Wednesday: Judgepedia's "Federal Courts, Empty Benches" Update →Michael Bender
| Michael Bender | |
 | |
| Current Court Information: | |
| Colorado Supreme Court | |
| Title: | Chief Justice |
| Service: | |
| Appointed by: | Roy Romer |
| Active: | 1997-2021 |
| Chief: | 2010-2021 |
| Past post: | Private practice |
| Past term: | 1993-1997 |
| Personal History | |
| Born: | January 7, 1942 |
| Bachelors: | Dartmouth College, 1964 |
| Law School: | University of Colorado School of Law, 1967 |
| Grad. School: | Georgetown Law Center, 1967 |
Contents |
Michael L. Bender is the chief justice of the seven member Colorado Supreme Court. He was nominated by his peers to serve as Chief Justice on December 1, 2010 following the retirement of Mary Mullarkey. He was first appointed to the court in the state's Commission-selection, political appointment method of judicial selection by Governor Roy Romer in 1997. Justice Bender was successfully retained in 2000 and in 2010. His current term will expire in January of 2021.[1][2]
Education
Justice Bender earned his undergraduate from Dartmouth College in 1964. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado School of Law in 1967, the same year in which he also attended the Institute of Criminal Law and Procedure, Masters Program at Georgetown Law Center and the Barrett E. Prettyman Fellowship Training.[2]
Professional career
Following his admission to the bar Bender worked as a Deputy State Public Defender from 1968 until 1971. He then served as an Associate Regional Attorney for the Denver Regional Litigation Center Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from 1974 until 1975. In 1975 he became the Supervising attorney for the Jefferson County, Colorado Public Defenders. In 1977 he was promoted to Division Chief of the Denver Public Defender where he served until 1978. In 1979 he entered private practice with the firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher where he worked until 1980. In 1981 he joined the faculty at the University of Denver College of Law where he would serve until 1986. In 1983 he founded the firm Bender & Treece, P.C. where he would practice until 1993. In 1993 he founded his own private practice Michael L. Bender, P.C. where he practiced until his appointment to the Colorado Supreme Court in 1997.[2]
Awards and Associations
Awards
- Distinguished Achievement Alumni Award, Colorado School of Law, 2006
- Outstanding Judicial Officer of the Year, 2000
- Robert C. Heeney Memorial Award, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1990
- Co-winner, Denver Bar Association Volunteer Lawyer of the Year, 1988
- Faculty Award for Outstanding Student Work, University of Colorado Law Review, 1967[2]
Associations
- Member, Colorado Supreme Court, Chief Justice's Commission on the Legal Professions, 2010-Present
- Member, Colorado Supreme Court, Fairness and Diversity Committee, 2010-Present
- Liaison, Judicial Discipline Commission, 2009
- Member, Colorado Supreme Court, Planning and Analysis Standing Committee, 2008-2010
- Member, Colorado Supreme Court, Water Court Standing Committee, 2008-2009
- Chair, Colorado Judicial Code of Conduct Revision Committee, 2007-2009
- Chair, American Bar Association Criminal Justice Standards Committee, Government Access to Third Party Records, 2007-Present
- Member, Colorado Supreme Court, Judicial Ethics Advisory Board, 2006-Present
- Chair, Judicial Building Steering Committee for the New Ralph Carr Justice Center, 2006-Present
- Chair, Jury Reform Standing Committee, 2006-Present
- Board Member, Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, 2006-2010
- Adjunct professor, University of Colorado School of Law, Professional Ethics, 2004-2007
- Co-Chair, Colorado Supreme Court, Standing Committee of Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct, 2003-2010
- Member, Colorado Supreme Court, Caseflow Leadership Taskforce, 2002
- Member, Colorado Supreme Court, Colorado Judicial Branch Mentoring Committee, 2001-2003
- Member, Colorado Supreme Court, Committee on Ethical Issues in Family Law, 2000-2003
- Member, University of Colorado School of Law, Alumni Board 1999-2001
- Member, Governor's Task Force on Civil Justice Reform, 1999
- Member, Colorado Supreme Court, Public Education Committee, 1998-2005
- Member, Colorado Supreme Court, Colorado’s Attorney Fund for Client Protection, 1998-2010
- Member, Colorado Supreme Court, Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee, 1997-2010
- Member, Colorado Supreme Court, Attorney Regulation Advisory Committee, 1997-2010
- Co-Chair, Colorado Supreme Court, Committee to Review and Revise Attorney Regulation System, 1997-1998
- Member, American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Standards Committee, 1997-2000
- Member, U.S. District Court Committee for Criminal Justice Act for District of Colorado, 1991-1993
- Chair, American Bar Association, Criminal Section, 1990
- Board of Directors, Colorado Trial Lawyer’s Association, 1985-1987
- Board of Directors, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1984-1991
- Board of Governors, Colorado Bar Association, 1980-1982, 1989-1991[2]
Elections
2010
| Colorado Supreme Court, Associate Justice 2010 General election results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
Michael Bender 
|
872,387 | 60.4% | ||
| Against retention | 571,029 | 39.6% | ||
- Click here for 2010 General Election Results from the Colorado Secretary of State.
- Main article: Colorado judicial elections, 2010
Performance Evaluations
The Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation voted 7-1 to recommend Bender for retention. The COJPE reviews the answers of attorneys and District Judges and asked a variety of questions to determine the Judge's performance. The score is rated on a 4 point scale similar to school grades. Since 1990, which was the first election year after the statutory creation of judicial performance commissions and the use of performance evaluations, all Colorado Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges standing for retention have received do retain recommendations. [3] Until 2010 no additional information on judicial performance has been made available to the public.
| Question classification | Attorney score | District Judge score | Combined average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impartiality | 3.24 | 3.47 | 3.36 |
| Clear opinions | 3.27 | 3.38 | 3.33 |
| Adequate explanation of opinion | 3.32 | 3.47 | 3.4 |
| Timely response | 3.26 | 3.29 | 3.28 |
| Response without criticism | 3.51 | 3.61 | 3.56 |
| Response based on law | 3.16 | 3.4 | 3.28 |
| Not ruling on extra issues | 3.07 | 3.35 | 3.21 |
| Respect towards all parties | 3.66 | 3.75 | 3.71 |
| No ex parte communications | 3.74 | 3.81 | 3.78 |
| Overall | 3.36 | 3.36 | 3.36 |
Political affiliation
Judge Michael Bender is currently listed as "nonpartisan." Because Colorado does not hold elections, but rather judges are selected on merit by the governor, he has no campaign contributions.[2]
See also
External links
- Colorado Supreme Court
- Bender Biography
- The Denver Post, "Sketchy evidence raises doubt", July 14, 2007
- "Kobe's legal legacy", Fall 2004
- Bender's 2011 State of the Judiciary address
References
- ↑ The Denver Post, "Michael L. Bender to lead Colorado's top court," November 11, 2010
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Colorado Supreme Court website, Judge Bender Bio
- ↑ Email correspondence with Jane B. Howell, Executive Director of the CCJPE, Aug 27, 2010
- ↑ Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation, Review of Justice Bender
