Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey announced late Thursday her intention to step down from the high court bench this November, ending her time as the longest-seated and first female chief justice in Colorado history.
Of her November 30 retirement, Chief Justice Mullarkey remarked:
I have considered it a great honor to serve in these capacities. The highest calling for any attorney is public service. That has always been my goal. I feel incredibly honored and incredibly fortunate to be able to serve as a justice on the Colorado Supreme Court.
Chief among her reasons for retiring after a long career marked by accomplishment, is a desire to spend time with her grandchild and her recently retired husband. Chief Justice Mullarkey was appointed to the Colorado Supreme Court in 1987 by Gov. Roy Romer, following a high-profile legal career in the public sector. She served in the Colorado’s attorney general’s office as an appellate lawyer, was a legal adviser to Gov. Dick Lamm, and became Colorado’s solicitor general before joining the Colorado Supreme Court. She was appointed chief justice by her supreme court colleagues in 1998.
This morning’s Denver Post has a review of some of the court’s most notable opinions issued during Chief Justice Mullarkey’s time on the bench, as well as a look back at her distinguished legal career.
The Supreme Court Nominating Commission will meet this summer to review applicants and submit the names of three candidates to Gov. Ritter. The governor will then name his appointee within 15 days. New supreme court justices serve an initial term of two years. Thereafter, their retention is put to the voters in state general elections.
As for filling the chief justice vacancy created by Chief Justice Mullarkey’s retirement, that is a task for the remaining members of the supreme court. They will privately caucus and appoint from amongst themselves a successor.
(image source: State Judicial)
