magistrate judge
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Colorado’s federal trial court rolls out ‘chief magistrate judge’ position
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Colorado’s federal trial court recently inaugurated a new leadership position, “chief magistrate judge,” in response to a request from the entire magistrate judge bench. Michael E. Hegarty, the most senior magistrate judge who joined the court in 2006, will be the first to hold the title of chief. “Judge Michael Hegarty is one of the…
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Kato Crews confirmed by Senate to Colorado’s federal trial court
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The U.S. Senate confirmed S. Kato Crews to a judgeship on Colorado’s U.S. District Court on Wednesday by a vote of 51-48, restoring the trial court to its full roster of seven active judges. With Crews’ confirmation, President Joe Biden has now appointed five of the court’s members, marking an unusually high level of turnover during…
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2 federal judges provide rare glimpse into lawyers’ reviews of their performance
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Two of Colorado’s federal judges on Thursday provided a rare behind-the-scenes look at the performance reviews attorneys have given them, including those that are less-than-flattering. “He looks embarrassing on the bench. Disheveled, disinterested and unprepared,” wrote one lawyer. “Disheveled?” said the target of the review, U.S. Magistrate Judge N. Reid Neureiter. “Sometimes I ride my…
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Mesa County judge imposed illegal sentence, appeals court finds
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Colorado’s second-highest court last week agreed that a Mesa County judge imposed an illegal sentence and also failed to adequately explain why he subjected a defendant to lifetime sex offender registration. Mesa County District Court Judge Richard T. Gurley sentenced Joshua James Ellis to 15 years in prison plus five years of parole after Ellis…
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Mesa County judge chosen to be part-time federal judge
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Mesa County District Court Judge Richard T. Gurley will be Colorado’s next federal judge, taking office as the U.S. District Court’s part-time magistrate judge stationed in Grand Junction. Gov. Bill Owens appointed Gurley in 2006, eight years after the latter moved to Colorado from Florida. Prior to joining the judiciary, Gurley practiced criminal defense and…
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‘An Energizer Bunny’: Susan Prose ceremonially sworn in as federal judge
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The last time the federal government shut down, many employees needed to halt their work until Congress and the White House resolved the funding dispute. For Susan Prose, a lawyer with the U.S. Attorney’s Office at the time, it was reportedly her “personal hell.” Kevin Traskos, a supervisor in the office, said after a few…
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Four Firsts: Biden’s first four judicial appointees in Colorado have begun to make their mark
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One month before President-elect Joe Biden would take office, his incoming White House counsel, Dana Remus, sent a letter to Democratic senators outlining the new administration’s expectations for who the president would consider for high-level appointments in the justice system. “With respect to each of these positions,” she wrote, “President-elect Biden is eager to nominate…
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Kato Crews appears before Senate committee, fields tense questions about judicial record
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The Biden administration’s nominee to fill an upcoming federal court vacancy in Colorado appeared for his confirmation hearing on Wednesday with a strong endorsement of his character from the state’s legal community, while facing a tense line of questioning from one Republican U.S. senator. S. Kato Crews, who is currently a magistrate judge for Colorado’s…
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Second federal judge in Colorado adopts plain English summaries in decisions
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A second federal judge in Colorado appears to have adopted the practice of summarizing her decisions in plain English for people who represent themselves before the court. U.S. District Court Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney, a 2022 appointee of President Joe Biden, recently issued multiple written orders in cases where the plaintiffs are “pro se,” meaning…
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2 new federal judges named for Colorado
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Susan Prose and Kathryn Starnella, two attorneys with the top federal and state prosecutors’ offices in Colorado, will be the next judges to serve on the federal trial court based in Denver. The U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado on Monday announced that the two women have been appointed as magistrate judges. A…
