Judicial Officer Outreach Program

Judicial officer outreach program is inspiring future judges to serve through education, connection

By: Amy Woodward, Media Coordinator

Colorado’s judiciary is intensifying its efforts to recruit candidates for the next generation of judges through its Judicial Officer Outreach Program (JOO), which aims to shed light on the judicial selection process and how individuals can participate in it.

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“Colorado is taking a stance to ensure we have a strong judiciary, and that begins with ensuring we are representative of the communities we serve,” said Nga Vương-Sandoval, judicial officer outreach program lead. The JOO launched in 2020 after the passing of Senate Bill 19-043, which increased the number of district court judges, and in accordance with C.R.S. § 13-3-101(11)(a), which created a position responsible for outreach and education about judicial officer vacancies.

Colorado’s JOO is the first program of its kind in the U.S., as it is statutorily mandated and employs full-time staff who focus on recruitment, education, retention, and community partnerships.

Framework

The JOO is established on “four primary pillars” that help direct and define the program’s objectives. These pillars are labeled as pipeline development, community engagement, data and research, and connection and well-being. Vương-Sandoval recently added the latter to help address the unique qualities of each judicial district.

“The distinction within each of the judicial districts is astounding sometimes,” said Vương-Sandoval. “One (judicial district) is rural, one is urban, and the demographics of the communities are completely

different,” she said. To stay informed on each district’s specific needs, listening sessions are routinely scheduled with judicial districts to address challenges, such as recruitment and public outreach for judicial vacancy announcements. Vương-Sandoval also works directly with chief judges and both district and county judges to develop targeted events and programming tailored to each judicial district.

In addition, the JOO has invested time in building connections with both legal and non-legal communities that come together to help drive JOO’s mission of informing and enhancing education about equitable opportunities in judicial officer career paths. Law firms, district attorney and county attorney offices, public defender offices, bar associations, and even economic development and chamber of commerce offices are among the community partnerships that JOO has tapped to underscore the importance of judgeships.

“Since we started JOO, we’ve made substantial progress in getting the word out and encouraging truly wonderful judicial candidates to apply,” said Colorado Supreme Court Justice Richard Gabriel, who also serves as advisor for JOO. “We have work to do, but I think we are heading in the right direction, and that gives me great optimism for the future of our judicial branch.”

Pathways to the Bench

How does someone become a judge? What is it like serving as a judge? These are some of the questions people have when considering a judgeship, and answering them is the crux of JOO's recruitment efforts.

“I see a couple of challenges with recruiting,” said Justice Gabriel. “First, the process of applying to the bench seems mysterious to some and perhaps frightening to others…Second, we obviously live in polarizing times, and public institutions and courts have become subject

to perhaps unprecedented scrutiny and criticism, often in the very harshest of terms,” he said. “By educating people about the process, I think that we can remove the fear of the unknown and inspire talented candidates to apply.”

In 2026, JOO will launch two new programs; the first is Your Honor: Journey to the Bench, a virtual series inspired by the in-person symposium of the same name, designed to provide additional and accessible opportunities for attorneys across Colorado to participate. Speakers are justices and judges who touch on several topics, including “Behind the Robe: A Day in the Life as a Judge” or “Beyond Your Specialty: Learning New Areas of the Law.”

The second program is BenchMark, a revised successor to the Center for Legal Inclusiveness Dream Team that pairs judges with legal professionals interested in a career in the judiciary. Judges who opt to volunteer help others understand what serving as a judge entails by serving as a mentor. Participants are matched with judges based on district or location, availability, and types of law.

Exchange in Knowledge

The mentorship program has a history of success in recruiting new judicial officers to the bench. District Court Judge Jon J. Olafson, who began his judgeship in Denver two years ago, participated in the JOO’s mentorship program through the Dream Team. He now volunteers as a mentor, organizes mock interviews, and educates others about the application process for judge vacancies.

“It’s a huge deal for me, especially for people who are first generation, or from marginalized communities, to help out and demystify the process and do whatever I can to help people in our community become community leaders,” said Judge Olafson.

Judge Olafson, who came from a commercial and corporate litigation background, said one of the doubts he faced was imposter syndrome. It is a challenge many people have when considering a judgeship, so much so that it is a topic that is offered up for discussion through JOO’s Your Honor: Journey to the Bench panel discussions titled “Silencing Self-Doubt: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome.”

“We need judges from all backgrounds, we need judges who have done it all,” said Judge Olafson.

The bench also needs judges who represent the community it serves, and that theme is echoed throughout JOO’s mission. The importance of diversity from a cultural and professional perspective is what widens the road to opportunity to serve as a judge, which JOO is working to achieve.

“There are a ton of studies out there that say a diverse team creates fewer errors, so the more diverse your team is, the fewer errors you are going to have,” said Judge Olafson.

As the saying goes, overcoming what may seem daunting starts with a single step, and for those considering a career in the judiciary, Judge Olafson encourages them to start talking to judges and connecting with JOO to learn about the Colorado Judicial Department. “That first step is really just doing that due diligence and figuring out if this is for me,” he said. “The other…is know your why – why do you want to do this? And ensure that your why is strong enough to get you through the really challenging times – it’s got to be a really good why.”

How to Get Involved

For more information about JOO, visit: https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/human-resources/judicial-outreach

To learn more about JOO’s mission, programs, and Your Honor: Journey to the Bench Symposium and virtual sessions, please contact Nga Vương-Sandoval, judicial officer outreach program lead, at: nga.vuongsandoval@judicial.state.co.us.