County Court Judge - Weld: John J. Briggs

What the commission said

The Nineteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance, by an 8-0 vote, with two commissioners absent, finds that Judge John J. Briggs MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.

The Commission evaluates judges on 6 standards: integrity, legal knowledge, communication skills, judicial temperament, administrative performance, and service to the legal profession and the public. Evaluation data includes courtroom observations, a personal interview, legal rulings, and participant surveys.

The Commission found Judge Briggs to be an exceptionally efficient, knowledgeable, and kind jurist. He maintains high courtroom standards with a confident, approachable demeanor. Strong personal awareness allows him to read between the lines and adapt seamlessly to the uniqueness of each case. Survey results show highly consistent scores across all categories. Judge Briggs genuinely enjoys his work.

Originally appointed to the Weld County Court bench in December 2010, Judge Briggs presides over Division 6, managing misdemeanor offenses, traffic violations, bond hearings, and county-level civil cases. His prior legal career includes the Central Research Staff for the Kansas Court of Appeals (1993–1996), 8 years as a Deputy Public Defender across Kansas and Colorado (1996–2004), and private defense practice in Greeley (2004–2010). He earned his law degree from the Washburn University School of Law in 1993. Outside the courtroom, Judge Briggs serves on the Weld Food Bank Board of Directors (previously as President and Vice President), volunteers as a mock trial judge, and participates in the statewide Judicial Peer-to-Peer coaching program. The Commission believes Judge Briggs is a distinct asset to the 19th Judicial District.

The survey

The share of each group surveyed who said the judge meets performance standards.

• Attorneys86%
• Non-attorneys75%