Colorado Judicial Institute

5437 S. Rome St.
Aurora, CO 80015
303-766-7501
303-975-5290 Fax
danacji@comcast.net

A Shared Vision of Judicial Excellence

The Colorado Judicial Institute is one of the only independent and nonpartisan citizen’s groups in the nation devoted to the excellence and independence of its state courts. Established in 1979, CJI was originally formed to preserve Colorado’s merit election system for judges. Its mission has broadened to include public education about the judiciary, support for judicial education, recognition of judicial excellence, and collaboration with the public, the legislature and the judiciary to improve Colorado’s courts.

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Judicial Excellence for Colorado Dinner Raises Over $30,000.

The first annual Judicial Excellence for Colorado Dinner, held November 6th 2003 at the Denver Marriott City Center, was a remarkable success. All funds raised from the dinner benefited the Judicial Education Preservation Fund. The fund was established by CJI in early 2003 in response to drastic state budget cuts to the entire judicial department.

Emmy award winning 7NEWS Anchor Bertha Lynn served as Emcee for the evening. Ms. Lynn thanked all of the sponsors of the dinner - listed below - and recognized Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court Mary Mullarkey. Ms. Lynn graciously spoke of the many people in the room who worked through CJI and individually to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and accessibility of the Colorado court system.

Board Members Connie Talmage and Ralph Torres then took great pleasure in presenting CJI's 2003 Judicial Excellence Awards to three outstanding judges. Our 2003 award winners demonstrate a commitment to excellence and innovation through their community activities, continuing education and mentoring, and dedication to an independent merit-based judiciary.

Bertha Lynn of Denver's 7NEWS served as emcee. Photo courtesy of Patrick Kenney.

2003 Judicial Excellence Award Winners
	District Court Judge Honorable Harlan R. Bockman Chief Judge 17th Judicial District
Hon. Harlan Bockman, Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey & Joyce Bockman. Photo courtesy of Patrick Kenney	County Court Honorable Charles T. Hoppin 1st Judicial District, Jefferson County
Hon. T.J. Cole & Jennifer Genova. Photo courtesy of Patrick Kenney.	Magistrate Honorable Tijani (T.J.) Cole 20th Judicial District, District Court For biographical information on the 2003 Judicial Excellence Award Winners, please click on this link.	Connie Talmage, Hon. Charles Hoppin & Ralph Torres. Photos courtesy of Patrick Kenney.

The keynote speaker for the evening was Dean Gene Nichol of the University of North Carolina School of Law. For more information about Dean Nichol, please visit the UNC website. Dean Nichol, formerly of the University of Colorado Law School, agreed to make the trip back to Colorado to recognize the importance of an independent judiciary and support the efforts of CJI to ensure excellence in the court system. His speech, entitled "The American Tradition of Independent Courts" proposed that in the absence of an independent judiciary many of the gains of the last century, specifically in the arena of civil rights, would not have occurred. Dean Nichol praised the rulings of judges such as former Chief Justice Earl Warren and Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor who have demonstrated the courage to overcome political and social pressure to, in the words of Alexander Hamilton, "regulate their decisions by fundamental law."	Dean Gene Nichol. Photo courtesy of Patrick Kenney.
Dean Nichol praised Colorado's merit-based judicial selection system pointing out the pitfalls of having sitting judges constantly raising funds for partisan re-election campaigns. In the words of Dean Nichol, Colorado "gets it right" with the merit based selection system followed by retention elections.
The First Annual Judicial Excellence for Colorado Dinner exceeded all expectations. CJI is thankful for the tremendous support of a wide spectrum of the Denver community and is pleased to recognize the work of excellent judges statewide. In order to ensure judicial excellence in Colorado we must have not only high expectations but the willingness to actively work toward change. CJI thanks Bertha Lynn, Gene Nichol, our many sponsors, members, attendees and award winners for demonstrating that willingness.

THE COLORADO JUDICIAL INSTITUTE
Extends a special thank you to the many sponsors of the 2003
Judicial Excellence for Colorado Dinner

G O L D S P O N S O R S
Baker & Hostetler LLP
Denver Marriott City Center
Haddon, Morgan, Mueller, Jordan, Mackey & Foreman, P.C.
Holland & Hart LLP
Holme Roberts & Owen LLP

S I L V E R S P O N S O R S
Arnold & Porter
Burns Figa & Will P.C.
CBIZ Accounting, Tax and Advisory Of Colorado, Inc.
CIBER, Inc.
Colorado Bar Association
Constance M. Platt
Coors Brewing Company
Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP
Dufford & Brown, P.C.
Faegre & Benson LLP
Gutterman Griffiths & Powell PC
J. Daniel Brinker & Co.
Jacobs Chase Frick Kleinkopf & Kelley LLC
Kutak Rock LLP
McConnell Siderius Fleischner Houghtaling & Craigmile, LLC
McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP
Morrison & Foerster LLP
Patten, MacPhee & Associates, Inc.

B R O N Z E S P O N S O R S
Arapahoe County Bar Association
Duke Energy Field Services
Hein + Associates LLP
Judicial Arbiter Group
Mackereth Lombritto & Associates, Inc.
Montgomery, Kolodny, Amatuzio & Dusbabek, L.L.P.
Mountain States Employers Council
Moye Giles LLP
Qwest Communications International Inc.
Talmey-Drake Research & Strategy, Inc.
Timmins & Associates, L.L.C.
University of Denver College of Law
Walters & Joyce, P.C.

Other Contributors
Denver Boulder Couriers
Paralegal Resource Center, Inc.

A Special Thanks To

Holland & Hart LLP - For designing the event program.
IKON Office Solutions, Inc - For printing the event program.
Primo Vino - For providing all the wine for the dinner.

The Colorado Judicial Institute looks forward to seeing you at the
2004 Judicial Excellence for Colorado Dinner!