The newest justice of the Colorado Supreme Court will be Judge Richard Gabriel, Gov. John Hickenlooper announced Tuesday at the Capitol.

“He has a reputation for hard work and determination, but also for integrity and generosity,” Hickenlooper said. “We’ll take a bright star on our Court of Appeals and allow it to shine even more brightly on our Supreme Court.”

He will fill the seat of retiring Justice Gregory Hobbs, who leaves the high court on Sept. 1 after serving there since 1996.Gabriel sits on Colorado’s Court of Appeals. He was appointed to that court in 2008 by Gov. Bill Ritter.

Gabriel was one of three finalists named for the vacancy earlier this month by a 15-member nominating committee. Judge David Prince of the El Paso County District Court and University of Colorado Law Professor Melissa Hart were the other finalists.

“We had three remarkable candidates,” Hickenlooper said. “I’d be hard-pressed to imagine three more qualified candidates.”

Chief Justice Nancy Rice praised the selection process during the press conference announcing the appointment.

“Judge Gabriel getting appointed today is the result of a lot of work that starts with a nominating commission,” she said, pointing out that the bipartisan panel included both lawyers and non-lawyers.

“On behalf of the Court, we’re so happy to be getting Rich,” Rice said. “I plan to have Rich working very hard from the first hour.”

Discussing his judicial philosophy, Gabriel described how he approaches cases, saying he determines the applicable law and then applies that law dispassionately to the facts before him. A judge’s chief job, he said, is to decide the specific case before him – keeping in mind that it’s between specific parties – and to ensure the parties are given a full, fair and equal opportunity to be heard.

“I believe deeply that our courts exist to ensure equal justice under the law, and we do that by applying the rule of law fairly and impartially to everyone who appears in front of us,” he said. “We also have a duty to ensure access to justice for all citizens, which is a significant issue facing many Colorado citizens today.”

Gabriel was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and raised in Long Island, N.Y. The governor pointed out that he is one of seven children with working-class parents, and that his father worked at a delicatessen to support the family.

“He learned from his father the virtues of hard work, the value of integrity. I think he took those core values with him as he worked his way up,” Hickenlooper said. “He’s continued to take those core values and bring them with him throughout his professional career.”

Gabriel acknowledged his parents during the press conference.

“I need to say that I very much feel the presence of my late mother and father here today,” he said. “As the governor pointed out, they were working-class people who worked very hard, and they gave their all so their children’s lives would be better than their own.”

He was joined by his wife, Jill Wichlens, and their youngest daughter, Kathleen. (The couple’s older daughter, Laura, is working in Boston and couldn’t be there for the announcement.)

“I also need to thank all of my colleagues on the Court of Appeals,” he said. “You have all taught me how to be a better judge, and, I hope, how to be a good colleague. There are no words that I could come up with to express my gratitude for all you have done. You are – and always will be – family to me.”

The governor took a moment to recognize Hobbs – who was not present due to a family commitment – for his service to the state.

“I do want the record to show that the service that Justice Hobbs has provided over these last decades has been superlative,” Hickenlooper said. “Everyone talks about his knowledge and capacity around water law, but if you go back and look, he has been involved around so many important decisions and has given outside the court so selflessly of his time. He has been an incredible public servant.”

Gabriel received his undergraduate degree from Yale University and his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law. Prior to becoming a judge, he was an associate and partner at Holme, Roberts & Owen, where he specialized in general complex and commercial litigation, including business torts, intellectual property, products liability, probate litigation and appeals.

Gabriel also demonstrates his dedication to his community, Hickenlooper said, noting his work with the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Academy, Volunteers of America and the Colorado Wind Ensemble.

“I would ask, also, how often does a governor get to appoint a really good trumpet player to the Supreme Court?” Hickenlooper said with a grin.

The governor said he received numerous letters of support for Gabriel.

“I can say that, having gone through this process several times, rarely do you see as many positive letters in support of an individual that reflect his true character, his stature in the community,” Hickenlooper said. “I think it speaks volumes about the man that so many people took time to think, not just to write a quick note, but to think and try to figure out how they can express what it was about Judge Gabriel that they value so deeply.”

“I commit to my soon-to-be colleagues and my current colleagues and all of you here that I will do everything in my power and work very hard every day in pursuit of those magnificent ideas,” Gabriel said.

– rachel@coloradostatesman.com