Brian Boatright was named to the Colorado Supreme Court on Oct. 27.
University of Denver Sturm College of Law alumnus Brian Boatright has been named to Colorado’s Supreme Court.
Boatright (JD ’88) was selected to serve as a justice on the state’s highest court by Gov. John Hickenlooper on Oct. 27. He will replace Justice Alex Martinez, who is stepping down Oct. 31 to serve as Denver’s manager of safety, overseeing the city’s police and fire departments.
Hickenlooper praised Boatright’s more than 11 years of service as a judge in the 1st Judicial Circuit, which covers Gilpin and Jefferson counties. Boatright, 49, spent much of his time presiding over juvenile court.
“Brian Boatright has a great capacity to listen and evaluate the implications of his decisions,” Hickenlooper says. “He is a seasoned trial judge whose ability to collaborate and find consensus is built on a fundamental understanding of law. We commend him for his public service in the courtroom and for his involvement in the community. Brian will make an outstanding member of the Colorado Supreme Court.”
According to the governor’s office, Boatright also served as a deputy district attorney for the 1st Judicial District from 1990–99. He earlier was an associate attorney at Boatright and Ripp. Prior to attending DU, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Westminster College in Fulton, Mo. He and his wife have two children and live in Arvada, Colo.
Boatright will serve a provisional term of two years. If retained by voters, he will then serve a 10-year term. He is the 102nd person in the state’s history to be appointed to the Colorado Supreme Court.