2025 Annual Conference - 07/31/2025 to 08/02/2025
Susan J Blanco, 8th Judicial District Susan J. Blanco serves as the Chief Judge of Colorado’s 8th Judicial District, encompassing Larimer and Jackson Counties. Appointed to the bench in January 2017 by Governor John Hickenlooper, she made history as the district's first female Chief Judge, assuming that role in January 2021 . Legal Career and Leadership Before her judicial appointment, Judge Blanco built a robust legal career. She began as a Deputy District Attorney in the 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and later transitioned to private practice, focusing on criminal defense, juvenile delinquency, dependency and neglect, and municipal prosecution . She also served as the Town Prosecutor for Timnath, Colorado, from 2009 to 2016 . As Chief Judge, she oversees over 200 employees across three courthouses and four probation offices . Her leadership extends to various committees, including chairing the Colorado Judicial Branch's Pathways to Access Standing Committee, which focuses on virtual proceedings, language access, and plain language forms Community Impact and Innovation Judge Blanco is recognized for her commitment to community-focused justice. She established Colorado’s first Competency Court, addressing the needs of individuals with mental health issues in the criminal justice system . She also founded the Latinx Task Force in Larimer County to improve access to justice for the Latinx community Her dedication has earned her several accolades, including the 2024 Judge Conrad L. Ball Award, the 2023 Colorado Women’s Bar Association Judicial Excellence Award, and the 2022 Colorado Hispanic Bar Association Community Service Award Academic and Professional Engagement Beyond the bench, Judge Blanco contributes to legal education as an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado School of Law . She is also pursuing an LL.M. from Duke University, expected in May 2025 . Her professional involvement includes serving on the Colorado Access to Justice Commission, co-chairing the Colorado Judicial Branch's IT Standing Committee, and participating in the Colorado Bar Association's Leadership Training program .Colorado Judge Blanco's multifaceted career reflects her dedication to justice, community engagement, and legal innovation. https://lawweb.colorado.edu/profiles/profile.jsp?id=1161&utm_source=chatgpt.com | ||||
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