Jacob Edson at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Colorado · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Jacob Edson
Judge · 18th Judicial District District Court
Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.
Available research
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures2 sourced items · labeled by scope
SourcesOfficial and public records supporting this profile
Judicial Performance Evaluation
Meets Performance Standards
Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation / applicable Commission on Judicial Performance · 2026 · 18th Judicial District District Court · District Court Judge
8 For / primary
0 Against / secondary
Published measures
Case Management: Responses Promptly issues a decision on the case after
Overall: 2.5 / 4 (N=18)Attorneys: 2.9 / 4 (N=18)Non-Attorneys: 2.3 / 4 (N=18)
Case Management: trial. Maintains appropriate control over proceedings.
Overall: 3.4 / 4 (N=27)Attorneys: 3.6 / 4 (N=27)Non-Attorneys: 3.4 / 4 (N=27)
Case Management: Promptly rules on pre-trial motions.
Overall: 3.2 / 4 (N=20)Attorneys: 2.9 / 4 (N=20)Non-Attorneys: 3.3 / 4 (N=20)
Case Management: Sets reasonable schedules for cases.
Overall: 2.8 / 4 (N=24)Attorneys: 3.1 / 4 (N=24)Non-Attorneys: 2.7 / 4 (N=24)
Case Management: Provides an alternative to in-person hearings
Overall: 2.7 / 4 (N=13)Attorneys: 2.7 / 4 (N=13)Non-Attorneys: 2.7 / 4 (N=13)
Application and Knowledge of Law: Responses Is able to identify and analyze relevant facts.
Overall: 3.1 / 4 (N=27)Attorneys: 2.7 / 4 (N=27)Non-Attorneys: 3.2 / 4 (N=27)
Application and Knowledge of Law: Bases decisions on evidence and arguments.
Overall: 3 / 4 (N=7)Attorneys: 3 / 4 (N=7)
Application and Knowledge of Law: Issues consistent decisions when the
Overall: 2.9 / 4 (N=7)Attorneys: 2.9 / 4 (N=7)
Application and Knowledge of Law: circumstances are similar. Rulings cite the applicable substantive law.
Overall: 3.1 / 4 (N=7)Attorneys: 3.1 / 4 (N=7)
Application and Knowledge of Law: Consistently applies laws and rules.
Overall: 2.6 / 4 (N=7)Attorneys: 2.6 / 4 (N=7)
Application and Knowledge of Law: Gives reasons for rulings.
Overall: 3.6 / 4 (N=17)Attorneys: 3.2 / 4 (N=17)Non-Attorneys: 3.8 / 4 (N=17)
Application and Knowledge of Law: Willing to make decisions without regard to
Overall: 3.4 / 4 (N=16)Non-Attorneys: 3.4 / 4 (N=16)
Communications: Responses Makes sure all participants understand the
Overall: 3.4 / 4 (N=27)Attorneys: 3.4 / 4 (N=27)Non-Attorneys: 3.4 / 4 (N=27)
Communications: proceedings. When issuing a ruling, the judge provides an
Overall: 3.7 / 4 (N=7)Attorneys: 3.7 / 4 (N=7)
Communications: explanation for the decision. Provides written communications that are clear,
Overall: 3.4 / 4 (N=7)Attorneys: 3.4 / 4 (N=7)
Communications: thorough, and well- reasoned. Listens carefully during court proceedings.
Overall: 3.4 / 4 (N=7)Attorneys: 3.4 / 4 (N=7)
Communications: Uses language that everyone can understand.
Overall: 3.4 / 4 (N=20)Non-Attorneys: 3.4 / 4 (N=20)
Communications: Speaks clearly so everyone in the courtroom
Overall: 3.4 / 4 (N=20)Non-Attorneys: 3.4 / 4 (N=20)
Communications: can understand what's being said. Gives reasons for a ruling when needed.
Overall: 3.1 / 4 (N=20)Non-Attorneys: 3.1 / 4 (N=20)
Demeanor: Responses Gives proceedings a sense of dignity.
Overall: 3.5 / 4 (N=27)Attorneys: 3.4 / 4 (N=27)Non-Attorneys: 3.6 / 4 (N=27)
Demeanor: Treats participants with respect.
Overall: 3.3 / 4 (N=27)Attorneys: 3.1 / 4 (N=27)Non-Attorneys: 3.4 / 4 (N=27)
Demeanor: Reacts to an incident(s) in the courtroom
Overall: 3 / 4 (N=7)Attorneys: 3 / 4 (N=7)
Demeanor: appropriately. Addresses individuals (e.g. attorneys, court staff, litigants, public witnesses) respectfully in
Overall: 3.6 / 4 (N=7)Attorneys: 3.6 / 4 (N=7)
Demeanor: the courtroom. Maintains a professional demeanor in the
Overall: 3.6 / 4 (N=7)Attorneys: 3.6 / 4 (N=7)
Demeanor: courtroom. Has a sense of compassion and human
Overall: 3.3 / 4 (N=18)Non-Attorneys: 3.3 / 4 (N=18)
Diligence: Responses Uses good judgment in application of relevant
Overall: 2.7 / 4 (N=7)Attorneys: 2.7 / 4 (N=7)
Diligence: law and rules. Is willing to handle cases on the docket even when they are complicated and time
Overall: 3.1 / 4 (N=7)Attorneys: 3.1 / 4 (N=7)
Diligence: consuming. Does the necessary “homework” and is
Overall: 3.1 / 4 (N=7)Attorneys: 3.1 / 4 (N=7)
Diligence: prepared for cases. Begins court on time.
Overall: 2.9 / 4 (N=18)Non-Attorneys: 2.9 / 4 (N=18)
Diligence: Maintains appropriate control over proceedings.
Overall: 3.4 / 4 (N=20)Non-Attorneys: 3.4 / 4 (N=20)
Diligence: Sets reasonable schedules for cases.
Overall: 2.9 / 4 (N=17)Non-Attorneys: 2.9 / 4 (N=17)
Diligence: Is prepared for cases
Overall: 3.2 / 4 (N=18)Non-Attorneys: 3.2 / 4 (N=18)
Diligence: Manages court proceedings so there is little
Overall: 3.1 / 4 (N=19)Non-Attorneys: 3.1 / 4 (N=19)
Fairness: Responses Gives participants an opportunity to be heard.
Overall: 3.4 / 4 (N=20)Non-Attorneys: 3.4 / 4 (N=20)
Fairness: Treats those involved in the case without bias.
Overall: 3.4 / 4 (N=20)Non-Attorneys: 3.4 / 4 (N=20)
Fairness: Treats people fairly who represent themselves.
Overall: 3 / 4 (N=10)Non-Attorneys: 3 / 4 (N=10)
Fairness: Gives each side enough time to present their
Overall: 3.3 / 4 (N=20)Non-Attorneys: 3.3 / 4 (N=20)Overall: 3.1 / 4 (N=7)Attorneys: 3.1 / 4 (N=7)
Fairness: case. Conducts their courtroom in a neutral manner.
Overall: 2.9 / 4 (N=7)Attorneys: 2.9 / 4 (N=7)
Fairness: Is fair and impartial to both sides.
Overall: 2.7 / 4 (N=7)Attorneys: 2.7 / 4 (N=7)
Published standards
Colorado statutory judicial performance standards
The Eighteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance agrees by a vote of 8-0, with one member absent and one vacancy on the Commission, that Judge Jacob A. Edson 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.
Participation
Attorney email invite
7 returned / 225 distributed
Attorney Survey Website
0 returned
Total Attorneys
7 returned
Non-attorney email Invite
8 returned / 365 distributed
Court Staff Email Invite (Self-select)
3 returned / 2,782 distributed
Citizen Feedback
0 returned
Juror Survey
9 returned
Total Non-Attorneys
20 returned
Commission narrative
The Eighteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance agrees by a vote of 8-0, with one member absent and one vacancy on the Commission, that Judge Jacob A. Edson 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.
After meeting with Judge Edson and after reviewing his prior work and assessing feedback from attorneys and non-attorneys, the Commission was unanimous that Judge Edson meets judicial performance standards. Judge Edson has received praise for his demeanor, application of the law, communications and case management. Judge Edson is described as calm, diligent, kind, courteous and respectful. While a limited handful of respondents shared that Judge Edson’s records at times are a little lengthy, Judge Edson’s surveys reveal that he is viewed as thorough, hard-working, and unbiased. The Commission concluded that Judge Edson’s knowledge base is well above average. Based on the review considerations, the Judicial Performance Commission recommends that Judge Edson meets performance standards and should be retained.
The Commission conducted a personal interview with Judge Edson, reviewed opinions he authored, observed him in court, reviewed comments from interested parties during the evaluation, and reviewed survey responses from attorneys and non-attorneys who had experience with Judge Edson. Attorney and non-attorney respondents, although low in response numbers, found no performance issues in any performance criteria. This was consistent with the Commission’s overall findings.
Judge Edson was appointed to the bench on July 1, 2023, by Governor Jared Polis. He previously served as a Magistrate in the 18th Judicial District; Chief Deputy District Attorney; Senior Deputy District Attorney; and Deputy District Attorney for the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Judge Edson earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Colorado State University in 1997, a Master of Business Administration degree from Colorado State University in 1999, a Juris Doctor from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 2002, and Master of Criminal Justice degree from the University of Colorado-Denver in 2012. Judge Edson has been a mock trial coach for a local high school and has volunteered as a presiding judge or scoring panelist for high school mock trials here in Arapahoe County for the past two decades. He is an active or past member and participant in the Colorado Bar Association, the Arapahoe County Bar Association and Justice Sonia Sotomayor Inn of Court. In his spare time, Judge Edson is often found driving his three children to their sporting and social events and attending their local church.
Evaluation history
2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · Historical cycles are shown separately until instrument compatibility is established.
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Expanded Media Coverage
Statewide
Colorado expanded media coverage requests must comply with Chapter 38, Rule 3 and are submitted to the court before the proceeding; authorization remains subject to court rules, orders, restrictions, and limitations.
you agree with the criteria set forth in Chapter 38, Rule 3, as well as all orders, rules, restrictions, or limitations issued or imposed by the courtRequest for Expanded Media Coverage ↗
Expanded Media Notice
Statewide
Colorado expanded media coverage applications generally must be submitted at least twenty-four hours before the court proceeding, though judges may consider shorter-notice requests in some circumstances.
Expanded Media Coverage applications to be submitted at least 24 hours in advance of the court proceeding in question.Request for Expanded Media Coverage ↗
Sources
Colorado Judicial Branch official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
View Colorado Judicial Branch official judicial roster ↗Request for Expanded Media Coverage
Statewide source · HTML · checked July 26, 2026
View Request for Expanded Media Coverage ↗