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Monica Haenselman

County Court Judge, Boulder County

Running in 2026: County Court Judge, Boulder County (November 3)

Judicial performance evaluation, 2026

Commission recommendation: Meets performance standards (10–0) · 10 of 10 commissioners voted “meets”

The commission's narrative

The Twentieth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance, by a vote of 10-0, finds that Judge Monica Haenselman MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS .

Judge Haenselman has presided over criminal, traffic, civil, and small claims matters in the county court since 2023. This year, her colleagues selected her to serve as Presiding Judge, reflecting confidence in her leadership and judgment. She brings a high level of integrity and a strong sense of empathy to the bench, qualities that inform her thoughtful approach to each case. Judge Haenselman actively seeks out opportunities to strengthen her judicial skills and is receptive to constructive feedback, which she incorporates into her work. She has developed into a professional and decisive jurist who prepares extensively and manages her courtroom and docket efficiently and fairly.

The Judicial Performance Commission evaluates judges on six standards: legal knowledge, communication, administrative performance, integrity, judicial temperament, and service to the legal profession. To evaluate Judge Haenselman’s performance the Commission observed her in court, reviewed opinions she authored, considered her self-evaluation, held a public meeting to invite comments, reviewed responses to a survey distributed to all persons who have appeared in her court, and reviewed comments from her colleagues on the bench. The Commission also conducted personal interviews with Judge Haenselman, the current and former Chief Judge, the District Attorney, and a representative of the Boulder defense bar.

Judge Haenselman was appointed to the Boulder County Court in April 2023. Prior to that, she served as a magistrate (2015-23) and family court facilitator (2007-15) for the 20th Judicial District. Earlier in her career, Judge Haenselman worked as an associate at LaBuda & Associates and as a commercial litigation associate at Sonnenschein Nath and Rosenthal. She received her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and her undergraduate degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies from the University of Colorado.

1300 Broadway, Suite 220 Denver, Colorado 80203

(303) 928-7777

The evaluation on judicialperformance.colorado.gov · 2026 Retention Survey Report (PDF) · 2025 Interim Survey Report (PDF)

From the state's Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation. A commission of citizens, attorneys and non-attorneys for each judicial district (the state commission for appellate judges) reviews each judge standing for retention and finds that they meet, or do not meet, performance standards. Voters decide.

Personal Financial Disclosures

Income listed: up to $362,994; debts: up to $534,997 on their latest disclosure with entries: the top of each range they selected, added up (the form asks for ranges, not amounts; a range with no top counts at its figure).

StatementFiledWhat it lists
2026 Annual
County Court Judge
2026-01-116 income sources, 6 assets, 2 colorado property, 1 offices and directorships, 3 debts
2025
County Court Judge
2025-01-087 income sources, 7 assets, 1 colorado property, 2 offices and directorships, 2 state-regulated businesses, 2 debts
2024
County Court Judge
2024-01-106 income sources, 4 assets, 2 colorado property, 2 offices and directorships, 1 state-regulated businesses, 3 debts

Findings

None.

Gifts they reported

What Monica Haenselman listed on their quarterly reports of gifts, honoraria and other benefits since 2024: $89,596 across 6 items from 4 sources. Givers who are clients of a registered lobbyist are marked.

FromWhat, whenValue
ANNE BLODGETT
$60,750 in all
DISTRIBUTION FROM MY STEP-MOTHER'S ESTATE · 2024-12-10$33,000
DISTRIBUTION FROM MY FATHER'S ESTATE · 2024-12-04$27,750
EMILY HAENSELMAN
$24,750 in all
DISTRIBUTION FROM MY FATHER'S ESTATE · 2024-12-04$24,750
MICHAEL EMBLER
$3,829 in all
FRIENDS & FAMILY AIRLINE COMPLEMENTARY TICKET. NO ACTUAL AMOUNTS PAID. · 2025-12-31$2,463.63
FRIENDS AND FAMILY AIRLINE TICKET - AMOUNT LISTED IS VALUE BUT NOT MONIES WERE SPENT. THIS IS A LATE REPORTING AS I WAS UNAWARE OF THE VALUE. · 2023-12-29$1,365.80
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM
$266 in all
TWO TICKETS TO CAL BASKETBALL GAME. · 2024-11-27$266.40

From the reports in TRACER (search them: Gifts and Honoraria Report). Officials file one each quarter in which they receive a reportable item (C.R.S. 24-6-203).