Colorado Courts Celebrate National Adoption Day

November 10, 2025 DENVER - National Adoption Day is being celebrated in many of Colorado’s Judicial Districts in November, with judges and magistrates across Colorado finalizing the adoptions of dozens of foster children into permanent families. 

In 2024, there were 658 children and youth in Colorado who were in foster care were adopted, according to the Colorado Department of Human Services. Adoption Day events in Colorado are being coordinated through the courts, state and local human services departments, as well as other local and state child services agencies and advocacy groups. 

Here are the upcoming events for Adoption Day in Colorado’s judicial districts:

The 1st Judicial District will celebrate Adoption Day on Nov. 22 from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the Jefferson County Combined Court, 100 Jefferson County Parkway in Golden. Judge Lindsay VanGilder, Magistrate Marianne Tims, and Magistrate Cara Sweet will be presiding over six adoptions. The opening presentation and activities are open to the public. Media wanting to attend are required to submit a request for expanded media coverage. For more information, contact  Randa Richards, randa.richards@judicial.state.co.us, 720-772-2703.

The 10th Judicial District will celebrate Adoption Day for the 17th year in a row on Nov. 21 at 10:30 a.m. in Courtroom 501 of the Pueblo County Courthouse located at 501 N. Elizabeth Street in Pueblo. District Court Judge Amiel Markenson will preside over the adoption of two children, one in each family. Following the adoptions, a celebration with cake and other refreshments will be held in the training room on the fifth floor of the courthouse. The adoptions will be open hearings and expanded media coverage has been granted. For more information, contact Penny Cox at 719-583-6968. 

The 11th Judicial District will hold an Adoption Day event on Nov. 21 at 1:30 p.m. in the Fremont County Combined Courts, 136 Justice Center Road in Cañon City. District Court Magistrate Stephen Talbot will preside over the adoptions. Media wanting to attend are required to submit a request for expanded media coverage. For more information, contact Fremont County Court Clerk Cristy Christensen at cristy.christensen@judicial.state.co.us.

The 12th Judicial District will celebrate Adoption Day on Nov. 24 at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Alamosa Combined Courts, 8955 Independence Way in Alamosa. District Court Chief Judge Amanda Hopkins will preside over the event, recognizing 26 families who went through the adoption process this year from counties in the San Luis Valley. Media interested in attending should contact Kyle Gustafson at kyle.gustafson@judicial.state.co.us.

The 17th Judicial District will host an Adoption Day event on Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. to noon in the Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Drive in Brighton. The celebration begins at 9 a.m. in the Jury Assembly Room with a welcome by the court and Adams County Human Services Department leadership and the reading of the National Adoption Day Proclamation by the Adams County Commissioners. 

• Adoption finalization hearings will take place from 9:45 a.m. until noon in courtrooms 601, 602 and 604. 

• Judge Kelley Southerland, Judge Emily Lieberman and Magistrate Ashley Ratliff will preside over the adoption of seven children into five families. Hearings are open to the public and cameras will be allowed in the courtrooms with no formal motions to the court as long as the families consent to photography. For more information, contact Simone Jones, Deputy Court Executive, 303-654-3230. 

The 18th Judicial District will celebrate National Adoption Day on Friday, Nov. 14 at the Arapahoe County Justice Center, 7325 S. Potomac St., Centennial, CO 80112, at 8:30 a.m. in the Jury Assembly Room. Seven children are expected to be adopted. The event will include a light breakfast, beverages, live music, the Arapahoe County Sheriff's K9 team, arts/crafts and cake. District Court Judge Bonnie McLean & Magistrate Valerie Harper will preside over the adoptions. A request for expanded media coverage has been granted with prior family permission. For more information, please contact Family Court Facilitator Shannon Wilson at 303-645-6854.

The 20th Judicial District will hold Adoption Day on Friday, Nov. 21 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Boulder County Justice Center, Boulder Jury Assembly Room, 1777 6th Street in Boulder. All families who have adopted children throughout the year are encouraged to attend. The celebration will feature speakers, crafts, and snacks. It is not open to the public. Media wanting to attend are required to submit a request for expanded media coverage, and, if approved, can participate in whatever capacity is authorized. For more information, contact Deborah Fox at 720-664-1613 or 20DivisionO@judicial.state.co.us.

Background: 

National Adoption Day is a collective national effort to raise awareness of the more than 100,000 children in foster care across the country waiting to find families. Since its inception, National Adoption Day has made the dreams of thousands of children come true through the cooperative work of courts, attorneys, adoption professionals, child welfare agencies and advocates to finalize adoptions and find permanent, loving homes for children in foster care.  

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