Elizabeth Joan McCarthy

Elizabeth Joan McCarthy was appointed to the Denver Juvenile Court in January 2024 and became its Presiding Judge in March 2024. She had been a magistrate judge in the same court since 2019. Before that she was a senior assistant attorney general from 2016 to 2019, an assistant attorney general from 2011 to 2016 and a deputy district attorney in Denver from 2008 to 2009. She is a member of the Irving P. Andrews Inn of Court and the Women's Bar Association. She holds an undergraduate degree from Indiana University and a law degree from the University of Colorado Law School.

The Second Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance voted 10 to 0 that she meets performance standards. It reports survey responses from 10 attorneys and 4 non-attorneys.

The commission writes that it "commends Judge McCarthy for her commitment to improve the experience of all those who appear before her in Denver Juvenile Court." It describes her written decisions as "clear, accessible, and well-reasoned" and lists her strengths as "exceptional communication and listening skills, a commitment to treating all participants with dignity and respect, and knowledge of juvenile law."

She exceeded five of the six productivity benchmarks for juvenile cases, and the commission "is satisfied that she is working diligently to improve productivity."