United States District Court for the District of Colorado

U.S. federal district court in Colorado

(Denver)
  • Colorado Springs
  • Grand Junction
  • Durango
  • Boulder
  • Montrose
  • Pueblo
  • Sterling
    • Appeals toTenth CircuitEstablishedJune 26, 1876Judges7Chief JudgePhilip A. BrimmerOfficers of the courtU.S. AttorneyCole FineganU.S. MarshalKirk M. Taylorwww.cod.uscourts.gov
    U.S. Customhouse

    The United States District Court for the District of Colorado (in case citations, D. Colo. or D. Col.) is a federal court in the Tenth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).

    The District was established on June 26, 1876, pending Colorado statehood on August 1, 1876.[1]

    As of December 1, 2021[update], the United States attorney for the District is Cole Finegan.[2]

    Organization of the court

    The United States District Court for the District of Colorado is the sole federal judicial district in Colorado.[3] Court for the District is held at Colorado Springs, Denver, Durango, and Grand Junction.

    Current judges

    As of January 12, 2024[update]:

    # Title Judge Duty station Born Term of service Appointed by
    Active Chief Senior
    24 Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer Denver 1959 2008–present 2019–present — G.W. Bush
    29 District Judge Daniel D. Domenico Denver 1972 2019–present — — Trump
    30 District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez Denver 1963 2021–present — — Biden
    31 District Judge Charlotte Sweeney Denver 1969 2022–present — — Biden
    32 District Judge Nina Y. Wang Denver 1972 2022–present — — Biden
    33 District Judge Gordon Gallagher Grand Junction 1970 2023–present — — Biden
    34 District Judge Kato Crews Denver 1975 2024–present — — Biden
    12 Senior Judge John L. Kane Jr. Denver 1937 1977–1988 — 1988–present Carter
    16 Senior Judge Lewis Babcock Denver 1943 1988–2008 2000–2007 2008–present Reagan
    21 Senior Judge Marcia S. Krieger Denver 1954 2002–2019 2013–2019 2019–present G.W. Bush
    22 Senior Judge Robert E. Blackburn Denver 1950 2002–2016 — 2016–present G.W. Bush
    25 Senior Judge Christine Arguello Denver 1955 2008–2022 — 2022–present G.W. Bush
    26 Senior Judge William J. Martínez Denver 1954 2010–2023 — 2023–present Obama
    27 Senior Judge R. Brooke Jackson Denver 1947 2011–2021 — 2021–present Obama
    28 Senior Judge Raymond P. Moore Denver 1953 2013–2023 — 2023–present Obama


    Former judges

    # Judge State Born–died Active service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed by Reason for
    termination
    1 Moses Hallett CO 1834–1913 1877–1906 — — Grant retirement
    2 Robert E. Lewis CO 1857–1941 1906–1921 — — T. Roosevelt elevation to 8th Cir.
    3 John Foster Symes CO 1878–1951 1922–1950 — 1950–1951 Harding death
    4 William Lee Knous CO 1889–1959 1950–1959 1954–1959 — Truman death
    5 Jean Sala Breitenstein CO 1900–1986 1954–1957 — — Eisenhower elevation to 10th Cir.
    6 Alfred A. Arraj CO 1906–1992 1957–1976 1959–1976 1976–1992 Eisenhower death
    7 Olin Hatfield Chilson CO 1903–1991 1960–1973 — 1973–1991 Eisenhower death
    8 William Edward Doyle CO 1911–1986 1961–1971 — — Kennedy elevation to 10th Cir.
    9 Fred M. Winner CO 1912–2003 1970–1982 1976–1982 1982–1984 Nixon retirement
    10 Sherman Glenn Finesilver CO 1927–2006 1971–1994 1982–1994 1994 Nixon retirement
    11 Richard Paul Matsch CO 1930–2019 1974–2003 1994–2000 2003–2019 Nixon death
    13 Jim Carrigan CO 1929–2014 1979–1994 — 1994–1995 Carter retirement
    14 Zita Leeson Weinshienk CO 1933–2022 1979–1998 — 1998–2011 Carter retirement
    15 John Carbone Porfilio CO 1934–present 1982–1985 — — Reagan elevation to 10th Cir.
    17 Edward Nottingham CO 1948–present 1989–2008 2007–2008 — G.H.W. Bush resignation
    18 Daniel B. Sparr CO 1931–2006 1990–2001 — 2001–2006 G.H.W. Bush death
    19 Wiley Young Daniel CO 1946–2019 1995–2013 2008–2013 2013–2019 Clinton death
    20 Walker David Miller CO 1939–2013 1996–2008 — 2008–2013 Clinton death
    23 Phillip S. Figa CO 1951–2008 2003–2008 — — G.W. Bush death

    Chief judges

    Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge.

    A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.

    When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire, on what has since 1958 been known as senior status, or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.

    Succession of seats

    Seat 1
    Seat established on August 1, 1876 by 19 Stat. 61
    Hallett 1877–1906
    Lewis 1906–1921
    Symes 1922–1950
    Knous 1950–1959
    Chilson 1960–1973
    Matsch 1974–2003
    Figa 2003–2008
    Jackson 2011–2021
    Sweeney 2022–present
    Seat 2
    Seat established on February 10, 1954 by 68 Stat. 8
    Breitenstein 1954–1957
    Arraj 1957–1976
    Kane, Jr. 1977–1988
    Babcock 1988–2008
    Brimmer 2008–present
    Seat 3
    Seat established on May 19, 1961 by 75 Stat. 80
    Doyle 1961–1971
    Finesilver 1971–1994
    Daniel 1995–2013
    Moore 2013–2023
    Crews 2024–present
    Seat 4
    Seat established on June 2, 1970 by 84 Stat. 294
    Winner 1970–1982
    Porfilio 1982–1985
    Sparr 1990–2001
    Krieger 2002–2019
    Rodriguez 2021–present

    Seat 5
    Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
    Carrigan 1979–1994
    Miller 1996–2008
    Arguello 2008–2022
    Wang 2022–present
    Seat 6
    Seat established on October 20, 1978 by 92 Stat. 1629
    Weinshienk 1979–1998
    Blackburn 2002–2016
    Domenico 2019–present
    Seat 7
    Seat established on July 10, 1984 by 98 Stat. 333
    Nottingham, Jr. 1989–2008
    Martínez 2010–2023
    Gallagher 2023–present

    U.S. Attorney

    See also

    References

    1. ^ http://www.fjc.gov/history/home.nsf/page/courts_district_co.html U.S. District Courts of Colorado, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center
    2. ^ "Cole Finegan Sworn in as United States Attorney" (Press release). Denver, Colorado: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado. December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
    3. ^ "28 U.S.C. § 85 - U.S. Code Title 28. Judiciary and Judicial Procedure § 85". Findlaw.
    4. ^ "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Steiwer to Stephenie". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved April 5, 2024.

    External links

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