Gov. Jared Polis on April 9 appointed J. Chris Larson to the 20th Judicial District Court. The vacancy is created by the retirement of Judge Patrick Butler and is effective May 11.
Larson is an assistant U.S. attorney in the civil division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, a position he’s held since 2023. Previously, Larson was a deputy U.S. attorney from 2021 to 2023, executive assistant U.S. attorney from 2017 to 2021, assistant U.S. attorney, economic crimes from 2015 to 2017 and assistant U.S. attorney, financial fraud from 2010 to 2015 in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
Larson was also counsel, Office of the Assistant Attorney General, civil division from 2014 to 2015, senior trial counsel, Office of Foreign Litigation, civil division from 2009 to 2010 and senior trial counsel and trial attorney, civil fraud section, civil division from 2000 to 2009 at the U.S. Department of Justice. He was a law clerk for Judge George O’Toole, Jr. at the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts from 1999 to 2000.
Larson earned his bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University in 1991 and his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1999.