United States District Court for the District of Colorado

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United States District Court for the District of Colorado
(D. Colo.)
USDC-COLO Logo.png
Location Denver
More locations
Appeals to Tenth Circuit
EstablishedJune 26, 1876
Judges7
Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer
Officers of the court
U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly (interim)
U.S. Marshal Kirk M. Taylor
www.cod.uscourts.gov
U.S. Customhouse U.S. Customhouse in Denver.jpg
U.S. Customhouse

The United States District Court for the District of Colorado (in case citations, D. Colo. or D. Col.) is a federal court in the Tenth Circuit (except for patent claims and claims against the U.S. government under the Tucker Act, which are appealed to the Federal Circuit).

Contents

The District was established on June 26, 1876, pending Colorado statehood on August 1, 1876. [1]

As of June 15,2025, the interim United States attorney for the District is Peter McNeilly. [2]

Organization of the court

The United States District Court for the District of Colorado is the sole federal judicial district in Colorado. [3] Court for the District is held at Colorado Springs, Denver, Durango, and Grand Junction.

Current judges

As of January 12,2024:

#TitleJudgeDuty stationBornTerm of serviceAppointed by
Active Chief Senior
24Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer Denver 19592008–present2019–present— G.W. Bush
29District Judge Daniel D. Domenico Denver 19722019–present—— Trump
30District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez Denver 19632021–present—— Biden
31District Judge Charlotte Sweeney Denver 19692022–present—— Biden
32District Judge Nina Y. Wang Denver 19722022–present—— Biden
33District Judge Gordon Gallagher Grand Junction 19702023–present—— Biden
34District Judge Kato Crews Denver 19752024–present—— Biden
12Senior Judge John L. Kane Jr. Denver 19371977–1988—1988–present Carter
16Senior Judge Lewis Babcock Denver 19431988–20082000–20072008–present Reagan
21Senior Judge Marcia S. Krieger Denver 19542002–20192013–20192019–present G.W. Bush
22Senior Judge Robert E. Blackburn Denver 19502002–2016—2016–present G.W. Bush
25Senior Judge Christine Arguello Denver 19552008–2022—2022–present G.W. Bush
26Senior Judge William J. Martínez Denver 19542010–2023—2023–present Obama
27Senior Judge R. Brooke Jackson Denver 19472011–2021—2021–present Obama
28Senior Judge Raymond P. Moore Denver 19532013–2023—2023–present Obama

Former judges

#JudgeBorn–diedActive service Chief Judge Senior status Appointed byReason for
termination
1 Moses Hallett 1834–19131877–1906—— Grant retirement
2 Robert E. Lewis 1857–19411906–1921—— T. Roosevelt elevation
3 John Foster Symes 1878–19511922–1950—1950–1951 Harding death
4 William Lee Knous 1889–19591950–19591954–1959— Truman death
5 Jean Sala Breitenstein 1900–19861954–1957—— Eisenhower elevation
6 Alfred A. Arraj 1906–19921957–19761959–19761976–1992 Eisenhower death
7 Olin Hatfield Chilson 1903–19911960–1973—1973–1991 Eisenhower death
8 William Edward Doyle 1911–19861961–1971—— Kennedy elevation
9 Fred M. Winner 1912–20031970–19821976–19821982–1984 Nixon retirement
10 Sherman Glenn Finesilver 1927–20061971–19941982–19941994 Nixon retirement
11 Richard Paul Matsch 1930–20191974–20031994–20002003–2019 Nixon death
13 Jim Carrigan 1929–20141979–1994—1994–1995 Carter retirement
14 Zita Leeson Weinshienk 1933–20221979–1998—1998–2011 Carter retirement
15 John Carbone Porfilio 1934–present1982–1985—— Reagan elevation
17 Edward Nottingham 1948–present1989–20082007–2008— G.H.W. Bush resignation
18 Daniel B. Sparr 1931–20061990–2001—2001–2006 G.H.W. Bush death
19 Wiley Young Daniel 1946–20191995–20132008–20132013–2019 Clinton death
20 Walker David Miller 1939–20131996–2008—2008–2013 Clinton death
23 Phillip S. Figa 1951–20082003–2008—— G.W. Bush death

Chief judges

Chief judges have administrative responsibilities with respect to their district court. Unlike the Supreme Court, where one justice is specifically nominated to be chief, the office of chief judge rotates among the district court judges. To be chief, a judge must have been in active service on the court for at least one year, be under the age of 65, and have not previously served as chief judge.

A vacancy is filled by the judge highest in seniority among the group of qualified judges. The chief judge serves for a term of seven years, or until age 70, whichever occurs first. The age restrictions are waived if no members of the court would otherwise be qualified for the position.

When the office was created in 1948, the chief judge was the longest-serving judge who had not elected to retire, on what has since 1958 been known as senior status, or declined to serve as chief judge. After August 6, 1959, judges could not become or remain chief after turning 70 years old. The current rules have been in operation since October 1, 1982.

Succession of seats

U.S. Attorney

See also

References

  1. ↑ https://www.fjc.gov/history/home.nsf/page/courts_district_co.html U.S. District Courts of Colorado, Legislative history, Federal Judicial Center
  2. ↑ "United States Attorney Peter McNeilly". Denver, Colorado: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado. June 17, 2025. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  3. ↑ "28 U.S.C. § 85 - U.S. Code Title 28. Judiciary and Judicial Procedure § 85". Findlaw.
  4. ↑ "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Steiwer to Stephenie". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
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