Shall Judge Timothy Gerard Kerns of the 19th Judicial District be retained in office?
What does this office do?
- Deciding trials in the county
- Ruling on evidence and setting sentences in criminal cases
- Deciding family, probate, and civil disputes
Affects: Public Safety and Crime Control, Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties, Housing Affordability,
Timothy Gerard Kerns
Nonpartisan · Incumbent · Official site
Timothy Gerard Kerns has been a District Court judge in Weld County since 2011 and hears criminal cases. He was a Weld County Court judge for 3 years before that and earlier a law firm partner in mediation and family law, with a law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Track record
Track record — General
General · 3 records
Sentenced Jessica Reeves-Burrola to life in prison without parole after a Weld County jury convicted her of the 2021 murder of Henry Sandoval.
February 18, 2023
Source: denvergazette.com
Won retention as a 19th Judicial District judge, with Weld County voters voting 99,100 yes to 37,886 no (about 72 percent yes).
November 3, 2020
Source: coloradosos.gov
Served as court-appointed guardian ad litem in a published appeal over a Morgan County guardianship. The Court of Appeals let the county guardian approve a do-not-resuscitate order for the incapacitated man.
April 22, 2004
Source: courtlistener.com
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 3 favorable · 5 unfavorable
Was reversed by the Court of Appeals after he refused to cancel a $7,110 restitution order. He had ruled the defendant challenged it too late (People v. Urzua-Hernandez).
August 6, 2026Unfavorable on Legal Competence
Source: coloradopolitics.com
Was rated as meeting performance standards by the 19th Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance, by an 8-0 vote. Surveys gave him 3.8 out of 4, above the state average.
August 4, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: judicialperformance.colorado.gov
Had a murder conviction reversed by the Court of Appeals, which ordered a new trial because he refused to let jurors consider self-defense (People v. Hoschouer).
January 16, 2025Unfavorable on Legal Competence
Source: coloradopolitics.com
Was overruled by the Colorado Supreme Court for ordering a public defender to hand over her full case files for private court review in a post-conviction case (People v. Cortes-Gonzalez).
March 21, 2022Unfavorable on Legal Competence
Source: courtlistener.com
Had a first-degree assault conviction reversed by the Court of Appeals because his jury instruction on deadly force was wrong; the court upheld the rest of the judgment (People v. Ramirez).
February 7, 2019Unfavorable on Legal Competence
Source: courtlistener.com
Had a drug and gambling conviction reversed by the Court of Appeals. He had allowed evidence from a home search approved by an ex-girlfriend; the court said she had no right to consent (People v. Morehead).
September 24, 2015Unfavorable on Legal Competence
Source: courtlistener.com
Was appointed a District Court judge for the 19th Judicial District by Governor Bill Ritter, effective January 1, 2011, filling a newly created seat.
November 19, 2010Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: spl.cde.state.co.us
Was appointed a Weld County Court judge by Governor Bill Ritter, effective immediately, filling one of three open seats.
August 21, 2007Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: spl.cde.state.co.us
Sources: judicialperformance.colorado.gov · weld.gov