Who is running for 18th Judicial District (Arapahoe) District Court, Retention: Judge Darren L. Vahle in 2026?

Judge, 18th Judicial District Court (Arapahoe County)

Darren L. Vahle is the sitting 18th Judicial District Court judge, standing for a retention vote on the November 3, 2026 ballot¹. He was appointed to the county court in 2008 and the district court in 2018².

• District Court judge since July 2018, presiding over a criminal district court docket; County Court judge from June 2008²
• Began his legal career in the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office²
• Westmont College (B.A., psychology); University of Denver Sturm College of Law²
• Appointed to the County Court bench by Governor William Ritter in June 2008 and to the District Court bench by Governor John Hickenlooper in July 2018². This is a retention election: voters decide yes or no on keeping the sitting judge, and no opponent is on the ballot¹.
• Bar poll: Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation, 2026 evaluation: Recommendation: Meets Performance Standards. "The Eighteenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance agrees by a vote of 7-0, with one member abstaining, one member absent, and one vacancy on the Commission, that Judge Darren L. Vahle MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS." This is an official state commission evaluation of the judge's performance, not an endorsement². The commission's written finding also says: "At times Judge Vahle can be critical and make undue comments, but he assured the Commission that his aim is not to be critical but to maintain a high standard in the court." It also reports praise for his "demeanor, prompt decisions, knowledge of the law, fairness, diligence and case management."²