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 LaQunya Latrese Baker-McKay 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 the public.
After meeting with Judge Baker-McKay and after reviewing her prior work and assessing feedback from attorneys and non-attorneys, the Commission was unanimous that Judge Baker-Mckay meets judicial performance standards. Judge Baker-McKay was described as a clear communicator who treats all courtroom participants with respect. Her courtroom was noted for its clarity, professionalism, attentiveness, and fairness. These qualities reflect her strong commitment to equity and effective management of her criminal and competency dockets. She is strong in her preparation and command of the law. Her rulings are thoughtful, well-reasoned, and grounded in legal authority. Based on all the aforementioned considerations, the Judicial Performance Commission recommends that Judge Baker-McKay meets performance standards and should be retained.
The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Baker-McKay, reviewed opinions she authored, observed her in court, reviewed comments from interested parties during the evaluation. They also reviewed survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who had experience with Judge Baker-McKay. 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 Baker-McKay was appointed to the Arapahoe County Court bench on July 1, 2022, and the District Court on July 28, 2023, both by Governor Jared Polis, when she was sworn in as the first Black woman to serve on the Arapahoe County District Court bench. Before joining the bench, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the College of Charleston. She interned with U.S. Representative Jim Clyburn before attending Charlotte School of Law in North Carolina. Following graduation, she was a Deputy State Public Defender in Golden, Colorado. She later practiced civil litigation in state and federal courts across the United States before returning to criminal defense with the Office of Alternate Defense Counsel in the Denver metro area. She also served as a part-time magistrate for Denver County Court and as a Visiting Assistant Professor of the Practice of Law at the University of Denver. She remains active in the Aurora community and participates in ongoing service efforts through the Aurora Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
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