John A, Criswell

Evaluation history

• 1996 retention cycle

  Court of Appeals

  Meets Standards(Retain)
  VotersRetained· 64.3% yes

  700,278 yes · 387,967 no50% needed to retain
  Retention Year: 1996 Recommendation: Retain The State Commission on Judicial Performance recommends that Judge John A. Criswell BE RETAINED. Judge Criswell was admitted to the bar of Colorado in 1956. He served in the Unites States Airforce from1956 through 1959.  He was assigned to the Judge Advocate General’s Office.  Judge Criswell was in the private practice of law in Englewood, Colorado from 1960 until September 11, 1986 when he was appointed to the Colorado Court of Appeals. Judge Criswell has been actively involved in many civic and bar association activities over his distinguished career.  He is a former member of the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Colorado Supreme Court and the Eighteenth Judicial District. He is presently the chair of the Colorado Supreme Court Committee on Pattern Jury Instructions for civil cases and is the chair of the Colorado Judicial System Personnel Board of Review.  He has written a number of articles and given numerous lectures concerning trial procedures, evidence, municipal law, labor law and appellate practice.  The State Commission concludes that Judges Criswell is on of Colorado’s outstanding appellate judges. Attorney questionnaires received by the State Commission rate Judge Criswell highly overall.  He received high marks for integrity, equal treatment of all persons, knowledge of law an procedure, quality of his opinions and preparation and patience at oral arguments.  Of the responses received, 83.7% voted to retain Judge Criswell, 14% had no opinion and 2.3% voted not to retain him.

Surveys & reports

No survey reports on record for this judge.

Sources

• 1996 evaluation on OJPE · scraped Apr 17, 2026