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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Judith LaBuda Appointed as District Court Judge in Twentieth Judicial District

May 21, 2012 by 1 Comment

On Friday, May 18, 2012, Governor John Hickenlooper announced his appointment of Judith LaBuda to serve as a district court judge in the Twentieth Judicial District, which serves Boulder County. LaBuda will fill a vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable James C. Klein on June 30.

LaBuda, of Niwot, currently serves as the Senior Assistant Attorney General at the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, where she is general counsel to the Division of Insurance, Commissioner of Insurance, and the State Personnel Board. Previously, LaBuda spent 18 years practicing family law.

LaBuda earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her law degree from the University of Colorado Law School.

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Finalists Selected to Fill Judgeship on Twentieth Judicial District Court

May 9, 2012 by 1 Comment

The Twentieth Judicial District Nominating Commission has nominated three candidates for a district court judgeship created by the retirement of the Honorable James C. Klein, effective June 30, 2012.

The nominees for the bench are David Cheval of Boulder, Judy LaBuda of Niwot, and Bruce Langer of Superior. All candidates were selected by the commission on May 7.

Under the Colorado Constitution, Governor Hickenlooper has until May 23 to appoint one of the nominees to the position of District Court Judge for the Twentieth Judicial District (Boulder County).

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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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Judge James Klein to Retire from Twentieth Judicial District Bench

March 14, 2012 by 2 Comments

The Twentieth Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet May 7, 2012 to interview and select nominees for appointment by Governor Hickenlooper to the office of District Judge for the Twentieth Judicial District (Boulder County).  The vacancy will be created by the retirement of the Honorable James C. Klein on June 30, 2012.

Judge Klein is a fourth generation Colorado native and has served on the Twentieth Judicial District bench since August 2005. From 1988-1991, Judge Klein was in private practice in Denver. In July 1991, Judge Klein joined the Colorado Attorney General’s office as an Assistant Attorney General where his practice focused primarily on workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance related matters. In 1994, Judge Klein was hired by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Division of Workers’ Compensation to serve as a Prehearing Administrative Law Judge in its Dispute Resolution Unit. In September 2002, Judge Klein was hired by the Colorado Department of Personnel and Administration to serve as an Administrative Law Judge in its Workers’ Compensation Unit.

Eligible applicants for appointment to fill the vacancy must be qualified electors of the Twentieth Judicial District and must be admitted to the practice of law in Colorado for five years. Applications must be received by Friday, April 13. The appointed district court judge will serve an initial provisional term of two years before facing a retention election. Retained judges serve six-year terms.

Further information about applying for the vacancy is available here from the Colorado Judicial Branch.

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Governor Hickenlooper Appoints Zenisek to First Judicial District Court

December 23, 2011 by 1 Comment

On Wednesday, December 21, 2011, Governor John Hickenlooper announced his appointment of Christopher Clayton Zenisek to serve as a district court judge in the First Judicial District, serving Jefferson and Gilpin counties. The appointment is effective immediately.

Zenisek will fill the vacancy created by the appointment of the Honorable Brian Boatright to the Colorado Supreme Court.

Zenisek, of Golden, currently serves as an Assistant District Attorney for the Twentieth Judicial District, a position he has held since 2009. Previously, Zenisek worked an associate at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, P.C., and served as a law clerk for United States District Judge Lewis Babcock. Zenisek earned his bachelor’s degree from University of Colorado and his law degree from the University of Denver.

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Colorado Civil Access Pilot Project: Changes to Included/Excluded Actions

October 18, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The Colorado Supreme Court has amended the Chief Justice Directive that outlines the implementation of the Civil Access Pilot Project. As of October 2011, an amended Appendix A has been included in CJD 11-02. The Appendix describes the types of cases that will be included in the program, and those that will be excluded.

The revised Chief Justice Directive with the updated list of included and excluded actions can be found here.

The Civil Access Pilot Project is an attempt by State Judicial to revamp the discovery process and reduce the expense of civil litigation in certain business actions. The Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure concerning pleading, discovery, and trial management have been modified for the cases falling within the realm of the project.

The pilot project is scheduled to last two years, unless extended by the Court.

CJD 11-02 – “Adopting Pilot Rules for Certain District Court Civil Cases”

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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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Governor Hickenlooper Appoints Butler as District Judge in Boulder County

September 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment

On Wednesday, September 7, 2011, Governor John Hickenlooper announced his appointment of Patrick Daniel Butler to serve as a district judge in the Twentieth Judicial District, which serves Boulder County. Butler will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Lael Montgomery and his appointment will be effective October 1.

Butler is from Superior and currently serves as a magistrate in the Eighteenth Judicial District, where he has worked since 2009. He presides over a civil docket comprised primarily of domestic law, county and small claims civil disputes, protection orders, child support enforcement, compliance reviews, sentencing, juvenile, traffic, and probate.

Previously, Butler worked in private practice and was a partner at Lamm & Butler, where his work focused on civil and criminal cases. He was also an instructor of law at Kaplan College in Thornton and co-authored the article The Ten Commandments of Being Deposed. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Keene State College and his law degree from Gonzaga University.

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

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Finalists Selected to Fill Judgeship in Twentieth Judicial District

August 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The Twentieth Judicial District Nominating Commission has nominated three candidates for a district court judgeship created by the retirement of the Honorable Lael Montgomery, effective October 1, 2011.

The nominees for the bench are Geraldine Brimmer, of Boulder, and Patrick Butler and Bruce Langer, both of Superior. All were selected by the commission on August 22.

Under the Colorado Constitution, Governor Hickenlooper has until September 7 to appoint one of the nominees as district court judge for the Twentieth Judicial District, which serves Boulder County.

Comments regarding any of the nominees can be emailed to the Governor’s Office.

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Pilot Rules for Certain District Court Civil Cases Adopted by Colorado Supreme Court

July 27, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Following the Colorado Supreme Court’s approval of the Civil Access Pilot Project, the Court has issued a new Chief Justice Directive to implement the rules outlined by the project. These revised rules are an attempt by the Court to study if the control of the discovery process reduces the expense of civil litigation in certain business actions.

In order for the project to be implemented successfully, the Court has determined that the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure concerning the pleading, discovery, and trial management of certain cases must be modified.

All of the new rules are outlined in CJD 11-02.

The rules contained therein are effective January 1, 2012 and will be applicable to cases filed on or after that date. The rules are adopted for use in the designated cases in the First, Second, Seventeenth, Eighteenth, and Twentieth Judicial Districts.

The pilot project is scheduled to last two years and apply to all applicable cases filed in the pilot districts up to December 31, 2013 or until further order of the court.

The effect of the pilot project will be studied by the Institute for the Advancement of the
American Legal System (IAALS), working at the request of the Court. IAALS will issue a report
on the effect of the project upon the conclusion of the two year period.

CJD 11-02 – “Adopting Pilot Rules for Certain District Court Civil Cases”

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Judge Lael Montgomery to Retire from Twentieth Judicial District Bench

July 11, 2011 by 1 Comment

The Twentieth Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet at the Boulder County Combined Court on August. 22, 2011, to interview and select nominees for appointment by Governor Hickenlooper to the office of district judge for the Twentieth Judicial District, which serves Boulder County.  The vacancy will be created by the retirement of the Honorable Lael E. Montgomery on October 1.

Eligible applicants for appointment to fill the vacancy must be qualified electors of the Twentieth Judicial District and must have been admitted to the practice of law in Colorado for five years. The appointed district court judge will serve an initial provisional term of two years before facing a retention election. Retained judges serve six-year terms.

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

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