The Colorado Judicial Institute will honor 2nd District Judge Morris Hoffman, Jefferson County Judge Thomas Vance, and Denver Juvenile Court Magistrate Lisa Gomez as winners of the institute’s 2018 Judicial Excellence Awards. The annual awards are given to recognize innovation and effectiveness in Colorado’s state courts.
The CJI Awards committee chair Colorado Supreme Court Justice Michael Bender (retired) thanked the many nominators who submitted a nominee. “CJI wouldn’t hear about the dedicated, talented judges across our state without their participation in the awards process,” said Bender.
Hoffman, a graduate of the University of Colorado, has served in the 2nd Judicial District since 1990.
Vance graduated from the University of Denver and served as a Jefferson County magistrate for 10 years before becoming a Jefferson County judge in 2004.
Gomez was a guardian ad litem in the Denver courts before taking the bench in the Denver Juvenile Court three years ago.
In addition to the Judicial Excellence Awards, CJI will recognize outgoing judicial officers Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Nancy Rice and Colorado Court of Appeals Chief Judge Alan Loeb with Judicial Leadership Awards.
All five of this year’s honorees will be recognized at the Judicial Excellence for Colorado Dinner on Oct. 18, at the Hilton Denver City Center Hotel, 1701 California Street.
Firm Promotions
Lewis Bess Williams & Weese announced last week that it promoted Kate Field to the position of counsel.
Field practices in commercial litigation, advising and representing clients in disputes related to contracts, oil and gas and energy, real estate, employment, and business practices.
Prior to joining the firm in 2014, Field clerked for Justice Allison Eid on the Colorado Supreme Court, worked for large law firms in Chicago and Denver and served as a special assistant U.S. Attorney in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
Judicial Announcements
The 20th Judicial District Nominating Commission has nominated six candidates for two judgeships in Boulder County Court created by the retirements of judges Noel Blum and Karolyn Moore. Both vacancies will occur Jan. 8. Nominees Robert Gunning and Timothy Johnson, both of Louisville; Heather Kelly, Ryan Loewer and Zachary Malkinson, all of Boulder; and Kristy Martinez of Lafayette were selected in a meeting at the Boulder Combined Court on Aug. 21.
Under the Colorado Constitution, the governor has 15 days from Aug. 22, to appoint two of the nominees as county court judges for Boulder.
Comments regarding any of the nominees may be sent via e-mail to the governor at [email protected]
Applications are available for a 5th District Judgeship. The district’s nominating commission will meet Oct. 12 at the Eagle County Justice Center at 885 Chambers Ave. in Eagle to interview and select nominees for appointment by the governor to the office of district judge for the 5th Judicial District, which includes Eagle, Clear Creek, Lake and Summit counties.
The vacancies will be created by the retirements of Judges Frederick Gannett, effective Jan. 1, and Wayne Patton, effective Feb. 1.
Application forms and requirements for the judgeship are available from the office of the ex officio chair of the nominating commission, Justice William Hood, at 2 E. 14th Ave. in Denver and the office of the district administrator, Michael Pisciotta, at 885 Chambers Ave. in Eagle.
Applications also are available on the court’s home page at http://www.courts.state.co.us/Careers/Judge.cfm
The application must be emailed to the address listed in the instructions below no later than 4 p.m. Sept. 17. Any person wishing to suggest a candidate to fill the vacancy may do so by letter to be submitted to any member of the nominating commission, with a copy to the ex officio chair, no later than 4 p.m. Sept. 10.
The members of the nominating commission for the 5th Judicial District are: Heather Manolakas of Basalt; Michael Stewart of Evergreen; J.B. Katz, and Todd Rankin of Breckenridge; Margaret Welsh of Edwards; and Leslie Cook-Knerr and Michael Bordogna, of Leadville.
The 13th Judicial District Nominating Commission has nominated three candidates for a Morgan County court judgeship created by the by the retirement of Judge Michael Schingle, effective Jan. 8. Nominees Thor Bauer and Stephanie Gagliano of Fort Morgan, and Dennis Brandenburg of Snyder were selected in a meeting on Aug. 22, at the Morgan District Court in Fort Morgan.
Under the Colorado Constitution, the governor has 15 days from Aug. 23 to appoint one of the nominees as county court judge for Morgan County.
Comments regarding any of the nominees may be sent via email to the governor at [email protected].
CORRECTION
A story appearing in our Aug. 20 issue, “Competing Ballot Initiatives Could Open Legal Pandora’s Box,” misstated the nature of Crystal McDonough’s law practice. Her practice also includes an associate attorney, of counsel and a paralegal.