Christopher Rhamey

The First Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously (9-0, 1 abstention) finds that Judge Christopher Rhamey MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS .

Judge Rhamey was appointed to the District Court in Jefferson County on July 31, 2023. He presides over criminal, civil, and domestic relations cases. Judge Rhamey’s demeanor is described as calm, professional, and attentive. His approach to case management is effective, and he does not have any cases open that are over eighteen months old. Judge Rhamey issues orders on motions in a timely and efficient manner, often working into the night so that he can ensure the facts of the case are fresh in his mind while he is writing his orders. He is considered to be very knowledgeable about criminal law, and other judges seek his mentorship in this area. He prepares diligently for sentencing hearings and believes it is important to balance the risk to the community against the needs of the defendant while also considering the message it sends to the community. Judge Rhamey is still growing in his knowledge of civil and domestic relations law and is actively seeking mentorship and education in these areas. It is very important to Judge Rhamey that he always asks himself – and others – how he can improve in every aspect of his job, and the Commission believes that Judge Rhamey has been and will continue to be an asset to the judicial bench.

The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Rhamey, reviewed opinions he authored, observed him in court, reviewed comments received from interested parties during the evaluation, and reviewed survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who had experience with Judge Rhamey. Survey responses noted Judge Rhamey’s knowledge of the law, preparation for hearings, and willingness to learn in areas with which the judge was less familiar. There were references that his tone in written orders could be harsh. The commission took extra care to examine the judge’s orders and concluded that Judge Rhamey’s tone was appropriate.

Prior to Judge Rhamey’s appointment to the bench, Judge Rhamey worked for the Adams County District Attorney’s Office where he specialized in child victim crimes and supervised nearly every unit in the office. He attended and played baseball for Pointe Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, then graduated from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 2012. Judge Rhamey worked as a youth baseball coach before becoming an attorney and continues to coach baseball for his son’s Little League team. Judge Rhamey heads all wiretaps for Jefferson County and participates in Criminal Bench Bar meetings.

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