Cheryl Rowles-Stokes

The Eighteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance agrees by a vote of 8-0, with one member absent and one vacancy on the Commission, that Judge Cheryl Rowles-Stokes MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS . The Colorado statutory judicial performance criteria are integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance and service to the legal profession and to the public.

After meeting with Judge Rowles-Stokes, and after reviewing her work over the last four years, and after assessing feedback from attorneys and non-attorneys, the Commission was unanimous as to whether she meets judicial performance. Judge Rowles-Stokes knows the law and is conversant with it and she is a mentor to young attorneys, helping them improve their skills. Judge Rowles-Stokes is patient with those who appear before her. She runs an efficient courtroom. She listens carefully to arguments, and her records are accurate. Judge Rowles-Stokes was described as extremely knowledgeable about the law, wanting to share that knowledge, especially with young lawyers. She is also clear about her reasoning and expectations. Judge Rowles-Stokes is passionate about the law. She works hard, helps other divisions and judges. She is fair and respectful. It was suggested that she should train new judges. She was well-spoken and informative and addressed the participants in a friendly, professional manner. Jurors reported that Judge Rowles-Stokes “…was professional, impartial, and handled every aspect of the case in a way that made me, and my fellow jurors feel composed, and comfortable to accomplish our part of the proceedings”. Based on the aforementioned considerations, the Judicial Performance Commission recommends that Judge Rowles-Stokes meets performance standards and should be retained.

The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Rowles-Stokes, reviewed opinions she authored, observed her in court, reviewed comments from interested parties during the evaluation, and analyzed survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who had experience with Judge Rowles-Stokes. Attorney and non-attorney respondents, although low in response numbers, found no performance issues in any evaluation criteria. This was consistent with the Commission’s overall findings.

Judge Rowles-Stokes was appointed January 4, 2012. She earned her undergraduate degree from Colorado Christian University in Human Resources Management, a master's degree from Jones International University in Business Communications, and her law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Prior to joining the bench, she was a Chief Deputy District Attorney for the 18th Judicial District Attorney, the Vice President of Human Resources for High-Speed Access Corp., and the Director of Human Resources and Legal for Rifkin & Associates. When not on the bench, Judge Rowles-Stokes dedicates her free time to serving the community as a board member of the Sam Cary Scholarship Endowment Fund, which awards scholarships to students at the University of Colorado and the University of Denver Schools of Law, and enjoying life with her friends and family, which includes eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She also clears her mind by working on cars for family and friends.

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