Chief Judge Order 21-06

Court Operations beginning May 6, 2021

El Paso County Court judge finalists selected

Governor to appoint new county court judge

            The Fourth Judicial District Nominating Commission has nominated three candidates for an El Paso County Court judgeship created by the appointment to the District Court of the Hon. Laura Findorff. The vacancy occurred on April 1, 2021. Nominees Marika Frady, Steven Katzman and Amanda Philipps, all of Colorado Springs, were selected in a meeting on April 21, 2021.

              Under the Colorado Constitution, the governor has 15 days from April 22, 2021, within which to appoint one of the nominees as county court judge for El Paso County.

              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 three nominees

• Marika Frady, 407 S. Tejon St., Ste. K, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, 719-471-4791
• Steven Katzman, 320 S. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903, 719-578-1183
• Amanda Philipps, 30 E. Pikes Peak Ave., Ste. 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, 719-475-1235, Ext. 6828

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Help CJI Recognize Colorado's Outstanding Judicial Officers!

Please join the Colorado Judicial Institute in celebrating Colorado’s outstanding jurists by nominating a judge or magistrate and by helping spread the word about the Judicial Excellence Awards. The only way CJI finds out about the talented, hardworking jurists across our state is by hearing from people like you!

Nominations and the names of nominators are kept strictly confidential.

Submit Your Nominations Online

Congratulations to Judge Findorff!

Governor Jared Polis appointed Laura Norris Findorff to the District Court of the 4th Judicial District on March 11, 2021. This judgeship is created by the retirement of the Honorable Robert L. Lowrey. The appointment is effective April 1, 2021.

Findorff is currently a County Court Judge in El Paso County, a position she has held since 2013. Judge Findorff serves on the 4th JD Civil Pro Bono Committee. Previously, Findorff was a Magistrate in the 18th Judicial District (2009-2012); Legal Research Attorney in the 18th Judicial District (2008-2009); Of Counsel at Haskins & Cyboron (2006-2007); Senior Editor at LexisNexis (2001-2006); Law Clerk at Gentry & Haskins (2001); Adjunct Professor at Pikes Peak Community College (2000-2001); Research Attorney at Spence, Moriarity & Schuster in Jackson, Wyoming (1997-2000); Senior Associate Attorney at Cummins & White in Newport Beach, California (1992-1997); Associate at Gilbert, Kelly, Crowley & Jennett in Orange, California (1989-1992); and a Staff Member at Deloitte & Touche in Irvine, CA (1988-1989). Findorff earned her B.B.A. from the University of San Diego in 1984 and her J.D. from the University of San Diego in 1988.

Download Order Here 

Check out this helpful Colorado State guideline https://www.courts.state.co.us/.../VirtualSess.../story.html

Governor to appoint new district court judge

              The Fourth Judicial District Nominating Commission has nominated three candidates for a district court judgeship created by the retirement of the Hon. Robert L. Lowrey. The vacancy will occur on April 1, 2021. Nominees Yolanda Fennick and Laura Findorff, both of Colorado Springs; and Brian Fields of Black Forest were selected by the commission on Feb. 23, 2021.

              Under the Colorado Constitution, the governor has 15 days from Feb. 24, 2021, within which to appoint one of the nominees as district court judge for the Fourth Judicial District (El Paso and Teller counties).

              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 three nominees

• Yolanda Fennick, 422 E. Vermijo, #302, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, 719-219-6250
• Brian Fields, 1200 Federal Blvd., Denver, CO 80223, 720-944-6450
• Laura Findorff, 270 S. Tejon St., Div. F, Colorado Springs, CO 80903, 719-452-5362

Download Announcement Here

The Colorado Supreme Court has proposed amendments to the rules and regulations governing continuing legal and judicial education in Colorado. The Colorado Supreme Court will conduct a hearing on the proposed rules and regulations on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 3:30 p.m. via WebEx.  Written comments on the proposed changes should be sent to Cheryl Stevens, Clerk of the Colorado Supreme Court, at 2 E. 14^th Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80203 or emailed to cheryl.stevens@judicial.state.co.us.  Persons wishing to speak at the hearing should notify Ms. Stevens by email cheryl.stevens@judicial.state.co.us or by telephone 720-625-5150.  All comments and speaking requests must be received no later than Monday, March 29, 2021 at 4 p.m. For more information regarding the proposed amendments, click here .

In summary, those amendments to the CLE rules and regulations include, in part, the following:

• Colorado attorneys will still be required to complete 45 credit hours of CLE in each three-year compliance period. The new amendment will require that at least seven credit hours be devoted to a broader category of professional responsibility, rather than the more narrow category of legal ethics.
• The broader category of professional responsibility would include legal ethics, legal professionalism, and equity, diversity and inclusivity (“EDI”).
• Starting with CLE compliance periods that end December 31, 2023, Colorado attorneys would need to complete at least two credit hours in EDI and at least five credit hours in legal ethics or legal professionalism.
• The regulations will define what content is needed for programs to be accredited in legal ethics, legal professionalism, and EDI.
• The regulations also expand the definition of law practice management programming to include technology and leadership relating to the practice of law.

Effective January 1, 2021, the Supreme Court amended Colo RPC 1.5 and rescinded Colo RPC 23.3 with new provisions for contingent fee agreements and a new form disbursement statement, which together with the form agreement can be downloaded in Word here.