex parte communications and his response to criticism. While acknowledging Alexander’s experience and knowledge of the law, commissioners expressed concern that he showed limited willingness to accept responsibility for problems identified during the evaluation and instead attributed some concerns to outside circumstances or the conduct of others.
The 16th Judicial District Commission unanimously determined that Boyce “Does Not Meet Performance Standard.” The commission cited untimely orders and significant inefficiency, inappropriate involvement in plea negotiations and instances in which Boyce disregarded established law. Commissioners also concluded that efforts to improve his performance through mentoring and other feedback had not produced sufficient improvement. Boyce acknowledged shortcomings in his response to the evaluation, accepted responsibility for mistakes and asked voters for an opportunity to regain their trust.
The 13th Judicial District Commission voted 5-2 that Christiansen “Does Not Meet Performance Standard,” citing concerns about temperament, legal analysis and courtroom management. Her case subsequently took an unusual turn, however, after the State Commission on Judicial Performance found that the district commission had committed a procedural violation in conducting her evaluation. The State Commission voted 8-0, with one absence and two vacancies, that Christiansen met performance standards, with the recommendation that she participate in a Judicial Improvement Plan.
Read the commission results here.