Brian Boatright

Brian Boatright
Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court
In office
January 1, 2021 – July 26, 2024
Appointed byJohn Hickenlooper
Preceded byNathan B. Coats
Succeeded byMonica Márquez
Associate Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court
Incumbent
Assumed office
November 21, 2011
Appointed byJohn Hickenlooper
Preceded byAlex J. Martinez
Personal details
Born (1962-06-16) June 16, 1962 (age 62)
Golden, Colorado, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationWestminster College (BA)
University of Denver (JD)

Brian Boatright (born June 16, 1962) is an American lawyer and judge, who served as the chief justice of the Colorado Supreme Court from January 1, 2021 to July 26, 2024.[1] He previously served as a judge on the Colorado District Court from 1999 to 2011.[1]

Education and early career

Boatright was born in Golden, Colorado, and graduated from Jefferson High School in Edgewater, Colorado, in 1980.[1] He completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1984 at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, and received a Juris Doctor degree in 1988 from the Sturm College of Law of the University of Denver.[1][2]

After a brief period in private practice, Boatright served from 1990 to 1999 as a deputy district attorney in Colorado's 1st judicial district.[1] This district covers two counties, Gilpin and Jefferson, which are immediately west of Denver and part of the Denver metropolitan area.

Judicial service

In 1999, the Republican Governor Bill Owens appointed Boatright as a state judge on the Jefferson County District Court.[1] He was elected to new term on the court in a retention election in 2002 with 72% of the vote, and again in 2008 with 96% of the vote.[3][4] Boatright oversaw more than 100 jury trials, and became known for his experience in juvenile court and family law.[2][5]

In 2011, Justice Alex J. Martinez announced that he would resign, effective from October 31, 2011.[6] The Colorado Judicial Nominating Commission selected Boatright as one of three possible candidates to replace Martinez.[5] The other two candidates were attorney Frederick Martinez and University of Colorado lawyer Patrick O'Rourke.[7] Democratic governor John Hickenlooper announced Boatright, a registered Republican, as his choice to replace Martinez on October 27, 2011.[5][8]

Boatright was sworn in as a member of the Colorado Supreme Court on November 21, 2011.[1] He was re-elected to a new ten-year term in a retention election in November 2014, where he received 68.5% of the vote.[9] Boatright's current term on the court expires on January 14, 2025.[10] When Nathan B. Coats retired on January 1, 2021, Boatright succeeded him as chief justice.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Brian D. Boatright". Colorado Judicial Branch. State of Colorado. 2017. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Glasgow, Greg (February 16, 2012). "Colorado Supreme Court justice to deliver DU Law Commencement address". University of Denver Magazine. Denver. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  3. ^ Davidson, Donetta (2002). "Official Publication of the Abstract of Votes Cast for the 2001 Coordinated, 2002 Primary, 2002 General" (PDF). Office of the Secretary of State. State of Colorado. p. 132. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  4. ^ Buescher, Bernie (2008). "Official Publication of the Abstract of Votes Cast for the 2008 Primary, 2008 General" (PDF). Office of the Secretary of State. State of Colorado. p. 127. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  5. ^ a b c Fender, Jessica (October 27, 2011). "Brian Boatright brings family-law expertise to Colorado Supreme Court". Denver Post. Denver. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  6. ^ Willis, Zachary (August 26, 2011). "Colorado Supreme Court Justice Alex J. Martinez to Resign after Accepting New Position". Legal Connection. Colorado Bar Association. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  7. ^ Van Buren, Davina (October 24, 2011). "Meet the Nominees: Hickenlooper to Name New Supreme Court Justice". 5280 Denver's Mile High Magazine. Denver. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  8. ^ Cronin, Thomas; Loevy, Robert (2012). Colorado Politics and Policy: Governing a Purple State. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press. p. 241. ISBN 978-0-8032-4074-2.
  9. ^ Williams, Wayne (2014). "2014 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Office of the Secretary of State. State of Colorado. p. 125. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  10. ^ Williams, Wayne (2014). "2014 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Office of the Secretary of State. State of Colorado. p. 13. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  11. ^ "Maria Berkenkotter, former Boulder County judge, appointed to Colorado Supreme Court". The Denver Post. 2020-11-20. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
Legal offices
Preceded by Associate Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court
2011–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court
2021–2024 		Succeeded by