How to make an informed decision on Colorado's judges this election

State of play: Of 116 judges on the ballot this year, including three Supreme Court justices, only one — Garfield County's Angela Roff — didn't make the cut in performance reviews.

• To keep their jobs, they need to receive a simple majority of yes votes. If they don't, they must step down, beginning the process of filling their position.

How it works: Each of Colorado's 22 judicial districts has evaluation commissions that review the judges' work.

• These commissions evaluate everything from a judge's legal smarts and temperament to how fairly they treat people in their courtroom.
• They then determine whether the judge "Meets" or "Does Not Meet" performance standards.
• Information about each judge can be found online and in the blue books mailed to voters.

By the numbers: After two years on the job, judges face their first public vote.

• County court judges are up for retention every four years thereafter, while district court judges are up every six years.
• For appeals court judges, it's every eight years. For Colorado Supreme Court justices, it's 10.

Reality check: Colorado voters rarely show judges the door. Since 1990, only five judges have lost their seats, according to the Colorado Judicial Institute.