Michael W.V. Angel

The Second Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance unanimously agrees by a vote of 10-0 that Judge Michael W. V. Angel 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.

Judge Angel currently presides over criminal matters in the Denver District Court. Judge Angel meets all aspects of the performance criteria on which he is evaluated. The Commission found Judge Angel to be diligent, professional, and committed to growing as a judge. Judge Angel’s written decisions are clear, well-reasoned, and thorough. His notable strengths, as observed by the Commission and described in survey responses, include conducting himself in a fair and impartial manner, exceptional courtroom demeanor, and knowledge of the law. The Commission commends Judge Angel for his attention to pro se litigants in his previous domestic relations rotation to help ensure efficiency, fairness, and equity in legal proceedings. The Commission, based on its observation and analysis of survey responses, did not identify any evaluation category in which Judge Angel displayed a notable weakness as to the performance criteria. Judge Angel exceeded the Court’s productivity benchmark for criminal and domestic relations courtrooms.

The Commission met with the Chief Judge of Denver District Court to discuss challenges facing the court system and also met with the Denver District Attorney and a representative of the Denver Office of the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender regarding Judge Angel’s performance. The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Angel and observed him during court proceedings. It also reviewed opinions he authored, comments received from interested parties during the evaluation, case management data, and judicial performance survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who interacted with him. The surveys reflected personal opinions regarding Judge Angel in the categories of case management, application and knowledge of the law, communications, diligence, demeanor, and fairness. A total of 12 attorneys and 13 non-attorneys responded to the judicial performance surveys expressing their opinion of Judge Angel. The overall information and data reviewed supports the Commission’s recommendation that Judge Angel be meets performance standards.

Judge Angel was appointed to the Denver District Court in July 2024. Prior to his appointment, he served as a Magistrate Judge in Adams County, Seventeenth Judicial District. Judge Angel has also worked for a non-profit, representing low-income and indigent clients, practiced federal criminal defense, and worked as a deputy district attorney in rural and metro jurisdictions prior to his appointment as a Magistrate Judge. Judge Angel is a dedicated community volunteer who serves, among other roles, as Vice President of the District Court Judges Association and volunteers with the University of Denver Law School and judicial organizations. He received his undergraduate degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

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