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Natalie Chase
Peter Michaelson was a judge of the Colorado 18th Judicial District. He assumed office in 2015. He left office in 2023.
Michaelson ran for re-election for judge of the Colorado 18th Judicial District. He won in the retention election on November 6, 2018.
On April 16, 2021, the Colorado Supreme Court censured Chase for using a racial slur, making insensitive comments to judicial employees, and asking employees to do personal tasks for her during work hours. She resigned effective May 31, 2021.[1]
Biography
Chase earned her undergraduate and J.D. degrees from the University of Denver in 2000 and 2003. Prior to her appointment, Chase was a co-owner for the law firm of Shafer & Chase.[2]
Elections
2016
Colorado held judicial retention elections in 2016. Fifty-eight district court judges sought retention to six-year terms in the general election on November 8, 2016.
Natalie Chase was retained in the Colorado 18th Judicial District, Natalie Chase Retention Election with 67.75 percent of the vote.
| Colorado 18th Judicial District, Natalie Chase Retention Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Yes votes | |
 Natalie Chase | 67.75% | |
| Source: Colorado Secretary of State, "Unofficial election results," accessed November 8, 2016 | ||
Selection method
- See also: Assisted appointment
There are 164 judges on the Colorado District Courts, each appointed by the governor from a list of names compiled by a nominating commission. Initial terms last at least two years, after which judges must stand for retention in a yes-no election. Subsequent terms last six years.[3]
The court's chief judge is appointed by the chief justice of the supreme court to serve indefinitely.[3]
Qualifications
To serve on the district court, a judge must be:[3]
- a qualified elector in the district;
- licensed to practice law in state for five years; and
- under the age of 72 (retirement by 72 is mandatory).
Noteworthy events
Censure and resignation (2021)
On April 16, 2021, Chase was censured by the Colorado Supreme Court for using a racial slur, making offensive comments to court employees, and for asking employees to do personal tasks for her. In the order issued by the court, Chase acknowledged she had "undermined confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary by expressing (her) views about criminal justice, police brutality, race and racial bias, specifically while wearing (her) robe in court staff work areas and from the bench." She agreed to resign effective on May 31, 2021.[1]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 CNN, "Judge resigns after admitting to using n-word and saying all lives matter while at work," April 20, 2021
- ↑ Colorado Governor, "Gov. Hickenlooper appoints three District Court Judges," June 6, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Colorado," archived October 2, 2014
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
