When Governor Ritter took office in 2007, he sought input from Colorado's diverse bar associations, including the Colorado GLBT Bar Association, regarding judicial nominees. In response, the Colorado GLBT Bar Association formed a Judicial Endorsements Committee in order to evaluate nominees for the GLBT Bar Association's input to the Governor and possible endorsement. Short-list nominees are invited to participate in our evaluation process. Nearly all the nominees contacted by the Committee have been willing to go through our evaluation process, and many actively seek our endorsement. The Committee evaluates the information provided in the nominees' applications, confers with their references within the GLBT community, considers input from our membership, and usually holds a short teleconference with each individual nominee. Nominees are evaluated for their qualifications to be a judge. They are also evaluated for their familiarity with, and sensitivity to, legal issues that affect the GLBT community.

The Committee generally holds this evaluation process for all nominees to the appellate courts in Colorado, as well as county and district courts in the Denver metro area, including Adams County, Arapahoe County, Boulder County, Denver County, Douglas County and Jefferson County. As time and resources permit, nominees from other judicial districts are considered for the GLBT Bar Association's input and endorsement if they contact the Committee.

Through 2008 the Committee has held this evaluation process for 25 judicial vacancies. Eleven of the GLBT Bar Association's recommendations have been appointed by Governor Bill Ritter or Mayor John Hickenlooper. The nominees who have gone through this process have commented about how fair and informative it has been. Some have even remarked how it was helpful to understand the GLBT legal issues that may come before them. The Governor's Office has also informed the Committee that the Governor has found the GLBT Bar Association's input helpful.

Volunteers are always needed to serve on subcommittees that evaluate nominees for a particular vacancy. If you are interested in serving on one of these subcommittees, please contact Jason Prussman at jason.prussman@huschblackwell.com