Two district court judges are standing for retention this November in the
They are Jeffrey Wilson and William Herringer.
Both have been recommended unanimously (10-0) for retention by a commission on judicial performance. If voters retain them, they will be eligible to serve six years on the bench before having to stand for retention again.
Judge Wilson was appointed by former Gov. Bill Owens in 2002. He oversees civil, criminal, domestic, juvenile, and dependency and neglect cases. Assuming he is retained, he will become the district’s chief judge in January, a title held by Judge Gregory Lyman, who is retiring.
Wilson is not affiliated with a political party.
Judge Herringer was appointed by Gov. John Hickenlooper in 2013. He oversees criminal, domestic, juvenile, dependency and neglect, civil and probate cases. Before becoming judge, Herringer practiced criminal defense law as a public defender and in private practice.
Herringer is a registered Democrat.
In Colorado, judges are almost always retained. Since retention elections began in 1990, judicial review commissions have recommended 97.5 percent of judges be retained, and Colorado voters have retained 99.2 percent of them.
The retention system is used rather than traditional elections as a means of removing politics and campaigning from the judicial process.
Also on the November ballot, voters will see one Colorado Supreme Court justice and 10 Colorado Court of Appeals judges standing for retention.
shane@durangoherald.com
Wilson 2016 Retention Report (PDF)
Herringer 2016 Retention Repor (PDF)
