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United States District Court for the District of Colorado

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Not to be confused with Colorado District Courts.
United States District Court for the District of Colorado
(D. Colo.)
LocationDenver
More locations
Appeals toTenth Circuit
EstablishedJune 26, 1876
Judges7
Chief JudgePhilip A. Brimmer
Officers of the court
U.S. AttorneyMatthew T. Kirsch (acting)
U.S. MarshalKirk M. Taylor
www.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 July 17, 2024, the acting United States attorney for the District is Matthew T. Kirsch.[2]

Organization of the court

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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

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As of January 12, 2024:

# 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

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# 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

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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

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U.S. Attorney

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See also

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References

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  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. ^ "Acting United States Attorney Matt Kirsch". Denver, Colorado: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado. June 1, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  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.
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