October 27, 2011 07:29 PM UTC

Brian Boatright, You're the Next Contest on the Colo. Supreme Court!

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• by: Colorado Pols

Governor John Hickenlooper announced today that he has appointed Brian Boatright to succeed retiring Colorado Supreme Court Justice Alex Martinez.

Full press release after the jump.

Gov. John Hickenlooper announced today his appointment of Judge Brian Boatright to the Colorado Supreme Court. Boatright will replace Justice Alex Martinez, who is retiring Oct. 31 after 14 years on the bench.

“Brian Boatright has a great capacity to listen and evaluate the implications of his decisions,” Hickenlooper said. “He is a seasoned trial judge whose ability to collaborate and find consensus is built on a fundamental understanding of law. We commend him for his public service in the courtroom and for his involvement in the community. Brian will make an outstanding member of the Colorado Supreme Court.”

Boatright, 49, is the 102nd person in the state’s history to be appointed to the Colorado Supreme Court.

He has been a District Court Judge in the 1st Judicial District (Jefferson and Gilpin counties) since 1999. Boatright has dedicated much of his time on the bench presiding over juvenile matters and was voted Colorado CASA Judicial Officer of the Year in 2011.

Boatright also served as a Deputy District Attorney for the 1st Judicial District (1990-1999).  He earlier was an associate attorney at Boatright and Ripp. Boatright earned a bachelor’s degree from Westminster College in Fulton, Mo., and a law degree from the University of Denver. He and his wife have two children and live in Arvada.

Boatright will serve a provisional term of two years. If retained by voters, he will then serve a 10-year term.