Colorado’s Court of Appeals has experienced unusually high turnover recently, with Gov. Jared Polis appointing 11 of its 22 members in little under six years.

As Polis prepares to select a 12th judge to the state’s second-highest court, a familiar name is under consideration: District Court Judge Priscilla J. Loew.

For each of the past six vacancies on the court, the citizen-led nominating commission has listed her as a finalist. Polis, who participates in interviews for all Court of Appeals appointments, has gone in a different direction each time. For Loew, the seventh try may be the one.

“I found each time the list includes talented, smart and highly qualified candidates, anyone of whom would make a terrific Court of Appeals judge,” Loew told Colorado Politics in an email. “While not previously appointed, it is my opinion that Governor Polis has provided significant contributions to the Court. I applied again and am grateful the nominating commission expressed their trust in me by placing me on the current list, and for the opportunity to be considered again by Governor Polis.”

Many judges apply multiple times before receiving an appointment. During a panel discussion this year, Judge Ted C. Tow III recalled applying unsuccessfully so many times to the Court of Appeals that he finally walked into an interview with the nominating commission and joked, “We have to stop meeting like this.”

Nonetheless, the holding pattern for Loew’s nomination is unusual.

Loew, of the 17th Judicial District in Adams and Broomfield counties, first appeared on the commission’s shortlist for a Court of Appeals vacancy in May 2021. She was again shortlisted in October 2021, then for a pair of vacancies in 2022. Loew remained a finalist for another pair of 2023 vacancies before reappearing this month for the seat of outgoing Judge Anthony J. Navarro. The other two candidates on the list are also making a repeat appearance as finalists.

People familiar with judicial selection speculated Loew was a strong candidate who likely received encouragement from the commission, the governor’s office or both to keep applying. A spokesperson for Polis confirmed he understands Loew is “a very qualified candidate.”

“Colorado is fortunate to have an incredible talent pool for the state’s judicial positions. With every vacancy, Governor Polis is focused on finding the best candidate for each available position and carefully considers each application as they are put forward by the nominating commission,” said press secretary Shelby Wieman.

Loew is a 2017 appointee of then-Gov. John Hickenlooper to the trial court bench. Voters retained her in 2020 and she has handled criminal, juvenile delinquency and child welfare cases. If appointed, she would only be the sixth current Court of Appeals member with experience as a trial judge. She would also be the fourth trial judge to come from the 17th Judicial District.

Polis has until Aug. 24 to make a selection. Loew’s competitors for the seat are longtime Jefferson County District Court Judge Christopher Zenisek and Melissa C. Meirink, a staff attorney for the state Supreme Court whose work involves reviewing Court of Appeals decisions.