Michael A. Gonzales

The Twelfth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously (6-0), with two commission vacancies and two commissioners absent, finds that Judge Michael A. Gonzales MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS . The performance standards contemplate the judge’s integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and the public.

Judge Gonzales handles criminal, civil, juvenile and misdemeanor cases. In making its recommendation, the Commission reviewed surveys from attorneys and non-attorneys, including litigants, jurors, and others who have appeared before Judge Gonzales during the retention period. The Commission also reviewed Judge Gonzales’s self-evaluation and samples of his written work. Finally, the commissioners observed Judge Gonzales’s courtroom and conducted a personal interview. Of the attorneys responding, 100% agreed that Judge Gonzales meets performance standards. Of the non-attorney respondents to the survey, 89% agreed that Judge Gonzales meets performance standards.

The Commission felt that Judge Gonzales’s overall performance as a district court judge was well above the required standards. Surveys sent out by the Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation rate judges in categories of case management, application and knowledge of law, communication, diligence, demeanor, and fairness. The results of the surveys demonstrated that of all the judges in the 12th Judicial District up for review, his scores were consistently some of the highest in the District. This demonstrates Judge Gonzales’s commitment to self-improvement and ability to effectively communicate with the public. Judge Gonzales’s written and oral decisions are thorough, concise, and communicated efficiently. There were no concerns from the Commission regarding fairness or bias on the part of Judge Gonzales towards any party. The Commission observed Judge Gonzales's sincere dedication to his community and his aspiration to foster a deeper public understanding that the Court and the judiciary remain integral, accessible parts of that community.

Judge Gonzales took the district court bench in October 2011 and served as Chief Judge from January 2020 to July 2023. Prior to his appointment to the district court bench, Judge Gonzales served as a deputy district attorney for the 12th Judicial District for ten years before becoming the Alamosa County Court judge. Judge Gonzales received a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Creighton University in 1993. He graduated from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1996. Off the bench, Judge Gonzales has been involved in coaching local youth sports, served on the board of directors for the Caring for Colorado Foundation from 2010 to 2016, and in 2022 he was appointed to the board of directors for the Robert Hoag Rawlings Foundation.

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