May 19, 2013

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Governor Hickenlooper Announces Appointments to Several Judicial Nominating Commissions

December 14, 2012 by Leave a Comment

On Thursday, December 13, 2012, Governor Hickenlooper announced appointments to the judicial nominating commissions for the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Eighteenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-Second judicial districts.

Each of Colorado’s 22 judicial districts has a nominating commission that selects nominees for appointment to judicial vacancies. The nominating commissions are comprised of  seven citizens residing in that judicial district. No more than four members can be from the same political party, and there must be at least one voting member from each county in the district. The members serve six-year terms.

For a complete list of the appointed members and information regarding their residence, affiliation, and the duration of their terms, click here or visit the governor’s website. Information about the judicial nominating commissions and an application for consideration for appointment may be found here.

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Governor Hickenlooper Announces Several Judicial Nominating Commission Appointments

April 13, 2012 by Leave a Comment

On Thursday, April 12, 2012, Governor John Hickenlooper announced several appointments to various Judicial Nominating Commissions. The appointments are to the Fourth, Ninth, Twelfth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth Judicial District Judicial Nominating Commissions and the Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission.

Colorado’s twenty-two judicial districts each have judicial district nominating commissions that select nominees for district and county judicial vacancies. Each district nominating commission is chaired by a justice of the Supreme Court, who is a non-voting member of the commission.

Commission members serve six-year terms. Non-lawyers, who are the majority of every nominating commission, are appointed by the governor. Lawyer members are appointed by joint action of the governor, attorney general, and chief justice.

The member appointed to the Fourth Judicial District Judicial Nominating Commission for a term expiring December 31, 2017 is:

  • Kenneth Michael Valdez of Colorado Springs, to serve as a non-attorney and as a Republican from El Paso County.

The members appointed to the Ninth Judicial District Judicial Nominating Commission for terms expiring December 31, 2017 are:

  • Sharon Merlene Day of Meeker, to serve as a non-attorney and as a Republican from Rio Blanco County.
  • Anna Smith of Meeker, to serve as a non-attorney and as a Republican from Rio Blanco County.
  • Julie Goldstein of Basalt, to serve as a non-attorney and as a Democrat from Pitkin County.

The member appointed to the Twelfth Judicial District Judicial Nominating Commission for a term expiring December 31, 2017 is:

  • Kimberly A. Lookis of San Luis, to serve as a non-attorney and as a Democrat from Costilla County.

The member appointed to the Fourteenth Judicial District Judicial Nominating Commission for a term expiring December 31, 2017 is:

  • Kelly Lee Weimer of Granby, to serve as a non-attorney and as a Republican from Grand County.

The members appointed to the Fifteenth Judicial District Judicial Nominating Commission for terms expiring December 31, 2017 are:

  • Staci Faye Bishop of Springfield, to serve as a non-attorney and as a Republican from Baca County.
  • Linda Rae Lusk of Springfield, to serve as a non-attorney and as a Democrat from Baca County.
  • Christian Paul Tallman of Brandon, to serve as a non-attorney and as a Republican from Cheyenne County.

The member appointed to the Nineteenth Judicial District Judicial Nominating Commission for a term expiring November 30, 2013 is:

  • Donna Sapienza of Greeley, to serve as a non-attorney and as a Democrat from Weld County.

The member appointed to the Twentieth Judicial District Judicial Nominating Commission for a term expiring December 31, 2017 is:

  • Rex Thomas Moody of Longmont, to serve as a non-attorney and as an Unaffiliated from Boulder County.

The Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission recommends candidates to serve as judges for the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals. The chief justice of the Supreme Court chairs the commission and is a non-voting member. This commission includes one citizen admitted to practice law in Colorado and one citizen not admitted to practice law residing in each of the state’s seven congressional districts, and one additional citizen not admitted to practice law in Colorado. The members appointed for terms expiring December 31, 2017:

  • Ann Elizabeth Hendrickson of Broomfield, to serve as a non-attorney and as a Republican from Broomfield County.
  • Olivia Mendoza of Lakewood, to serve as a non-attorney and as a Democrat from Jefferson County.

Click here to read the full announcement from the Governor’s Office.

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Governor Hickenlooper Appoints Keefe as County Judge in Fifteenth Judicial District

October 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment

On Friday, October 7, 2011, Governor John Hickenlooper announced his appointment of Gerald Keefe to serve as a county court judge in the Fifteenth Judicial District, which serves Cheyenne, Kiowa, Prowers, and Baca counties. His appointment is effective November 1.

Keefe is an educator who has worked as superintendent of schools for the Kit Carson R-1 School District since 1994. He also serves as a member of the Colorado Association of School Executives and was the Chair of the Colorado Rural Schools Caucus from 2004-2010.

Keefe earned both his bachelor’s degree and his master’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado. Keefe is not an attorney. He has lived in Cheyenne Wells for 54 years.

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Application Period Open for Forty-Five Vacancies on Judicial Nominating Commissions

September 15, 2011 by Leave a Comment

On behalf of Governor John Hickenlooper, Attorney General John Suthers, and Chief Justice Michael L. Bender, the Colorado Judicial Branch announced on Thursday, September 15, 2011, the opening of the application period for forty-five vacancies on judicial nominating commissions across the state.

Some positions are open now, but the majority of vacancies will occur when current commissioners’ six-year terms end December 31, 2011. All commissioners serve as volunteers. Applications are due on or before October 14.

Thirty-two vacancies must be filled by non-attorneys selected by the Governor. Thirteen vacancies must be filled by attorneys selected by joint action of the Governor, Attorney General, and Chief Justice. Vacancies will occur in twenty judicial district nominating commissions.

Each judicial district in Colorado has a nominating commission comprised of three attorneys and four non-attorneys who are tasked with selecting nominees for appointment to county and district judgeships. The Supreme Court Nominating Commission is made up of seven attorneys, seven non-attorneys, and one non-attorney at-large member. Each of Colorado’s seven Congressional Districts is represented by one attorney and one non-attorney on the Supreme Court Nominating Commission, which selects nominees for positions on the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.

Application forms for vacancies on the various commissions can be found here. Completed application forms should be mailed to Romaine Pacheco, Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions, 136 State Capitol Bldg., Denver, Colorado 80203.  They also can be faxed to (303) 866-6368 or sent by e-mail to boards@state.co.us.

Article VI, Section 24 of the Colorado Constitution requires that for any nominating commission, “no more than one-half of the commission members plus one, exclusive of the Supreme Court justice serving as ex officio chair, shall be members of the same political party.” The Constitution also requires that at least one commissioner reside in each of the counties of the district. Applicants must reside in the judicial district – or, for the Supreme Court Nominating Commission, the congressional district – to which they are applying for appointment.

Here is a list of upcoming nominating commission attorney vacancies along with any applicable residency and political-affiliation requirements:

  • First Judicial District: One vacancy.
  • Second Judicial District: One vacancy. Appointee cannot be a registered Democrat.
  • Fourth Judicial District: One vacancy. This commission also will have one non-attorney vacancy. Only one position may be filled by a registered Democrat.
  • Fifth Judicial District: One vacancy. This commission also will have two non-attorney vacancies. One of the positions must be filled by a resident of Eagle County, one other by a resident of Lake County.
  • Sixth Judicial District: One vacancy. This commission also will have one non-attorney vacancy. One of the positions must be filled by a resident of San Juan County.
  • Seventh Judicial District: One vacancy. Appointee must reside in Ouray County.
  • Ninth Judicial District: One vacancy. This commission also will have one non-attorney vacancy. One appointee must be a resident of Rio Blanco County and one a resident of Pitkin County.
  • Thirteenth Judicial District: One vacancy. This commission also will have three non-attorney vacancies. One appointee must be a resident of Yuma County, one a resident of Phillips County, one a resident of Sedgwick County, and one a resident of Logan County.
  • Fourteenth Judicial District: Two vacancies.
  • Sixteenth Judicial District: One vacancy. Appointee cannot be a registered Democrat.
  • Nineteenth Judicial District: One vacancy.
  • Supreme Court: One vacancy. Appointee must be a resident of the Fifth Congressional District.

Here is a list of non-attorney vacancies, along with any applicable residency and political-affiliation requirements:

  • Second Judicial District: Two vacancies. Neither may be filled by a registered Democrat.
  • Third Judicial District: Two vacancies.
  • Fourth Judicial District: One vacancy. This commission also will have one attorney vacancy. Only one position may be filled by a registered Democrat.
  • Fifth Judicial District: Two vacancies. This commission also will have one attorney vacancy. One of the positions must be filled by a resident of Eagle County, one other by a resident of Lake County.
  • Sixth Judicial District: One vacancy. This commission also will have one attorney vacancy. One of the positions must be filled by a resident of San Juan County.
  • Eighth Judicial District: One vacancy. Appointee must not be a registered Democrat.
  • Ninth Judicial District: Three vacancies. This commission also will have one attorney vacancy. At least one appointee must be a resident of Rio Blanco County and one a resident of Pitkin County.
  • Tenth Judicial District: Two vacancies. Neither may be filled by a registered Democrat.
  • Eleventh Judicial District: One vacancy.
  • Twelfth Judicial District: Two vacancies. One appointee must be a resident of Mineral County and one a resident of Costilla County.
  • Thirteenth Judicial District: Three vacancies. This commission also will have one attorney vacancy. One appointee must be a resident of Yuma County, one a resident of Phillips County, one a resident of Sedgwick County, and one a resident of Logan County.
  • Fourteenth Judicial District: Two vacancies.
  • Fifteenth Judicial District: Two vacancies.
  • Nineteenth Judicial District: One vacancy.
  • Twentieth Judicial District: One vacancy. Appointee cannot be a registered Democrat.
  • Twenty-First Judicial District: Two vacancies. Neither appointee may be a registered Democrat.
  • Twenty-Second Judicial District: One vacancy. Appointee must be a resident of Dolores County.
  • Supreme Court: Two vacancies. One appointee must be a resident of the Second Congressional District and the other a resident of the Seventh Congressional District.

Click here to read the full release about the commission vacancies from State Judicial.

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Judge Clifford E. Mays to Resign from the Cheyenne County Court Bench

August 9, 2011 by 1 Comment

The Fifteenth Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet at the Cheyenne County Courthouse (51 S. 1st Street, Cheyenne Wells, CO 80810) on Tuesday, September 20, 2011, to interview and select nominees for appointment by Governor Hickenlooper to the office of county court judge for Cheyenne County. The vacancy will be created by the resignation of the Honorable Clifford E. Mays on November 1, 2011. Judge Mays has served the county since 2002.

Eligible applicants for appointment to fill the vacancy must be qualified electors of Cheyenne County. Applications must be received by Wednesday, September 7. The appointed county court judge will serve an initial provisional term of two years before facing a retention election. Retained judges serve four-year terms.

Further information about the resignation of Judge Mays and applying for the vacancy is available from the Colorado Judicial Branch.

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Judge W. Michael Porter of Baca County Voted Out

November 5, 2010 by Leave a Comment

As reported by Law Week Colorado, Fifteenth Judicial District Judge W. Michael Porter was not retained in Tuesday’s retention election by a slim margin. He received a unanimous recommendation in favor of retention by the district judicial performance commission.

With only military and overseas ballots to be counted as of Thursday, Judge Porter has received 50.8% of votes against his retention. Judge Porter had been retained in three previous elections since his appointment to the court in 1995. He will serve out his term on the bench, which ends on January 11, 2011.

The Fifteenth Judicial District nominating commission will convene to recommend replacements to outgoing Governor Bill Ritter, who will appoint Judge Porter’s replacement. The nominating commission is comprised of four Republicans and three Democrats.

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