Andrew C. Poland

Andrew C. Poland was appointed to the First Judicial District Court in June 2024. He sits in Jefferson County and presides over a mixed docket of civil cases (40 percent), criminal cases (30 percent) and domestic relations matters (30 percent).

A Jefferson County native, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Colorado State University in 2009 and a law degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 2011. He practiced law privately from 2012 to 2023, focusing on juvenile defense and child welfare litigation, taught Legal Issues in Social Work Practice at Metropolitan State University from 2021 to 2023, and served as a magistrate in the First Judicial District from 2023 to 2024. He serves on the Board of Governors of the 1st Judicial District Bar Association and volunteers for Jefferson County high school mock trials.

The First Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance voted 9 to 0 that he meets performance standards, with one commissioner, a party to a case pending before him, recused. Besides interviewing Judge Poland, the commission reviewed three orders he issued and received feedback from the chief judge, the district attorney and the head of the Public Defender's Office.

The commission writes that he "was recognized for managing his courtroom, having a fair and even temperament, being deliberate, clearly explaining his rulings, and being effective in case management." It reports that he was "described as demonstrating meaningful growth in the role, with continued opportunity to further develop and refine his legal analysis as he gains experience across a broad district court docket." He "takes all feedback and suggestions for performance improvement seriously and collaborates with his mentors and staff to address issues", the commission writes.