A state intermediate appellate court / Established 1970

Colorado Court of Appeals

Denver · An intermediate appellate court in Colorado.

The Colorado Court of Appeals is an intermediate appellate court in Colorado, the tier between the state's trial courts and the Colorado Supreme Court. Its judges are chosen by gubernatorial appointment from a nominating commission, followed by retention elections, the same method Colorado uses for its court of last resort. This page lists every judge to serve on the court, current and former.

52
Judges in history
26
Currently serving
Merit selection
Selection
10-yr
Term
Current judges
Former judges
JudgeYears
Sean Connelly2008–2011
Marsha M. Piccone2004–2005
Russell Carparelli2003–2013
Robert M. Russel2003–2012
Henry H. Nieto1999–2005
Joann L. Vogt1997–2009
Rebecca Love Kourlis1996–2006
Robert J. Kapelke1994–2005
Arthur P. Roy1994–2012
Sandra I. Rothenberg1990–2009
Edwin G. Ruland1989–2002
Janice B. Davidson1988–2013
Claus J. Hume1988–2003
Raymond Dean Jones1988–2003
Jose D.L. Marquez1988–2008
Peter H. Ney1988–2003
Leonard Plank1988–2002
John A. Criswell1986–2011
Lewis Thornton Babcock1983–1988
Karen Metzger1983–2003
Dale Tursi1981–1993
Howard M. Kirshbaum1980–1983
Aurel Maxey Kelly1974–1990
Donald P. Smith Jr.1972–1993
Philip G. Dufford1970–1971
David W. Enoch1970–1988

How a judge reaches this court. Judges of the Colorado Court of Appeals are appointed by the governor to 10-year terms and then face yes-or-no retention elections. Selection methods vary by jurisdiction and have changed over time; this page reflects the court’s current method (source: National Center for State Courts). Open any judge to see their tenure and whom they succeeded.

Source: CourtListener / Free Law Project (bulk data); selection method from the National Center for State Courts. Data last verified 2026-06-30. Verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).