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Law Firm Updates
Ireland Stapleton Pryor & Pascoe, PC announced attorney India Kidd-Aaron joined the firm as an associate. Before joining Ireland Stapleton, Kidd-Aaron enforced Colorado’s securities laws as an assistant attorney general at the Colorado Attorney General’s office.
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck announced the appointment of Airina Rodrigues and David Spaulding, shareholders in the firm’s Denver office, as its co-chairs of diversity, equity and inclusion. Rodrigues, who works in the firm’s intellectual property department, is an active member of the firm’s women’s leadership initiative and the committee on diversity, inclusion and equity, where she serves on its steering committee. Spaulding, who works in the firm’s corporate and business department, is an active committee member on diversity, inclusion and equity and served as co-chair of the firm’s pride employee resource group. In their new roles, Rodrigues and Spaulding will collaborate with Margaux Trammell, the firm’s chief talent officer, to support the firm’s strategic planning efforts and continue to emphasize diversity, equity and inclusion across recruiting, retention and professional development efforts.
Moye White LLP welcomed Marissa Kazemi to the firm’s real estate and business and corporate practice groups. Kazemi’s practice focuses on clients in the commercial real estate space and in general business and corporate governance matters. She advises on drafting and reviewing commercial leases, purchase and sale agreements, acquisitions and dispositions and loan documents. In addition to her law practice, Kazemi serves as the associate board co-chair of the American Red Cross, Colorado and Wyoming. Prior to joining Moye White, Kazemi represented local and national companies in oil and gas and other energy infrastructure projects. Kazemi earned her law degree from the University of Denver and her undergraduate degree from Florida Atlantic University.
The Judiciary
The 4th Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet on May 1 to interview and select nominees for district judge for the 4th Judicial District. Two vacancies will be created: one by the resignation of Judge Marla Prudek and the other by the retirement of Judge Scott Sells and will occur on June 1 and July 1 respectively. Applications are available here and must be e-mailed to [email protected] no later than 4 p.m. on April 8. Late applications won’t be considered. Any person wishing to suggest a candidate may send a letter to any member of the nominating commission with a copy to the ex officio chair no later than 4 p.m. on April 1.
The 7th Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet on April 29 to interview and select nominees for district judge for the 7th Judicial District. The vacancy will be created by the retirement of Judge J. Steven Patrick and will occur July 1. Applications are available here and must be e-mailed to [email protected] no later than 4 p.m. on April 8. Late applications won’t be considered. Any person wishing to suggest a candidate may send a letter to any member of the nominating commission with a copy to the ex officio chair no later than 4 p.m. on April 1.
The courts and the offices of the Public Defender and District Attorney for the 8th Judicial District scheduled a warrant clearance and community resource fair on Saturday, April 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Loveland. The event is designed to provide resources and clear eligible warrants to provide opportunities for people to resolve their legal matters. Offenses that are eligible for warrant clearance include some misdemeanor, traffic and petty drug charges; some class 5 and class 6 felonies; class 4 felony drug charges; Loveland Municipal Court charges; and charges for failure to register as a sex offender. In addition to clearing warrants, attendees can connect with community resources for health, employment and other assistance. To verify eligibility or any questions about this event, contact the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender at 970-493-1212 or [email protected].
Colorado’s 12th Judicial District launched its new competency court docket in a push to help address the growing number of defendants in need of competency-restoration services before their cases can move forward. The competency court, which for now is limited to defendants with cases in Alamosa County, began operations in January and is meeting twice a month. It will determine, on an individualized basis, if community-based resources and restoration services could be employed through a collaborative model under the supervision and direction of the competency court. Defendants in the program will have regular check-ins with the competency court to ensure their compliance. Once program participants are found competent to proceed in their cases, they will be transferred back to the court to which their case was originally assigned.
Gov. Jared Polis announced a panel to review applications and recommend finalists for the appointment of the new district attorney for the 16th Judicial District. The vacancy was created by the appointment of DA William Culver to the Otero County Court, effective May 1. Panel members include Gov. Bill Ritter, DA for the 1st Judicial District Alexis King, DA for the 21st Judicial District Dan Rubenstein, DA for the 10th Judicial District Jeff Chostner and Chief Legal Counsel to Gov. Polis Kara Veitch. The application process will remain open until qualified candidates are found. Interviews will begin the week of April 1. Those interested can submit a resume and cover letter to [email protected].
The 19th Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet on May 1 to interview and select nominees for district judge for the 19th Judicial District. The vacancy will be created by the retirement of Judge Meghan Saleebey and will occur April 27. Applications are available here and must be e-mailed to [email protected] no later than 4 p.m. on April 17. Late applications won’t be considered. Any person wishing to suggest a candidate may send a letter to any member of the nominating commission with a copy to the ex officio chair no later than 4 p.m. on April 10.
The 21st Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet on May 13 to interview and select nominees for district judge for the 21st Judicial District. The vacancy will be created by the resignation of Judge Richard Gurley and will occur on June 1. Applications are available here and must be e-mailed to [email protected] no later than 4 p.m. on April 15. Late applications won’t be considered. Any person wishing to suggest a candidate may send a letter to any member of the nominating commission with a copy to the ex officio chair no later than 4 p.m. on April 8.
The 22nd Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet via videoconference on April 15 to interview and select nominees for county judge for Dolores County. The vacancy will be created by the resignation of Judge Matthew Margeson and will occur on June 1. Applications are available here and must be e-mailed to [email protected] no later than 4 p.m. on March 29. Late applications won’t be considered. Any person wishing to suggest a candidate may send a letter to any member of the nominating commission with a copy to the ex officio chair no later than 4 p.m. on March 22.
The Colorado Judicial Department announced it has opened the application period for Fiscal Year 2025 grants from the Court Security Cash Fund. Grants to Colorado counties are awarded based on a priority schedule set in statute. Counties that meet at least two of the four statutory criteria have priority to receive funding. The Colorado Court Security Cash Fund has about $2.2 million available for grants for fiscal 2025. The grant application, rules, a map and a list of the counties meeting the priority and criteria and other information can be found here. Grant applications must be submitted to the Office of the State Court Administrator’s grant management system, AmpliFund, by 5 p.m. on April 12. Late or incomplete applications won’t be considered. Any questions may be sent to [email protected].
Polis appointed Howard Richards Sr. to the Colorado Board of Veterans Affairs. Richards is the former chairman of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. He is the first tribal member to serve on the veteran’s board. He was raised on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation and served in the U.S. Army. Richards currently serves as commander of the Southern Ute Veterans Association, which he co-founded in 1986.
Kudos
Moye White announced attorney Jennifer Knight Lang has been appointed to the advisory board for The Numbers Holding Company. The Numbers Holding company owns and operates the social halls Number 38 in Denver, Colorado, and Number 15 in Louisville, Kentucky. As a member of the advisory board, Lang will leverage her legal background in construction and real estate as the company continues to fulfill its vision of establishing places that highlight local creators in burgeoning neighborhoods.