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Richard Matsch

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Richard Matsch
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Nonpartisan
Prior offices:
United States District Court for the District of Colorado
Years in office: 2003 - 2019

Years in office: 1974 - 2003
Education
Bachelor's
University of Michigan, 1951
Law
University of Michigan Law, 1953
Personal
Birthplace
Burlington, IA


Richard Matsch was an Article III federal judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. He joined the court in 1974 after being nominated by President Richard Nixon. Matsch assumed senior status in 2003.[1] He died on May 26, 2019.[2]

Education

Matsch attended the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and graduated with both his bachelor's and J.D. degrees in 1951 and 1953.[1]

Military service

In 1953, Matsch enlisted and served in the U.S. Army until 1955 when he was honorably discharged.[1]

Professional career

  • 2003-2019: Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado (senior status)
  • 1974-2003: Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
  • 1965-1973: Judicial Referee, District of Colorado
  • 1963-1965: Attorney in private practice
  • 1961-1963: Deputy city attorney, City of Denver and Denver County, Colorado
  • 1959-1961: Assistant U.S. attorney, U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado
  • 1956-1959: Attorney in private practice[1]

Judicial career

District of Colorado

On the recommendation of U.S. Senator Peter Hoyt Dominick, Matsch was nominated by President Richard Nixon on January 31, 1974, to a seat vacated by Judge Olin Chilson as Chilson assumed senior status.[1] Matsch was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 1, 1974, and received commission on March 8, 1974. Matsch served as the Chief Judge of the court from 1994 to 2000 before later assuming senior status on July 1, 2003.[1]

Noteworthy cases

Open carrying of guns in post offices (2011)

See also: United States District Court for the District of Colorado (Debbie Bonidy, Tab Bonidy, et al. v. United States Postal Service, et al., 1:10-cv-02408-RPM)

Judge Matsch refused a motion for dismissal brought by the U.S. Postal Service in suit brought by a couple challenging post offices' status as "sensitive places." The couple claims that the post office's refusal to allow guns on its property makes it impossible for them to retrieve their mail because they do not receive home delivery. Currently, it is lawful to ban guns in what are known as "sensitive places" and a ruling in the Fifth Circuit confirms that precedent is on the Postal Service's side. Colorado, however, does not reside within the Fifth Circuit's jurisdiction and therefore cannot allow that case to influence this one directly. The post office filed its motion stating these facts, as well as, noting that the couple could simply leave their guns in their car as they got their mail.[3][4]

See also

External links

Footnotes

Political offices
Preceded by:
Olin Chilson
District of Colorado
1974–2003
Seat #1
Succeeded by:
Phillip Figa