JUDICIAL RECEPTION

ANNUAL JUDICIAL RECEPTION

Each year, the CWBA is proud to honor all members of the Colorado judiciary at our Annual Judicial Reception, and honor specific judicial official(s) for their meaningful work.

Judicial Reception Honorees:

2014 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Karen Ashby

2013 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Diana Terry

2012 C. Jean Stewart, Former Denver Probate Judge

2011 Denver County Judge Claudia J. Jordan

2010 Denver District Court Judge Christina M. Habas

2009 18th Judicial District Court Judge Angela R. Arkin

2008 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Sandra I. Rothenberg

2007 Denver Juvenile Court Judge Orrelle Rodgers Weeks

2006 Pueblo County Court Judge Adele K. Anderson and Denver County Court Judge Mary Celeste

2005 U S District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Coan and Denver District Court Judge John Coughlin
2004 Colorado Supreme Court Justice Nancy Rice and Boulder County Court Magistrate Kristina Hansson
2003 18th Judicial District Court Judge Cheryl Post

2002 First (Jefferson County) Judicial District Court Judge Ruthanne Polidori

2001 Boulder District Court Chief Judge Roxanne Bailin and Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Aurel Kelly (in memoriam)

2000 Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary J. Mullarkey and Denver County Court Judge Alfred C. Harrell, Jr.

1999 Magistrate Judge Pamela A. Gagel and Denver District Court Judge Shelley I. Gilman

1998 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge JoAnn Vogt and U. S. District Court Judge Zita Weinshienk

1997 District Court Judge Patti O’Rourke

1995 Colorado Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Love Kourlis

1994 U. S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and 10th Circuit of Appeals Chief Judge Stephanie K. Seymour

1993 U. S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Patricia Clark and U. S. District Court Judge Zita Weinshienk

1992 Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph Quinn (retired)

1991 District Court Judge Joyce Steinhardt

1990 Aleene Ortiz-White

1988 Janice B. Fischbach

1987 Jean E. Dubofsky and Mary J. Mullarkey

Each year, the CWBA is proud to honor all members of the Colorado judiciary at our Annual Judicial Reception, and honor specific judicial official(s) for their meaningful work.

Judicial Reception Honorees:

2014 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Karen Ashby

2013 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Diana Terry

2012 C. Jean Stewart, Former Denver Probate Judge

2011 Denver County Judge Claudia J. Jordan

2010 Denver District Court Judge Christina M. Habas

2009 18th Judicial District Court Judge Angela R. Arkin

2008 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Sandra I. Rothenberg

2007 Denver Juvenile Court Judge Orrelle Rodgers Weeks

2006 Pueblo County Court Judge Adele K. Anderson and Denver County Court Judge Mary Celeste

2005 U S District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Coan and Denver District Court Judge John Coughlin
2004 Colorado Supreme Court Justice Nancy Rice and Boulder County Court Magistrate Kristina Hansson
2003 18th Judicial District Court Judge Cheryl Post

2002 First (Jefferson County) Judicial District Court Judge Ruthanne Polidori

2001 Boulder District Court Chief Judge Roxanne Bailin and Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Aurel Kelly (in memoriam)

2000 Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary J. Mullarkey and Denver County Court Judge Alfred C. Harrell, Jr.

1999 Magistrate Judge Pamela A. Gagel and Denver District Court Judge Shelley I. Gilman

1998 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge JoAnn Vogt and U. S. District Court Judge Zita Weinshienk

1997 District Court Judge Patti O’Rourke

1995 Colorado Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Love Kourlis

1994 U. S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and 10th Circuit of Appeals Chief Judge Stephanie K. Seymour

1993 U. S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Patricia Clark and U. S. District Court Judge Zita Weinshienk

1992 Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph Quinn (retired)

1991 District Court Judge Joyce Steinhardt

1990 Aleene Ortiz-White

1988 Janice B. Fischbach

1987 Jean E. Dubofsky and Mary J. Mullarkey

Each year, the CWBA is proud to honor all members of the Colorado judiciary at our Annual Judicial Reception, and honor specific judicial official(s) for their meaningful work.

Judicial Reception Honorees:

2014 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Karen Ashby

2013 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Diana Terry

2012 C. Jean Stewart, Former Denver Probate Judge

2011 Denver County Judge Claudia J. Jordan

2010 Denver District Court Judge Christina M. Habas

2009 18th Judicial District Court Judge Angela R. Arkin

2008 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Sandra I. Rothenberg

2007 Denver Juvenile Court Judge Orrelle Rodgers Weeks

2006 Pueblo County Court Judge Adele K. Anderson and Denver County Court Judge Mary Celeste

2005 U S District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Coan and Denver District Court Judge John Coughlin
2004 Colorado Supreme Court Justice Nancy Rice and Boulder County Court Magistrate Kristina Hansson
2003 18th Judicial District Court Judge Cheryl Post

2002 First (Jefferson County) Judicial District Court Judge Ruthanne Polidori

2001 Boulder District Court Chief Judge Roxanne Bailin and Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Aurel Kelly (in memoriam)

2000 Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary J. Mullarkey and Denver County Court Judge Alfred C. Harrell, Jr.

1999 Magistrate Judge Pamela A. Gagel and Denver District Court Judge Shelley I. Gilman

1998 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge JoAnn Vogt and U. S. District Court Judge Zita Weinshienk

1997 District Court Judge Patti O’Rourke

1995 Colorado Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Love Kourlis

1994 U. S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and 10th Circuit of Appeals Chief Judge Stephanie K. Seymour

1993 U. S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Patricia Clark and U. S. District Court Judge Zita Weinshienk

1992 Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph Quinn (retired)

1991 District Court Judge Joyce Steinhardt

1990 Aleene Ortiz-White

1988 Janice B. Fischbach

1987 Jean E. Dubofsky and Mary J. Mullarkey

Each year, the CWBA is proud to honor all members of the Colorado judiciary at our Annual Judicial Reception, and honor specific judicial official(s) for their meaningful work.

Judicial Reception Honorees:

2014 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Karen Ashby

2013 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Diana Terry

2012 C. Jean Stewart, Former Denver Probate Judge

2011 Denver County Judge Claudia J. Jordan

2010 Denver District Court Judge Christina M. Habas

2009 18th Judicial District Court Judge Angela R. Arkin

2008 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Sandra I. Rothenberg

2007 Denver Juvenile Court Judge Orrelle Rodgers Weeks

2006 Pueblo County Court Judge Adele K. Anderson and Denver County Court Judge Mary Celeste

2005 U S District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Coan and Denver District Court Judge John Coughlin
2004 Colorado Supreme Court Justice Nancy Rice and Boulder County Court Magistrate Kristina Hansson
2003 18th Judicial District Court Judge Cheryl Post

2002 First (Jefferson County) Judicial District Court Judge Ruthanne Polidori

2001 Boulder District Court Chief Judge Roxanne Bailin and Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Aurel Kelly (in memoriam)

2000 Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary J. Mullarkey and Denver County Court Judge Alfred C. Harrell, Jr.

1999 Magistrate Judge Pamela A. Gagel and Denver District Court Judge Shelley I. Gilman

1998 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge JoAnn Vogt and U. S. District Court Judge Zita Weinshienk

1997 District Court Judge Patti O’Rourke

1995 Colorado Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Love Kourlis

1994 U. S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and 10th Circuit of Appeals Chief Judge Stephanie K. Seymour

1993 U. S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Patricia Clark and U. S. District Court Judge Zita Weinshienk

1992 Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph Quinn (retired)

1991 District Court Judge Joyce Steinhardt

1990 Aleene Ortiz-White

1988 Janice B. Fischbach

1987 Jean E. Dubofsky and Mary J. Mullarkey

Each year, the CWBA is proud to honor all members of the Colorado judiciary at our Annual Judicial Reception, and honor specific judicial official(s) for their meaningful work with our Judicial Excellence Award.

The 2020 Judicial Reception was canceled due to COVID-19 and was combined with our 2022 Judicial Reception to recognize both our 2020 and 2022 honorees. (We did not select a 2021 honoree or hold a 2021 judicial reception due to COVID-19.) The Judicial Reception was held March 24, 2022, at Davis Graham & Stubbs, LLP in Denver. Our 2023 honoree (not yet selected) will be recognized at a reception in March 2023.

Meet Our 2020 Judicial Excellence Honoree

(Ret.) Judge Emily E. Anderson
Former Chief Judge, 17th Judicial District
Judicial Arbiter Group

Emily E. Anderson was the first woman to preside as the Chief Judge of the 17th Judicial District, serving Adams and Broomfield Counties. (Ret.) Chief Judge Anderson joined the Judicial Arbiter Group, Inc. (JAG) in 2021. At JAG, she is a mediator, arbitrator, and an appointed Judge Pro Tem on a diverse range of civil cases. She served as a district court judge from 2013-2021, having previously been a magistrate in the 17th JD and Denver County Court since 2001.

Prior to her judicial appointment, Judge Anderson ran her own law firm for eleven years. Her private trial practice focused on family law, civil litigation and mediation. As an attorney, she fought tirelessly for the rights of LGBTQ+ persons. In 2006, The Center on Colfax honored her at their annual Jokers Jewels & Justice event for her past service on the Board of Directors, as Chair of the Legal Services Committee, as a volunteer for the Colorado Legal Initiatives Project and for her work on trailblazing cases for the LGBTQ+ community.

Judge Anderson is an active leader and frequent presenter in the community. She served in leadership positions in the Colorado Women’s Bar Association, the Colorado Bar Association, and the LGBTQ Bar Association. She served on the CWBA board for 13 years and the CWBA Foundation Board for 8 years. Judge Anderson co-chaired the CWBA Convention Committee four times! She served first as the Colorado Representative and then as the District Director for five states in the National Association of Women Judges. She presents at CLE’s, she trained new judicial officers at their New Judge Orientation and through “Nuts-and-Bolts” videos, and she served as chair on a Judicial Education training project for judicial officers and court staff on Working with self-Represented Litigants, a five-part video series.

Judge Anderson is committed to promoting judge and lawyer well-being. She has been a volunteer for the Colorado Lawyer Assistance Program (COLAP) since its inception served on the board of Colorado Lawyers Helping Lawyers (CLHL) for 8 years. She is on the Board of the Colorado Peer-to-Peer Coaching Program and serves as a coach to judicial officers, focusing on professional development. Judge Anderson was the recipient of the Colorado Judicial Institute’s Judicial Excellence Award in 2013.

She earned a BA in Fine Arts from the Colorado College, Cum Laude, in 1986 and her J.D. degree from The University of Denver College of Law in 1989. She and her wife, Patricia M. Jarzobski, just celebrated their 33rd anniversary and live in Westminster with their golden retrievers, Brandi and Malibu.

Meet Our 2022 Judicial Excellence Honoree

Judge Mariana Vielma has been an Adams County Court judge since July 2020, having previously served as a magistrate judge in the 17th Judicial District from 2018 to 2020. Even before she became a judge, Judge Vielma served the Adams County community in various capacities: first as a law clerk from 2005 to 2007, then as a Senior Deputy District Attorney from 2007 to 2013, and, finally, as an Assistant County Attorney from 2013 until her appointment as a magistrate judge.

Judge Vielma has also served the legal community in a number of leadership roles. Throughout her career, Judge Vielma has remained focused on building a more prepared, diverse and inclusive pipeline for lawyers as leaders. She has served on the Board of Directors and the Nominating Committee for the Colorado Women’s Bar Association, as well as the Board of Directors for the Chief Justice Commission and the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association. She has also been a member of the CBA Executive Council, Board of Governors, Nominating Committee, and Joint Steering Committee on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. She is an active member of the Adams/Broomfield Bar Association and 17th JD Access to Justice Committee, and is a 2009 COBALT class graduate. She is a native of Denver, and earned her J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law and her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at El Paso.

The CWBA is grateful for the ongoing and generous financial support of Davis Graham & Stubbs for hosting and sponsoring this award’s presentation each year at the CWBA Annual Judicial Reception.

Past Judicial Reception Honorees

2019 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Terry Fox
2018 Denver County Court Judge Theresa A. Spahn
2017 19th Judicial District Court (Weld County) Judge Julie C. Hoskins
2016 U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Kristen L. Mix
2015 Denver County Court Judge Doris E. Burd
2014 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Karen Ashby
2013 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Diana Terry
2012 C. Jean Stewart, Former Denver Probate Judge
2011 Denver County Judge Claudia J. Jordan
2010 Denver District Court Judge Christina M. Habas
2009 18th Judicial District Court Judge Angela R. Arkin
2008 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Sandra I. Rothenberg
2007 Denver Juvenile Court Judge Orrelle Rodgers Weeks
2006 Pueblo County Court Judge Adele K. Anderson and Denver County Court Judge Mary Celeste
2005 U S District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Coan and Denver District Court Judge John Coughlin
2004 Colorado Supreme Court Justice Nancy Rice and Boulder County Court Magistrate Kristina Hansson
2003 18th Judicial District Court Judge Cheryl Post
2002 First (Jefferson County) Judicial District Court Judge Ruthanne Polidori
2001 Boulder District Court Chief Judge Roxanne Bailin and Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Aurel Kelly (in memoriam)
2000 Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary J. Mullarkey and Denver County Court Judge Alfred C. Harrell, Jr.
1999 Magistrate Judge Pamela A. Gagel and Denver District Court Judge Shelley I. Gilman
1998 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge JoAnn Vogt and U. S. District Court Judge Zita Weinshienk
1997 District Court Judge Patti O’Rourke
1995 Colorado Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Love Kourlis
1994 U. S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and 10th Circuit of Appeals Chief Judge Stephanie K. Seymour
1993 U. S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Patricia Clark and U. S. District Court Judge Zita Weinshienk
1992 Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph Quinn (retired)
1991 District Court Judge Joyce Steinhardt
1990 Aleene Ortiz-White
1988 Janice B. (Fischbach) Davidson
1987 Jean E. Dubofsky and Mary J. Mullarkey