Volunteer for the CWBA's Judicial Committee

The CWBA actively engages in the decisions to appoint Colorado judges. Volunteers are needed to conduct 30-minute interviews with judicial candidates seeking endorsement from the CWBA. If you are interested in volunteering on our Judicial Committee or for more information about the commitment and process, please email our committee co-chairs Rachel Burkhart and Rebecca Cohn.

Click here to read our revised Judicial Endorsement Policies.

Did you miss our Judicial Endorsement Process and Volunteer Training? Click here to access the video recording.

COMMENTS REQUEST - JUDICIAL FINALISTS

Second Judicial District - (Denver County)

Three Finalists Selected for One Vacancy

Submit Comments by 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 13, 2025

The 2nd Judicial District Nominating Commission has nominated three candidates for its District Court judgeship vacancy created by the resignation of the Hon. Darryl F. Shockley, effective February 1, 2025.

The three nominees are:

Ian J. Kellogg

Mr. Kellogg is a Trial Attorney for the Securities and Exchange Commission, a position he has held since 2022. His practice consists of civil and federal securities matters. Previously, he was an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office (2014-2022); Associate Attorney at Morrison & Foerster (2011-2014); Associate Attorney at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck (2008-2011), and Law Clerk for Judge Neil Gorsuch, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit (2007-2008). Mr. Kellogg earned his B.A. degree from Gonzaga University in 1999 and his J.D. degree from Stanford Law School in 2007.

Jason B. Robinson

Mr. Robinson is currently the Director of Complex Commercial, Environmental, and Business Litigation at Fairfield and Woods, P.C., a position he has held since 2009. His practice consists of civil matters. Previously, he was an Associate Attorney at Temkin Wielga Hardt & Longenecker LLP (2003-2009); Associate Attorney at The Beatty Law Firm (2001-2003); and Law Clerk for the Honorable Edward Nottingham (2000-2001). Mr. Robinson earned his B.A. degree from Truman State University in 1997 and his J.D. degree from Washington University School of Law in 2000.

Jerad A. West

Mr. West is a Partner at Lambdin & Chaney, LLP, a position he has held since 2014. His practice consists of civil matters. Previously, he was an Associate at Lambdin & Chaney, LLP (2007-2014). Mr. West earned his B.S. degree from Central Washington University in 1998 and his J.D. degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 2007.

GUIDANCE FOR SUBMITTING COMMENTS

Now more than ever, member comments are critical to informing the CWBA Executive Committee’s decision on whether to endorse a nominee. We therefore strongly encourage all CWBA members to submit comments on the above-listed nominees. Please note, all comments will be anonymized and then compiled into a document that is sent to the Governor’s Office along with the CWBA’s endorsement decision. Even if you have submitted comments about one of the nominees in the past, please resubmit them again.

In particular, the CWBA Judicial Committee encourages you to submit comments regarding the above nominees’ qualifications in the following areas:

1. Experience;
2. Legal ability;
3. Reputation for fairness and integrity;
4. Judicial temperament;
5. Treatment of women;
6. Treatment of people of color and/or members of historically marginalized groups
7. Dedication to goals consistent with the CWBA’s stated purposes, including: (a) to encourage the advancement of women in the law, (b) to promote the highest standards of the legal profession, (c) to advance justice, and (d) to promote, advance, and protect the interests and welfare of women, and;
8. All other qualifications that are consistent with the stated purposes of the CWBA.

PLEASE USE OUR ONLINE COMMENT SUBMISSION PROCESS 

 Please click here to submit your comments  on or before 

5 p.m. on Thursday, February 13, 2025.

APPLY NOW - JUDICIAL VACANCIES

Denver County Court Vacancy

Apply by February 24, 2025

The Denver County Court Judicial Nomination Commission is accepting applications from qualified attorneys to fill one vacancy for the Denver County Court Bench. The Commission is anticipated to meet in March 2025 to interview and select nominees for appointment by Mayor Mike Johnston. The vacancy is created by the retirement of the Hon. Clarisse Gonzales of the Denver County Court Bench.

Applicants for the position must be qualified electors of the City and County of Denver at the time of application, be licensed as an attorney at law in the State of Colorado, and have a minimum of five years’ experience as a licensed practicing attorney. The starting annual salary for this position is $222,221.79. Each appointment will be for a provisional term of two years with retention for a regular four-year term determined at the first November General Election after the provisional term.

The completed application must be emailed to dccjudicialapplications@denvercountycourt.org no later than Monday, February 24th at 5:00 pm. Late applications will not be considered. Applications will be kept confidential except that the Nomination Commission shall publicly disclose the names of those nominees submitted to the Mayor, and the nominees’ full applications will be forwarded to the Mayor.

Members of the Denver County Court Judicial Nomination Commission include the following: Michelle DeVoe, Kristin Bronson, Jack Finlaw, Janice Sinden, Patricia Cortez, Simon Tafoya, Nathaniel Easley, and Presiding Judge Kerri Lombardi (Ex-Officio).

Click here for more information.

18th Judicial District - Arapahoe County Court Vacancy

Apply by 4 p.m. on February 19, 2025

The 18th Judicial District Nominating Commission invites qualified electors to apply for its Arapahoe County Court judicial vacancy. The vacancy was created by the appointment of the Hon. Joshua J. Williford to the 18th Judicial District Court bench. The vacancy occurred on January 31, 2025.

Applicants must be qualified electors of Arapahoe County at the time of investiture and have been admitted to the practice of law in Colorado. The current annual salary for this position is $190,245. (Click to learn about Colorado benefits for judicial careers.) The initial term of office of a county court judge is a provisional term of two years; thereafter, the incumbent county judge, if retained by the voters, has a term of four years.

The application form and any other documents (i.e., cover letter, personal statement, reference letters) should be saved as a single, searchable PDF. You may submit letters of reference from not less than three and no more than five individuals who are able to comment upon your qualifications for a judicial position. Your application materials should be sent via email with your name and 5th JD Summit County Court in the subject line, attaching your materials, no later than 4 p.m. Wednesday, February 19, 2025, to the following email address: judicial.applicants@judicial.state.co.us.

The members of the nominating commission for the 18th Judicial District are: M. Michael Cooke of Englewood; Emily Valdez and Hope Szypulski of Centennial; and Eric Nesbitt, Becky Hogan, MariaJose Delgado, and Thomas Hernandez, all of Aurora.

Click here for more information.

#ShineYourTruth

Colorado Women's Bar Association

P.O. Box 1918

Denver, CO 80201

(303) 831-1040

CWBA.org

execdir@cwba.org