Table 24: Ninth Judicial District Judges and Magistrates
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Name of Judge
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Telephone
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Case
Links
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Comments
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District Judges
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James Berkley Boyd
Chief Judge
Pitkin County-Aspen
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(970) 928-3065
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Appointed district court judge January 2003.
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Stood for retention in 2006. 97% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2012.
EJF recommendation: 94% Retain
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Stood for retention again in 2018.
EJF recommendation: Marginal
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This time only 84% of attorneys voted to Retain and 90% voted Do Not Retain.
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T. Peter Craven
Garfield County
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Died in 2006.
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Denise Lynch
Garfield County-Glenwood
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(970) 928-3065
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Appointed district court judge in 2006.
Replaced T. Peter Craven
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Stood for retention in 2008.
96% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2014. 79% Retain.
EJF recommendation: Marginal
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Stood for retention in 2020.
EJF recommendation: Retain
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86% of attorneys voted to Retain while 8% voted Do Not Retain.
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Gail Nichols
Garfield County-Glenwood
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Stepped down from bench October 31, 2015.
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Appointed district court judge in 2008.
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Stood for retention in 2010.
100% Retain.
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John Neiley
Garfield, Pitkin, & Rio Grande counties
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(970) 928-3065
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Appointed district court judge July 1, 2013, by Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia. Formerly in private practice (civil litigation).
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Stood for retention in 2016.
EJF recommendation: 100%
Retain
A good transition from private practice to the bench.
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Stood for retention again in 2022.
EJF recommendation: Retain
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94% of attorneys voted to Retain and only 3% voted Do Not Retain.
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Anne K. Norrdin
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(970) 928-3095
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Appointed district judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in October 2016. Previously deputy district attorney in 9
th
Judicial District.
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Stood for retention in 2018.
EJF recommendation: Marginal
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83% of attorneys voted to Retain and 6% voted Do Not Retain.
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Thomas W. Ossola
Garfield County
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No longer on bench as of February 2007 but remains a senior judge as of September 2020.
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Daniel B. Petre
Garfield County-Glenwood
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Retired in October 2016. He won't be missed.
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Appointed district court judge November 2004. Promoted from magistrate.
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Stood for retention in 2006. 94% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2012.
EJF recommendation: 34%
Do Not Retain & only 66% Retain
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2012DR96
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Biased against men. Slow and consistently late for proceedings. Frequently cancels/reschedules hearings.
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Christopher G. Seldin
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(970) 925-7635
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Appointed district court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in November 2015. Previously assistant Pitkin County attorney.
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Stood for retention in 2018.
EJF recommendation:
Retain
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Judge Seldin has made a successful transition to the bench and 100% of attorneys voted to Retain him.
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Top
County Judges
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Ashley Andrews
Pitkin County
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970-925-7635
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Polis. Stepped up to bench on November 1, 2021.
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Stephen L. Carter (Atty)
Garfield County - Rifle
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No longer on bench as of February 2007
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Joe Fennnessy
Rio Blanco County
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(970) 878-5622
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Appointed county judge by Gov. Polis on August 22, 2020, Previously in private practice.
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Stood for retention in 2022.
EJF recommendation:
Do Not Retain
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Only 67% of attorneys voted to Retain. Remarkably, there were no votes against him.
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Erin Fernandez-Ely
Pitkin County-Aspen
Showed marked lack of respect for the Constitution EJF was not enthusiastic about her performance and ability.
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Retired as of November 1, 2021. Replaced by Judge Andrews.
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Appointed county court judge January 2000.
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Stood for retention in 2002.
Only 76% of attorneys voted to retain.
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Stood for retention in 2006. 92% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2010. 86% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2014.
EJF recommendation: 91% Retain
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Stood for retention again in 2018.
EJF recommendation:
100% Retain
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July 2006
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Imposed bail of $1 million for misdemeanor charges involving harassment, menacing, and violating a restraining order without regard to the Eighth Amendment.
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Jason D. Jovanovich
Garfield County
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No longer on bench as of September 2012.
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Paul Metzger
Garfield County-Glenwood
An exceptional 20-year career on the bench.
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Retired in October 2022. Replaced by Angela Roff.
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Appointed county court judge in August 2002.
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Stood for retention in 2006.
100% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2010.
98% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2014.
EJF recommendation: 96%
Retain
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Stood for retention again in 2018.
EJF recommendation:
100% Retain
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Laurie A. Noble
Rio Blanco County
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Retired July 2, 2020, after 28 years on the bench.
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Appointed county court judge in 1992.
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Stood for retention in 1998.
100% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2002. 80% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2006.
100% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2008. 65% rating.
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Stood for retention in 2010. 89% retain.
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Stood for retention in 2014.
EJF recommendation: Retain 88%
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Stood for retention yet again in 2016.
EJF recommendation:
Retain 100%
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Stood for retention in Rio Blanco County again in 2018.
EJF recommendation:
100% Retain
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Jonathan B. Pototsky
Garfield County - Rifle
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(970) 625-5100
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Appointed county court judge in December 2010.
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Stood for retention in 2014.
EJF recommendation: 94% Retain
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Stood for retention again in 2018.
EJF recommendation:
100% Retain
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Stood for retention again in 2022.
EJF recommendation: Retain
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This time just 89% of attorneys voted to Retain but only 4% voted Do Not Retain.
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Angela Roff
Garfield County
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Polis on August 25, 2022 and she takes the bench on October 1
st
. She replaced Judge Metzger.
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Gerard C. Viscardi
Rio Blanco County
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No longer on bench as of July 2009
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Top
Magistrates
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Ruben M. Hernandez
Glen Wood Springs
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No longer on bench as of September 2012.
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Lain Leoniak
Garfield County
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Appointed in 2007.
No longer on bench as of September 2012.
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January
2008
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An 11-year-old boy bumped his head playing and Leoniak insanely launched a full-scale SWAT team attack on the family.
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Daniel B. Petre
Garfield County
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Promoted to district judge in November 2004.
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Susan Ryan
Water Referee
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No longer on bench as of October 2022.
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Jonathan Shamis
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970-928-3065
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Holly Strablizky
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No longer on bench as of October 2018.
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