Application period opens for Judicial Nominating Commission positions

Sept. 22, 2025 - Applications are now being accepted for upcoming and current vacancies on 17 Judicial Nominating Commissions throughout Colorado. Also listed are four vacancies for the Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission.

As detailed below, 42 judicial nominating commission vacancies and seven vacancies on the Supreme Court judicial nominating commission 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:

• 1st Judicial District (Jefferson and Gilpin Counties) – one attorney vacancy and one non-attorney vacancy

• 2nd Judicial District (City and County of Denver) – one non-attorney vacancy

• 4th Judicial District (El Paso and Teller Counties)- one attorney vacancy and two non-attorney vacancies 

• 6th Judicial District (La Plata, Archuleta and San Juan Counties) – one attorney and three non-attorney vacancies

• 7th Judicial District (Delta, Gunnison, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel and Hinsdale Counties) – one attorney vacancy. 

• 9th Judicial District (Garfield, Rio Blanco and Pitkin Counties) – one attorney vacancy and two non-attorney vacancies. At least one must reside in Rio Blanco County.

• 10th Judicial District (Pueblo County) – one attorney vacancy and one non-attorney vacancy

• 12th Judicial District (Saguache, Mineral, Rio Grande, Alamosa, Conejos and Costilla Counties) – two attorney vacancies, one non-attorney vacancy. At least one must reside in Costilla and Rio Grande counties.

• 13th Judicial District (Morgan, Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Yuma, Washington and Kit Carson Counties) –two attorney vacancies, and one non-attorney vacancy. Each one must reside in Morgan, Kit Carson, and Washington counties. 

• 14th Judicial District (Moffatt, Routt and Grand Counties) – two non-attorney vacancies

• 15th Judicial District (Cheyenne, Kiowa, Prowers and Baca Counties) – one attorney vacancy, and three non-attorney vacancies. At least one must reside in Kiowa, Baca, and Cheyenne counties. 

• 16th Judicial District (Crowley, Otero and Bent Counties) – three non-attorney vacancies. At least one must reside in Crowley County. 

• 17th Judicial District (Adams County & City and County of Broomfield) – two attorney and two non-attorney vacancies. 

• 19th Judicial District (Weld County) – one attorney vacancy

• 20th Judicial District (Boulder County) – one non-attorney vacancy

• 21st Judicial District (Mesa County) – two attorney vacancies, and one non-attorney vacancy

• 22nd Judicial District (Dolores and Montezuma counties) – one attorney and one non-attorney vacancy. 

• Supreme Court (statewide) – one attorney vacancy in the 1st Congressional District, one attorney and one non-attorney vacancy in the 3^rd Congressional District, one attorney and one non-attorney vacancy in the 4^th Congressional District, one non-attorney vacancy in the 6^th Congressional District, and one non-attorney for the at-large vacancy. 

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.

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