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Colorado Supreme Court elections
There are seven justices on the Colorado Supreme Court. For more information about these elections, visit the Colorado judicial elections page.
Judicial selection
- See also: Judicial selection in Colorado
The seven justices on the Colorado Supreme Court are selected through the assisted appointment method. Each justice is appointed by the governor from a list of names compiled by the Colorado Supreme Court Nominating Commission.[1][2]
Initial terms last at least two years, after which justices must stand for retention in a yes-no election. Subsequent terms last 10 years.[2]
Qualifications
To serve on this court, a justice must be:[3]
- a qualified elector in the state;
- licensed to practice law in the state for five years; and
- under the age of 72 (retirement by 72 is mandatory).
Chief justice
The chief justice of the supreme court is selected by peer vote. Beginning in January 2021, the chief justice began serving for a set term on a rotating basis. Previously, the chief justice served indefinitely as long as he or she had the support of his or her peers.[4]
Vacancies
If a midterm vacancy occurs on the court, the seat is filled as it normally would be if the vacancy occurred at the end of a justice's term. A judicial nominating commission recommends to the governor three qualified candidates for an appellate court vacancy (two or three for a trial court vacancy), and the governor selects a successor from that list. After occupying the seat for two years, the newly appointed justice stands for retention in the next general election. The justice then serves a full 10-year term if he or she is retained by voters.[2]
The map below highlights how vacancies are filled in state supreme courts across the country.
Elections
See also: Colorado Supreme Court elections, 2030
Melissa Hart's seat
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
Carlos Samour Jr.'s seat
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
See also: Colorado Supreme Court elections, 2028
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
See also: Colorado Supreme Court elections, 2026
There are no official candidates yet for this election.
See also: Colorado Supreme Court elections, 2024
Brian Boatright's seat
Colorado Supreme Court
Brian Boatright was retained to the Colorado Supreme Court on November 5, 2024 with 62.8% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 62.8 | 1,571,597 |
| No | 37.2 | 930,272 | |
| Total Votes | 2,501,869 |
 | The results have been certified. Source |
Monica Márquez' seat
Colorado Supreme Court
Monica Márquez was retained to the Colorado Supreme Court on November 5, 2024 with 64.1% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 64.1 | 1,613,684 |
| No | 35.9 | 905,209 | |
| Total Votes | 2,518,893 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Maria Berkenkotter's seat
Colorado Supreme Court
Maria Berkenkotter was retained to the Colorado Supreme Court on November 5, 2024 with 66.8% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 66.8 | 1,685,363 |
| No | 33.2 | 837,630 | |
| Total Votes | 2,522,993 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
See also: Colorado Supreme Court elections, 2020
Carlos Armando Samour Jr.'s seat
Colorado Supreme Court
Carlos Armando Samour Jr. was retained to the Colorado Supreme Court on November 3, 2020 with 73.4% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 73.4 | 1,966,343 |
| No | 26.6 | 710,809 | |
| Total Votes | 2,677,152 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
Melissa Hart's seat
Colorado Supreme Court
Melissa Hart was retained to the Colorado Supreme Court on November 3, 2020 with 74.6% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 74.6 | 2,020,956 |
| No | 25.4 | 689,323 | |
| Total Votes | 2,710,279 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
See also: Colorado Supreme Court elections, 2018
Colorado Supreme Court
Richard Gabriel was retained to the Colorado Supreme Court on November 6, 2018 with 74.3% of the vote.
Retention Vote | % | Votes | |
| ✔ | Yes | 74.3 | 1,497,141 |
| No | 25.7 | 517,347 | |
| Total Votes | 2,014,488 |
| The results have been certified. Source |
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Colorado Judicial Branch, "Colorado Supreme Court," accessed March 28, 2023
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Colorado Judicial Branch, "Judicial Nominating Commissions," accessed March 28, 2023
- ↑ Colorado Judicial Branch, "What it takes to become a Judge," accessed March 28, 2023
- ↑ The Denver Post, "Colorado Supreme Court to impose term lengths for chief justice as current one retires," August 19, 2020
Federal courts:
Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Colorado • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Colorado
State courts:
Colorado Supreme Court • Colorado Court of Appeals • Colorado District Courts • Colorado County Courts • Denver Probate Court • Denver Juvenile Court • Colorado Municipal Courts • Colorado Water Courts
State resources:
Courts in Colorado • Colorado judicial elections • Judicial selection in Colorado
