Judge Tom Woodford retires

Friday, September 23, 2005

Organization: Colorado Judicial Branch

Judge Tom Woodford retires

Commission sets date to select replacement nominees

The First Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2005, to interview and select nominees for appointment by the Governor to the office of district court judge for the First Judicial District (Gilpin and Jefferson counties). The vacancy will be created by the retirement of the Honorable Tom Woodford. The vacancy will occur on Dec. 1, 2005.

Due to the short time frame between the vacancy created by Judge Zimmerman's retirement (August 2005) and this vacancy, the Commission will review new applications and those applications which were previously submitted to fill Judge Zimmerman's position. However, for previously submitted applications to be reviewed by the Commission, the applicant must submit a letter to the Commission by 4:00 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7, 2005, stating his or her desire to have such prior application reconsidered.

To be eligible for appointment to fill the vacancy, the applicant must be a qualified elector of the First Judicial District and must have been admitted to the practice of law in Colorado for five years. The annual salary for this position is $107,044. The initial term of office of a district judge is a provisional term of two years; thereafter, the incumbent district judge, if approved by the voters, has a term of six years.

The Commission's rules allow the Commission to release the names of interviewees who, in writing, expressly allow their names to be made public. Applicants can obtain the application form specific to the First Judicial District, and corresponding instructions from the office of the Ex-Officio Chair of the Nominating Commission, Justice Nancy E. Rice, 2 East 14th Ave., Denver, Colo. 80203; the office of the District Administrator, 100 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, Colo. 80401; or Gilpin Combined Courts, Gilpin County Justice Center, 2960 Dory Hill Road, Suite 200, Golden, Colo. 80403. It is also available on the court's home page at http://www.courts.state.co.us/exec/media/vacancy/2005/1st.doc.

The original and seven copies of the application must be filed with the ex-officio chair no later than 4:00 p.m., Monday, Nov. 7, 2005. Late applications will not be considered. Any person wishing to suggest a candidate to fill the vacancy may do so by letter to be submitted to any member of the nominating commission, with a copy to the ex-officio chair, no later than Monday, Oct. 31, 2005.

The nominating commission shall disclose the names, work addresses, and work telephone numbers of all those nominees submitted to the Governor. The members of the nominating commission for the First Judicial District are: M. Terry Fox, Wheat Ridge; Timothy Flanagan, Unincorporated Gilpin County; James Chalat and Peter Jacobson Evergreen; John Brockmeyer, Arvada; Kathleen Battan, Lakewood; and Andree Krause, Pine.

Editor's Note: Contact information for the nominating commission members

M. Terry Fox, 1525 Sherman St., 5th Floor, Denver, CO 80203
Timothy Flanagan 1640 Grant St. Denver, CO 80203
James Chalat, 1900 Grant St., Suite 1050, Denver, CO 80203
John Brockmeyer, 6206 Devinney Cir., Arvada, CO 80004
Kathleen Battan, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, 200 Jefferson County Parkway, Golden, CO 80401
Peter Jacobson 32820 Inverness Dr., Evergreen, CO 80439
Andree Krause, 13721 Douglass Ranch Dr., Pine, CO 80470

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.

JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSION

APPLICATION FOR COLORADO STATE COURT JUDGESHIP

Instructions

1. The application form for a Colorado state court judgeship can be found on the Judicial Branch website at www.courts.state.co.us/exec/media/vacancy.htm. Please be complete and thorough in answering the questions; and, if an answer to any question requires more space than provided, attach a separate sheet of paper for each question.

2. Answers should be typed or printed in black ink.

3. Each completed original and all copies of the application should be stapled ONCE in the upper left-hand corner. They should NOT be bound in any way, should NOT be in notebooks, should NOT have covers attached, and should NOT have sections of the application tabbed in any way.

4. While it is preferred that you submit your application on this standard form, you may choose to reproduce this form on a computer. If you do so, however, please ensure that the top and left margins are 1" and that the size of type is no smaller than 11 pt.

5. You must submit the names of not less than three or more than five individuals from whom you are requesting a letter of reference. Such letters of reference shall be strictly confidential. All such letters shall be sent directly to the First Judicial District Nominating Commission, c/o Justice Nancy E. Rice, Ex-Officio Chair, at the address shown below. You are instructed to tell your references not to send the original or a copy to you. A request for reference form is attached and must be used for each reference requested. In order to assure consideration of the letters of reference, they must be received on or before Monday, Nov. 7, 2005.

Please Note: Reference letters must be resubmitted every time you apply for a judicial vacancy. Reference letters from previous applications are not available for reuse unless the applicant has submitted a letter to the Commission by the 4:00 p.m., Nov. 7, 2005, deadline requesting his or her August 2005 application be reconsidered.

6. You must file an original and seven (7) copies of your application.

7. Your application should be filed at the following address:

First Judicial District Nominating Commission

Justice Nancy E. Rice, Ex Officio Chair

Colorado State Judicial Building

Two East 14th Avenue, 4th Floor

Denver, CO 80203

8. Your application must be filed no later than: 4:00 pm Monday, Nov. 7, 2005.

Revised 9/22/05

FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT NOMINATING COMMISSION

REQUESTED REFERENCE ON BEHALF OF ___________________________________.

(Name of Applicant)

The above individual is applying for an existing vacancy on the First Judicial District Court bench. The applicant is requesting that you write a letter of reference. It is not inappropriate for you to decline to do so. In writing such a letter, the Judicial Nominating Commission requests that you specifically address both the strengths and weaknesses of the applicant under separate headings. If you believe the applicant has no weaknesses relative to his or her capabilities to be a district court judge, you may so state. Finally, please rate the applicant, i.e., outstanding, excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. All letters of reference are strictly confidential. A copy may not be sent to the applicant. The original and seven (7) copies must be sent directly to:

Justice Nancy E. Rice

First Judicial District Nominating Commission

Two East 14th Avenue, 4th Floor

Denver, CO 80203

It is extremely important to the Commission that you be as objective as possible in assessing the applicant's qualifications. We rely very heavily on letters of reference and unless you are totally objective in your comments, the Commission cannot properly carry out its function. Do not feel compelled to endorse the applicant merely because you have been asked to write a letter of reference on his or her behalf.

Sincerely,

First Judicial District Nominating Commission

Applicant should send a copy of this instruction to each of his or her requested references.

JUDICIAL NOMINATING COMMISSION

APPLICATIONFOR COLORADO STATECOURT JUDGESHIP

NOTE: For the required number of copies to file, please refer to the INSTRUCTION SHEET that corresponds to the specific vacancy for which you are applying.

JeffersonCounty

(designate vacancy for which application is being made)

A. PERSONAL INFORMATION

1. Full Name _________________________________________________________________

2. Birth Date _________________________________________________________________

3. Are you a United States citizen? ____________________________________________________

4. Attorney Registration Number ____________________________________________________

5. Home

Address _________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Telephone _________________________________________________________________

6. Office

Address _________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Telephone _________________________________________________________________

Facsimile _________________________________________________________________

7. Length of residence in the district _____________________________________________

Length of residence in the county _____________________________________________

8. List your place of residence for the past five years.

Dates	City	State

9. Have you had any military or other public service? If so, please give details.

_____________________________________________________________________________

B. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

10. List the names and locations of schools attended, beginning with high school.

Name	Location	Dates Attended	Degree

11. List scholarships, awards, honors, and citations you received during college and law school.

______________________________________________________________________________

C. PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE

12. List all courts in which you have been admitted to practice, with dates of admission. Give the same information for administrative bodies which require special admission to practice.

	Bar Admission		Date

13. Indicate your present employment (list professional partners or associates, if any).

______________________________________________________________________________

14. List your prior professional or business employment (list professional partners or associates and dates) since completion of your formal education.

______________________________________________________________________________

15. If you have not been employed continuously since completion of your formal education, describe what you were doing.

______________________________________________________________________________

16. Describe the nature of your present law practice, listing the major types of law you practice and the percentage each constitutes of your total practice.

______________________________________________________________________________

17. List other areas of law in which you have practiced.

______________________________________________________________________________

18. If you specialize in any field of law, what is your specialty?

______________________________________________________________________________

19. Have you practiced in the appellate courts of Colorado within the past five years? If so, please state the number and the types of matters handled.

______________________________________________________________________________

20. Have you practiced in the trial courts of Colorado within the past five years? If so, please state what percentage of your total practice your trial practice constituted and the types of matters handled.

______________________________________________________________________________

21. List five litigated cases in which you participated as a judge or lawyer in the past five years, the names of the judges presiding, and/or the names of counsel. Please list current telephone and fax numbers (including area code) for each person identified.

Case Name/Number:
Presiding Judge:	(t)	(f)
Counsel:	(t)	(f)

Case Name/Number:
Presiding Judge:	(t)	(f)
Counsel:	(t)	(f)

Case Name/Number:
Presiding Judge:	(t)	(f)
Counsel:	(t)	(f)

Case Name/Number:
Presiding Judge:	(t)	(f)
Counsel:	(t)	(f)

Case Name/Number:
Presiding Judge:	(t)	(f)
Counsel:	(t)	(f)

22. Summarize your experience in adversary proceedings before administrative boards or commissions during the last five years.

______________________________________________________________________________

23. List any law related lectures, speeches, or other presentations you have given and any such books or articles you have authored during the last five years.

______________________________________________________________________________

D. PROFESSIONAL AND PUBLIC SERVICE

24. List activities in professional associations, including offices held, committees, awards, honors, and citations (include dates).

______________________________________________________________________________

25. List your activities in civic and charitable organizations, including offices held, awards, honors, and citations (include dates).

______________________________________________________________________________

26. State all public offices to which you were appointed or elected (include dates served).

______________________________________________________________________________

E. ABILITY TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB-RELATED FUNCTIONS

27. Within the past five years have you experienced any physical or mental condition, illness, or injury which (1) is continuing or is likely to reoccur and (2) with or without reasonable accommodation, would adversely affect your ability to perform essential job-related functions as a judge? If so, please give details.

______________________________________________________________________________

F. PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND ETHICS

28. Have you ever been disciplined or sanctioned for a breach or possible breach of ethics or unprofessional conduct by the Supreme Court Grievance Committee, the Attorney Regulation Committee, the Presiding Disciplinary Judge, the Appellate Discipline Commission, the Colorado Supreme Court, the Commission on Judicial Discipline (including a private letter of admonition, reprimand, or censure), or by any administrative agency or disciplinary committee? If so, please give details.

______________________________________________________________________________

29. Do you know if any proceeding is pending against you before the Attorney Regulation Committee, the Presiding Disciplinary Judge, the Appellate Discipline Commission, the Colorado Supreme Court, or by any administrative agency or disciplinary committee? If so, please give details.

______________________________________________________________________________

30. Have you ever been cited for contempt of court? If so, please give details.

______________________________________________________________________________

31. Do you disagree with any of the canons contained in the Colorado Code of Judicial Conduct or any of its provisions? If so, please explain.

______________________________________________________________________________

32. Are you familiar with the Commission on Judicial Discipline and its function?

______________________________________________________________________________

33. Do you understand a judge is required to file reports of compensation for quasi-judicial and extra-judicial activities in conformance with the Code of Judicial Conduct?

______________________________________________________________________________

34. Do you understand that a judge must comply with the Public Official Disclosure Law (Section 24-6-202, C.R.S. 1998)?

______________________________________________________________________________

35. If you are now active in partisan politics, would you cease such activity if you are appointed to judicial office?

______________________________________________________________________________

36. Have you ever been summonsed for, arrested for or charged with a felony, misdemeanor, or serious traffic offense? If so, please give details. This question includes charges that have been deferred, dismissed, expunged or pardoned.

______________________________________________________________________________

37. Have you ever been a party to, or the subject of, or otherwise involved in any other legal proceedings, civil or criminal, including dissolution or bankruptcy proceedings? If so, please give details.

______________________________________________________________________________

38. Is there any circumstance or event in your personal or professional life which, if brought to the attention of the Commission, might tend to affect adversely your qualifications to serve on the court for which you have applied? If so, please explain.

______________________________________________________________________________

G. BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION

39. Have you ever been engaged in any occupation, business, or profession other than the practice of law? If so, please give details, including dates.

______________________________________________________________________________

40. Are you now an officer or director of any business organization or otherwise engaged in the management of any business enterprise? If so, please give details.

______________________________________________________________________________

41. Do you have any sources of income other than your income from your practice of law or judicial position? If so, please identify the source and the approximate percentage of your total income it constituted over the past three years.

______________________________________________________________________________

42. Do you have any financial interests, investments, or retainers which might conflict with the performance of your judicial duties, or which in any manner or for any reason might embarrass you? If so, please explain.

______________________________________________________________________________

43. Have you ever failed to file your state or federal income tax return? If so, please explain.

______________________________________________________________________________

44. Have you been found by the IRS to have willfully failed to properly disclose your income during the last five years? If so, please give details.

______________________________________________________________________________

45. Do you owe any unpaid taxes? If so, please explain.

______________________________________________________________________________

46. If requested, will you disclose your financial affairs and discuss them with the Commission?

______________________________________________________________________________

H. MISCELLANEOUS

47. Describe how you spend your leisure time (including special interests, hobbies, reading preferences, vacation activities).

______________________________________________________________________________

48. Are you aware that Colorado judges are expected to use computer technology for a wide variety of functions including word processing, legal research, case management, e-filing and e-mail?

______________________________________________________________________________

49. Do you personally use a computer for any of the purposes listed above or for similar purposes? If yes, describe the functions you perform and state how frequently you perform each function. If no, state whether you will participate in training to develop and maintain your personal skills in using computer technology.

______________________________________________________________________________

50. List the names of no more than five individuals from whom you are requesting a letter of reference.

______________________________________________________________________________

Please attach a statement not to exceed one page in length, double-spaced, discussing: (a) your knowledge of and experience with the court served by the judgeship for which you are applying; and (b) the reasons why you wish to be appointed to this vacancy and the qualities you would bring to the bench if appointed.

If you are applying for an appellate judgeship, you MUST submit a sample of your legal writing of not more than twenty (20) pages with this application.

I. CERTIFICATE OF APPLICANT

I understand the submission of this application expresses my willingness to accept appointment to the judiciary of the State of Colorado, if tendered by the Governor, and further, my willingness to abide by the rules of the Judicial Nominating Commission with respect to my application and the Code of Judicial Conduct, if appointed. I hereby certify that the information given in this application is correct and complete.

Date

Signature of Applicant

Print or Type Name

J. WAIVER

I grant the Commission the right to examine the records of the Attorney Regulation Counsel (formerly maintained by the Supreme Court Grievance Committee) and the records of the Commission on Judicial Discipline. I consent to the release of information by employers, schools, law enforcement agencies, and other authorized personnel to verify the information contained in this application.

Date

Signature of Applicant

Print or Type Name

If I am granted an interview, I grant the Commission the right to release my name to the public.

Signature of Applicant

___________________________________________________

Print or Type

Topics:

Court News

Civil Law