Judicial & Legislative News
Court of Appeals judge finalists selected
Governor to appoint new Court of Appeals judge
The Supreme Court Nominating Commission has nominated three candidates for a vacancy on the Colorado Court of Appeals. The vacancy was created by the retirement of Chief Judge Steve Bernard, and it will occur on Jan. 1, 2022. The nominees were selected during a videoconference meeting in Denver on Oct. 27, 2021. They are Priscilla Loew, Karl Schock and Timothy Schutz.
Under the Colorado Constitution, the governor has 15 days from Oct. 28, 2021, within which to appoint one of the nominees as a judge on the Colorado Court of Appeals.
Comments regarding any of the nominees may be sent via e-mail to the governor at gov_judicialappointments@state.co.us
Editor’s Note: Contact information for the nominees:
See Full Announcement
Pilot program allowing e-filing by self-represented litigants expands to three more judicial districts
DENVER – The Colorado Judicial Department announced today that a pilot program allowing electronic filing of documents by people representing themselves in family court cases has expanded to cover an additional 10 counties.
The e-filing program is open to litigants without attorneys in dissolution of marriage, dissolution of civil union, and custody cases. Approximately 75 percent of litigants in such cases choose to represent themselves.
The expansion will include self-represented litigants in the same types of cases, including existing cases, in the 7th Judicial District (Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose, Ouray and San Miguel counties), the 16th Judicial District (Bent, Crowley and Otero counties), and the 20th Judicial District (Boulder County).
The program is now available in all or portions of Judicial Districts 4, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19 and 21, encompassing 35 counties.
Only named parties to a case are eligible to e-file. Requests to waive fees cannot be made through the e-filing system at this time; indigent parties will need to continue filing paper documents at the clerk’s office in the courthouse.
More information about e-filing for non-attorneys may be found at https://www.courts.state.co.us/Administration/Unit.cfm?Unit=efilenoaty.
Application period opens for Judicial Nominating Commission positions
Thirty-two vacancies to occur on 20 nominating commissions
DENVER – Applications are now being accepted for upcoming vacancies on 33 Judicial Nominating Commissions throughout Colorado.
As of Dec. 31, 2021, there will be 32 vacancies as detailed below. Judicial nominating commissioners are volunteers and serve six-year terms interviewing applicants for judicial vacancies and nominating candidates to the governor.
More information on nominating commissions may be found on the Judicial Branch Web site at http://www.courts.state.co.us/Courts/Supreme_Court/Nominating.cfm .
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with initial application review and consideration beginning on Oct. 5, 2021. Applications may be made only online at the State of Colorado Boards and Commissions Application page at https://www.colorado.gov/governor/boards-commissions-application . Applicants should include a current resume or biography where indicated on the application.
This announcement has been updated. The new meeting date is Oct. 27, 2021.
Colorado Court of Appeals Chief Judge Steve Bernard to retire
Nominating Commission sets date to select nominees
The Supreme Court Nominating Commission invites qualified attorneys to apply for a Colorado Court of Appeals judgeship created by the retirement of Chief Judge Steve Bernard. The vacancy will occur on Jan. 1, 2022. The commission will meet via videoconference on Oct. 27, 2021, to interview applicants and select nominees for appointment by the governor.
To be eligible for appointment to fill a vacancy, the applicant must be a qualified elector of the State of Colorado and must have been admitted to the practice of law in Colorado for five years. The annual salary for a court of appeals judge is currently $186,132. The initial term of office of a Court of Appeals judge is a provisional term of two years. Thereafter, the incumbent judge, if retained by the voters, has a term of eight years.
Application forms are available from the office of the ex-officio chair of the Nominating Commission, Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright, 2 E. 14th Ave., Denver, CO 80203; and the office of the court executive of any of the 22 judicial districts. Applications are also available on the court’s home page at: http://www.courts.state.co.us/Careers/Judge.cfm
The completed application must be e-mailed to the address listed in the instructions below no later than 4 p.m. Oct. 1, 2021. Late applications will not be considered. Any person wishing to suggest a candidate to fill the vacancy may do so by letter to be submitted to any member of the nominating commission, with a copy to the ex-officio chair, no later than 4 p.m. Sept. 24, 2021.
Applications will be kept confidential, except that the nominating commission shall disclose the names, work addresses, and work telephone numbers of the three nominees submitted to the governor.
The members of the Supreme Court Nominating Commission are: Katina Banks and Daniel Ramos, both of Denver; Kimberly Jordan of Fort Collins; Peter Gould of Boulder; Linda Garcia of Pueblo; J. Martelle Daniels of Grand Junction; Deborah Suniga of Greeley; Stanton Dodge of Castle Rock; Jay Patel and David McDivitt, both of Colorado Springs; C. Omar Montgomery of Aurora; Carolyn Fairless of Lakewood; and Heather Lipp and Danielle Radovich Piper, both of Golden. The commission currently has one vacancy.
Editor’s Note: Contact information for the nominating commission members:
Fourth Judicial District announces El Paso County Court vacancy
Commission sets date to select nominees
The Fourth Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet Oct. 5, 2021, via videoconference to interview and select nominees for appointment by the governor to the office of county judge for El Paso County. The vacancy will be created by the appointment of the Hon. Samuel Evig to the Fourth Judicial District, District Court. The vacancy will occur on Oct. 8, 2021.
To be eligible, the applicant must be a qualified elector of El Paso County at the time of investiture and must have been admitted to the practice of law in Colorado. The current annual salary for this position is $170,784. The initial term of office of a county judge is a provisional term of two years; thereafter, the incumbent county judge, if approved by the voters, has a term of four years.
Application forms are available from the office of the ex officio chair of the nominating commission, Justice Maria E. Berkenkotter, 2 E. 14th Ave., Denver, CO 80203; and the office of the court executive, Scott Sosebee, 270 S. Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80901. Applications also are available on the court’s home page at http://www.courts.state.co.us/Careers/Judge.cfm
The completed application must be e-mailed to the address listed in the instructions below no later than Sept. 21, 2021 by 4 p.m. Late applications will not be considered. Any person wishing to suggest a candidate to fill the vacancy may do so by letter to be submitted to any member of the nominating commission, with a copy to the ex officio chair, no later than Sept. 14, 2021, by 4 p.m.
The members of the nominating commission for the Fourth Judicial District are: Juan Moreno, Mary Linden, Lisa Dailey, Stella Hodgkins, and C. Onye Ikwaukor, all of Colorado Springs; and Kathleen Cefus of Divide.
This commission currently has one vacancy.
Chief Judge Order Regarding Court Operations Beginning July 6, 2021
Download Order
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
The term of office of United States Magistrate Judge Michael E. Hegarty of the
U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, expires on
February 14, 2022. The United States District Court is required by law to establish a panel of citizens to consider the reappointment of a magistrate judge to a new eight-year term. The duties of a magistrate judge in this court include the following: (1) conduct preliminary proceedings in criminal cases; (2) trial and disposition of misdemeanor cases; (3) conduct various pretrial matters and evidentiary proceedings on delegation from a district judge; and (4) trial and disposition of civil cases upon consent of the litigants. Pursuant to D.C.COLO.LCivR 40.1(c), all full-time magistrate judges are included in the assignment of civil cases by random draw. Parties in cases assigned directly to a magistrate judge are required to indicate, through the filing of a consent form by a date certain, whether they accept or decline consent to magistrate judge jurisdiction. The basic authority of a United States magistrate judge is specified in 28 U.S.C. 636.
Written comments from members of the bar and the public are invited as to whether the incumbent magistrate judge should be recommended by the panel for reappointment by the court. All comments should be submitted electronically by email, or as a PDF attachment to an email, to the Office of the Clerk of Court: cod_magistratejudge_comments@cod.uscourts.gov
(cod_magistratejudge_comments@cod.uscourts.gov).
Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on June 25, 2021.
Download Judge Bain's Order
Order Regarding Safety in Colorado Courthouses
With the recent shift in federal and state guidance regarding mask and social distancing requirements, and given the inconsistency in local public health guidance throughout the pandemic, I am hereby entering this order to ensure safe operations in Colorado courthouses.
Safety is paramount in state court operations. Not only do our courthouses see a large volume of in person traffic, our necessary and critical operations compel attendance from members of the public for extended periods of time, Colorado courts should continue to err on the side of safety for assembly in both public and private areas to promote public safety and public confidence in our operations.
Accordingly, I hereby order that all persons continue to wear facial coverings in all public areas of courthouses and probation offices through June 18,2021.
Download Full Order
The Chief Judge is providing an update to the Judicial Officer list of those who may be contacted re: Criminal Settlement Conferences. Please see the list below. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
Additionally, please distribute the updated list to your colleagues and staff. Please be advised you will need to contact the division clerk for any of the judicial officers listed below to request the conference. Your email to any division clerk should include the defendant’s name and case number at the time of the request.
Settlement conferences judges:
Chief Judge Bain
Judge Henson
Judge Prince
Judge Grohs
Judge Bentley
Judge Werner
Judge Gilbert
Judge Billings-Vela
Judge D. Miller
Judge Mitchell-Helton
CJO 20-23 covers the confidentiality of these conferences.
