Table 28: Thirteenth Judicial District Judges
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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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Stephanie M. G. Gagliano
AKA “Stevie”
Division A
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970-522-6565
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Appointed district court judge by Gov. Polis in May 2019. Formerly a municipal judge for Log Lane Village and the Town of Otis since January of 2013
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Stood for retention in 2022.
EJF recommendation:
Do Not Retain
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Only 69% of attorneys voted to Retain while 23% voted Do Not Retain.
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Justin B. Haenlein
Division E
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719-346-5524
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Appointed on December 3, 2021, by Gov. Polis. Previously in private practice.
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Stood for retention in 2024.
EJF recommendation: Retain
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94% of attorneys voted to Retain and just 6% voted Do Not Retain.
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Charles M. Hobbs
Division C
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Retired October 1, 2024.
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Appointed district court judge in 2009.
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Stood for retention in 2012.
EJF recommendation:
95% Retain
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Stood for retention again in 2018.
EJF recommendation: Marginal
Only 83% of attorneys voted to Retain
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Kevin Hoyer
Morgan County
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Retired October 1, 2021
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Appointed district court judge in 2005.
Formerly county court judge.
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Stood for retention in 2008.
100% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2014. 77% Retain
EJF recommendation: Marginal
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Stood for retention in 2020.
EJF recommendation: 88% Retain
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Robert C. James
Division D
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970-542-5200
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Appointed district court judge on August 19, 2021 by Gov. Polis. Previously he was a deputy district attorney.
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Stood for retention in 2024.
EJF recommendation:
Retain
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100% of attorneys voted to Retain.
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James R. Leh
Logan County
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Retired after 27 years as a District Court judge, 17 years of which he spent as Chief District Judge.
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Carl S. McGuire III
Chief Judge
Division B
Deployed for 10-months to Afghanistan in 2012 where he was a Judge Advocate in the Naval Reserve.
On appeal 41.9% of his cases are reversed.
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970-522-6565
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Promoted to chief judge July 20, 2021.
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Promoted to district court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in May 2016.
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Appointed county court judge in November 2004.
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Stood for retention in 2008. 86% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2012.
EJF recommendation:
96% Retain
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Stood for retention in 2018.
EJF recommendation: Retain
94% of attorneys voted to Retain
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Stood for retention again in 2024.
EJF recommendation: Marginal
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This time only 73% of attorneys voted to Retain while 18% voted Do Not Retain.
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John Curtis Penny, Jr.
former chief judge
Logan County
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No longer on bench as of September 2012.
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Promoted from county judge by Gov. Owens in September 2006.
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Steven E. Shinn
former Chief Judge
Logan County
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Did not stand for retention in November 2006 and retired
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Michael K. Singer
former Chief Judge
Logan County
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Retired January 1, 2022.
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Appointed district court judge in July 2003.
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Stood for retention in 2006. 93% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2012.
EJF recommendation: Retain
86% Retain, 14% Do Not Retain.
Low rating for a chief judge.
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Stood for retention again in 2018.
EJF recommendation: 91% Retain
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Douglas R. Vannoy
Morgan County
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Retired July 1, 2016.
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Appointed district court judge in 1988.
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Stood for retention in 2002. 86% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2008. 93% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2014.
EJF recommendation: Marginal 77% Retain
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Top
County Judges
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Ray Ann Brammer
Logan County
Division 1
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970-522-6565
loganclerksoffice@judicial.state.co.us
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in April 2014. Replaced Bob Smith.
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Stood for retention in 2016. 75% Retain
EJF recommendation: Marginal
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Stood for retention in 2020.
EJF recommendation: Retain
83% of attorneys voted to Retain.
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Stood for retention again in 2024.
EJF recommendation: Retain
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85% of attorneys voted to Retain but 15% voted Do Not Retain.
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Dennis E. Brandenburg
Division 3
Morgan County
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970-542-5200
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper September 7, 2018 and took the bench on January 8, 2019. Formerly municipal judge to Fort Morgan, Brush, Sterling, and Otis.
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Stood for retention in 2022.
EJF recommendation: Retain
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92% of attorneys voted to Retain with just 8% voting Do Not Retain.
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Thomas J. Callahan
Yuma County
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No longer on bench as of February 2007.
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Max E. Carlson
Sedgwick County
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No longer on bench as of September 2012.
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David O. Colver
Phillips County
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No longer on bench as of September 2014.
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Appointed part-time (25%) county judge in 1980.
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Stood for retention in 1998. Not rated.
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Stood for retention in 2002.
100% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2006.
100% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2010.
100% Retain.
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James Craig Dolezal
Sedgwick County
Does not have a law degree and serves as a lay judge.
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Appointed county judge by Gov. Hickenlooper on May 1, 2017. He fills vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Neugebauer in March 2017. This is a part-time position and Dolezal is also an Enumerator with the National Agriculture Statistic Service and the State of Colorado Division of the National Association of States Department of Agriculture.
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Stood for retention in 2020.
EJF recommendation:
Do Not Retain
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Does not have a law degree and doesn't meet state standards. Of 3 attorneys 2 (67%-voted to Retain while 1 (33%-voted Do Not Retain.
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Michael K. Grinnan
Kit Carson County
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719-346-5524
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Appointed county court judge in January 2007. Formerly a magistrate.
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Stood for retention in 2010.
51% of attorneys recommended Do Not Retain, one of the worst evaluations of any judge the EJF has found.
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Stood for retention in 2014.
EJF recommendation: 94% Retain
A remarkable turnaround.
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Stood for retention again in 2018.
EJF recommendation: 94% Retain
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Stood for retention again in 2022.
EJF recommendation: Undetermined
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Only 2 attorneys voted, one for retention and one against.
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Kelly S. Hansen
Washington County
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970-345-2756
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in August 2016. She is a part-time judge and still maintains her private practice.
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Stood for retention in 2018.
EJF recommendation: Insufficient data
Only two attorneys voted. One voted she be Retained, the other had no opinion.
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Stood for retention again in 2022.
EJF recommendation: Retain
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All four attorneys voted to Retain.
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Kevin L. Hoyer
Washington County
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Promoted to district court Judge in 2005.
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Appointed county court judge in 1987.
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Stood for retention in 1998. Not Rated.
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Stood for retention in 2002.
100% Retain.
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Kristei Ray Jones
Yuma County
Division 7
Jones does not have a law degree. He is a lay judge with no formal legal training or experience and only has a high school degree.
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970-592-6120
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Appointed County Court Judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in 2018. He fills a vacancy created by the resignation of the Sara Marie Wagers-Johnson in June 2018. Jones is a ranch owner and operator, as well as a location manager at the Aurora Cooperative.
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Stood for retention in 2020.
EJF recommendation:
Do Not Retain
Only 67% of attorneys voted to Retain
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Stood for retention again in 2024.
EJF recommendation: Undetermined
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Insufficient data. However, he reportedly does a fair job and works hard at being fair and equitable.
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Kimbra Leigh Killin
Phillips County
Division 4
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970-854-3279
kimbra.killin@judicial.state.co.us
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Appointed part-time county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in June 2014.
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Stood for retention in 2016.
EJF recommendation. Undetermined
Only three attorneys voted, all to Retain, but that is not an adequate sample.
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Stood for retention again in 2024.
EJF recommendation: Undetermined
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Insufficient data.
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Myka M. Landry
Sedgwick County
Division 5
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970-474-3627
myka.landry@judicial.state.co.us
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Appointed part-time (20%-county court judge by Gov. Polis on October 18, 2021. Previously in private practice.
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Stood for retention in 2024.
EJF recommendation: Undetermined
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Insufficient data.
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Carl S. McGuire III
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Promoted to district court judge in May 2016.
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Appointed county court judge in November 2004. Formerly a magistrate.
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Stood for retention in 2008. 86% Retain.
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Stood for retention again in 2012.
EJF recommendation:
Retain 96%
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Tera Neugebauer
Sedgwick County
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Stepped down from bench in March 2017 two months after her husband was elected county sheriff.
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. HIckenlooper in June 2014. Previously a sheriffs deputy and does not hold a law degree.
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Stood for retention in 2016.
EJF recommendation: Undetermined
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Michael T. Schingle
Morgan County
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Did not stand for retention in 2018 and retired in January 2019.
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Appointed county court judge in July 2000.
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Stood for retention in 2002.
100% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2006. 85+% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2010. 97% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2014.
EJF recommendation:
97% Retain
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Robert B. Smith
Logan County
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No longer on bench as of September 2014.
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Appointed county court judge in 2000.
Formerly Sterling municipal court judge.
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Stood for retention in 2002.
100% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2006.
Only 63% of attorneys recommended he be retained.
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Stood for retention in 2010. 88% Retain.
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Sara Marie Wagers-Johnson
Yuma County
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Resigned June 28, 2018.
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Appointed by Bill Owens in September 2006. Formerly municipal judge for Wray, Yuma, and Eckley.
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Stood for retention in 2010. 82% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2014.
EJF recommendation:
Do Not Retain
Just 50% of attorneys voted Retain, 35% voted Do Not Retain.
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Top
Magistrate
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Matthew W. E. Bradley
Division M
Morgan County
Logan County
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970-522-6565
970-542-5201
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Inga H. Causey
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Promoted to county court judge in the 5
th
Judicial District by Gov. Polis on December 2, 2022.
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Michael K. Grinnan
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Promoted to county court judge in January 2007.
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Carl S. McGuire
Logan County
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Promoted to county court judge in November 2004 and then to district court judge in May 2016.
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