Amanda J. Philipps

The Fourth Judicial District Judicial Performance Commission voted 10-0 that Judge Amanda J. Philipps MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS .

District Court Judge Philipps currently presides over a docket that is 50% criminal and 50% civil. She previously handled a docket that was 50% domestic relations and 50% civil. She currently serves as the presiding judge in the court’s criminal cases, recognized for her deep knowledge and experience in criminal law. Attorneys and non-attorneys alike described her in survey responses as hard-working, calm and professional in demeanor, knowledgeable on the law, fair, and respectful. Survey responders rated her above 3.0 out of 4.0 on every metric measured. The two appellate judges who responded to the survey each gave Judge Philipps a perfect rating of 4.0. Although the Survey results are not statistically valid due to low response rate (only 23 people responded of 892 invited), the high marks comport with the other information the Commission collected.

The Commission personally interviewed Judge Philipps, reviewed several of her written orders, reviewed judicial performance data, and observed Judge Philipps in Court. The Commission also received feedback on Judge Philipps from the Chief Judge of the Fourth Judicial District as well as representatives of both the District Attorney’s and the Public Defender’s Offices. She is described as “thoughtful,” “very fair and impartial,” and is said to have a “great judicial demeanor.” Her communication skills appear to the Commission to be excellent. Her opinions are clear and well written. The Judge proactively manages her cases so that they are efficiently heard and determined. Despite lacking a background in civil law, Judge Philipps has made significant progress in handling civil matters from inception through trial.

The Governor appointed Judge Philipps to the District Court on January 1, 2024. Before that, Judge Philipps was a Magistrate in the Fourth Judicial District, a Public Defender, and in private practice. Judge Philipps graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont in 2000 and from the University of Colorado Law School in 2004. Judge Philipps is committed to service in her community, giving her time and expertise to organizations that provide education and awareness on the impact of inequities within the judicial system. The Commission is impressed with Judge Philipps and believes that she is an important addition to the District Court bench.

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