Who is running for 18th Judicial District (Arapahoe) District Court, Retention: Judge Michelle Jones in 2026?

Judge, 18th Judicial District Court (Arapahoe County)

Michelle Jones is the sitting 18th Judicial District Court judge, standing for a retention vote on the November 3, 2026 ballot¹. She was appointed in January 2023 after serving as a magistrate, administrative law judge and defense attorney².

• District Court judge since January 10, 2023²
• Defense attorney, administrative law hearing officer, administrative law judge and magistrate for the 18th Judicial District (Arapahoe and Douglas Counties) before her appointment²
• Boston College (political science and communications); J.D., University of Denver Sturm College of Law²
• Appointed to the bench effective January 10, 2023; the evaluation page does not name the appointing governor². 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 8-0, with one member absent and one vacancy on the Commission, that Judge Michelle Jones, MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS." This is an official state commission evaluation of the judge's performance, not an endorsement².