Application period opens for Judicial Nominating Commission positions

Oct. 10, 2024, DENVER – Applications are now being accepted for upcoming and current vacancies on 19 Judicial Nominating Commissions throughout Colorado.

As detailed below, 40 judicial nominating commission vacancies will be filled between now and mid-January 2025. Judicial nominating commissioners are volunteers who serve six-year terms. They interview applicants for judicial vacancies and nominate candidates to the governor for consideration.

Each judicial district nominating commission consists of seven citizens residing in that judicial district and one supreme court justice who serves as a non-voting ex officio member. No more than four members can be from the same political party, and there must be at least one voting member from each county in the district. Commission members serve six-year terms. Non-lawyers, who make up the majority of every nominating commission, are appointed by the governor. Lawyer members are appointed by joint action of the governor, attorney general, and chief justice.

Vacancies to be filled are as follows:

• First Judicial District (Jefferson and Gilpin Counties) – two non-attorney vacancies
• Second Judicial District (City and County of Denver) – one attorney vacancy
• *Fourth Judicial District (El Paso and Teller Counties)- one attorney vacancy
• Fifth Judicial District (Lake, Eagle, Clear Creek and Summit Counties) - two attorney vacancies
• Sixth Judicial District (La Plata, Archuleta and San Juan Counties) – one attorney and two non-attorney vacancies
• Seventh Judicial District (Delta, Gunnison, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel and Hinsdale Counties) – one attorney vacancy.  The appointee must reside in Montrose County.
• Eighth Judicial District (Jackson and Larimer Counties) – three non-attorney vacancies
• Ninth Judicial District (Garfield, Rio Blanco and Pitkin Counties) – one attorney vacancy and one non-attorney vacancy
• Eleventh Judicial District (Chaffee, Fremont, Park and Custer Counties) – one non-attorney vacancy
• Twelfth Judicial District (Saguache, Mineral, Rio Grande, Alamosa, Conejos and Costilla Counties) – two attorney vacancies, one non-attorney vacancy
• Thirteenth Judicial District (Morgan, Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Yuma, Washington and Kit Carson Counties) – one attorney vacancy.  The appointee must reside in Kit Carson County.
• Fourteenth Judicial District (Moffatt, Routt and Grand Counties) – one non-attorney vacancy
• Fifteenth Judicial District (Cheyenne, Kiowa, Prowers and Baca Counties) – one attorney vacancy.      The appointee must be a resident of Kiowa County.
• Sixteenth Judicial District (Crowley, Otero and Bent Counties) – one attorney vacancy
• Seventeenth Judicial District (Adams and Broomfield Counties) – one attorney and one non-attorney vacancy
• Eighteenth Judicial District (Arapahoe County) – one attorney and two non-attorney vacancies
• Nineteenth Judicial District (Weld County) – one attorney and two non-attorney vacancies
• Twentieth Judicial District (Boulder County) – two attorney vacancies
• Twenty-Second Judicial District (Montezuma and Dolores Counties) – one attorney and one non-attorney vacancy
• Twenty-Third Judicial District (Elbert, Douglas and Lincoln Counties) – three attorney and two non-attorney vacancies

More information on nominating commissions can be found on the judicial department’s website at coloradojudicial.gov/supreme-court/judicial-nominating-commissions.

Applications are being accepted now for all vacancies, and applicants are encouraged to apply early, as appointments may begin this month.  Applications may be made only online at the State of Colorado Boards and Commissions Application page. Applicants should include a current resume or biography where indicated on the application.

Please contact boards@state.co.us with questions or for more information.

*Updated on 10/10/2024 to additional include vacancy in the 4^th Judicial District

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