William B. Bain

The Commission on Judicial Performance agrees by vote of 7-0 (with one absence, two recusals) that Judge William B. Bain MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS . The judicial performance standards are integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and the public.

Judge Bain was appointed to the Fourth Judicial District Court in 2011. He served as Chief Judge of the Fourth Judicial District from 2017 to 2024. Currently Judge Bain presides over Criminal (50%) and Civil (50%) dockets.

As part of its evaluation of Judge Bain, the Commission reviewed Judge Bain’s self-evaluation, a sample of his written opinions, and the 2026 judicial performance survey results. Although the response rate to distributed surveys was relatively low, Judge Bain received an overall score of 3.4/4 from respondents. A survey of District Court Judges conducted by the Appellate Court Judges rated him at 3.6/4 overall, with a comment describing Judge Bain as a “superb judge in every respect.” The Commission observed Judge Bain in the courtroom and conducted a personal interview with him. The Commission also collected feedback on Judge Bain from the Chief Judge of the Fourth Judicial District and representatives from the District Attorney’s and Public Defender’s Office. The District Attorney’s Office provided a positive assessment, describing Judge Bain as steady, thorough, and fair. One concern was raised regarding calendar management and its potential impact on speedy trial deadlines. Judge Bain responded that he has never missed a speedy trial deadline and emphasized that he manages his caseload with particular care considering speedy trial deadlines. He noted that attorney preparedness can at times create tension but, expressed a willingness to evaluate the concern and make improvements where appropriate.

Judge Bain is a sixth-generation Coloradan. Following his graduation from Middlebury College in Vermont, he taught High School English in Texas for three years before attending Cornell Law School in New York. Prior to his appointment to the Fourth Judicial Court, Judge Bain served 10 years as a prosecutor in the District Attorney’s Office and three years as an assistant city attorney for the City of Colorado Springs practicing civil litigation. Judge Bain was the first Chief Judge in Colorado to resume jury trials following COVID pandemic restrictions. He was honored with the Ben S. Wendelken Award of Excellence from the El Paso County Bar Association in 2024 for his contributions to the legal system.

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