news Colorado Judicial Branch Mary J. Mullarkey, Chief Justice Gerald Marroney, State Court Administrator

Sept. 20, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Karen Salaz 303/837-3633 1-800-888-0001 Ext. 633

Judicial Nominating Commission vacancies announced Applicants sought to fill upcoming vacancies

Applicants are being sought for citizens to serve on many of the state’s 23 Judicial Nominating Commissions. “Judicial Nominating Commission members play a vital role in the selection of judges and justices serving in our county and district trial courts as well as the Colorado Court of Appeals and Colorado Supreme Court,” says Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey. “The quality of our judges depends directly on the good judgment, fairness, and skill of the nominating commissioners. They are the ones who screen the applications for every judicial vacancy and give the Governor a short list of the two or three best applicants for each position. “Being a nominating commissioner can be demanding but it is also rewarding and a great opportunity for public service,” adds Mullarkey. In 1966, the people of Colorado passed a constitutional amendment which provides that state judges be appointed rather than elected on a political ticket. Now, when a vacancy occurs in a county or district judgeship, the judicial district nominating commission interviews applicants and recommends individuals to the governor for consideration and appointment. Three nominees must be submitted to the governor for judgeships on the court of appeals or supreme court; two or three names can be submitted for county or district vacancies. Denver County is not part of the state system and this process does not apply to their judges. There are two types of nominating commissions: (1) Supreme Court Nominating Commission and (2) judicial district nominating commissions. The Supreme Court Nominating Commission recommends candidates to serve as judges for the supreme court and the court of appeals. This commission has 15 members, one attorney and one non-attorney from each congressional district and one member at-large who is a non-attorney. There is one district nominating commission for each of Colorado’s 22 judicial districts that selects nominees for district and county judicial vacancies. The district commissions each have seven members and non-attorneys are the majority. Commission members serve six-year terms. Attorney members are appointed by joint action of the governor, attorney general, and chief justice. Non-attorneys, who are the majority of every nominating commission, are appointed by the governor. The following commissions have attorney vacancies. 1st Judicial District – one vacancy 14th Judicial District – one vacancy 2nd Judicial District – one vacancy 15th Judicial District – one vacancy 4th Judicial District – one vacancy 16th Judicial District – one vacancy 5th Judicial District – one vacancy 18th Judicial District – one vacancy 6th Judicial District – one vacancy 19th Judicial District – one vacancy 7th Judicial District – one vacancy 20th Judicial District – one vacancy 8th Judicial District – one vacancy 22nd Judicial District – one vacancy 9th Judicial District – one vacancy Supreme Court – one vacancy (must be a 11th Judicial District – one vacancy resident of the Fifth Congressional District) 13th Judicial District – two vacancies

For attorney vacancies, please mail, fax, or hand-deliver your application by Oct. 28, 2005 to: Cheryl Mineo, Colorado Supreme Court, 2 E. 14th Avenue, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203, (303) 837-3771, (303) 861-7429 – FAX.

Most of the judicial districts have vacancies for non-attorneys. For non-attorney vacancies, please mail or hand-deliver your application to: Terri Connell, Governor’s Office, Attn: Legal Section, 120 State Capitol, Denver, CO 80203.

Additional information on Judicial Nominating Commissions as well as an application form can be found on the Judicial Branch website at: www.courts.state.co.us/supct/committees/supctnomincomm.htm.

This information is provided as an e-mail service of the Colorado State Judicial Branch, Office of State Court Administrator, 1301 Pennsylvania Street, Suite 300, Denver, Colo. 80203. To discontinue this service or update your e-mail address, please respond to this message with your name, contact information, and any comments.