Woman Judge To Replace Patton in February

Woman Judge To Replace Patton in February

Last week, on Tuesday, Oct. 30 Gov. John Hickenlooper appointed Catherine Jane Cheroutes and Reed Wilson Owens as district court judges in the 5th Judicial District. Cheroutes fills a vacancy occasioned by the retirement of the Honorable Wayne Patton of Leadville, and Owens fills a vacancy occasioned by the retirement of the Honorable Frederick Gannett.

Cheroutes becomes the second woman to hold the position in the 5th Judicial District. The Honorable Karen Romero claimed first honors when she was appointed as a District Court Judge by Gov. Bill Ritter in 2008.

Cheroutes is currently the managing partner of Cheroutes Zweig, PC, a position she has held since 2015. Her practice consists primarily of domestic relations cases, as well as criminal defense and court appointments in dependency and neglect, juvenile delinquency, and divorce cases. She previously was Of Counsel at the Rietz Law Firm, LLC (2013-2014); owner of The Cheroutes Law Firm, PC (2006-2014); associate at DeJong & Associates, LLC (2004-2006); associate at Carlson, Carlson & Dunkelman, LLC (2002-2003); and Deputy District Attorney in the 5th Judicial District (1997-2002). Cheroutes earned her B.A. from Franklin & Marshall College in 1990 and her J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School in 1993.

Judge Catherine Jane Cheroutes will take her seat as the district court judges for the 5th Judicial District in February 2019. Photo: AVVO

Cheroutes will take the bench effective Feb. 1, 2019.

Reed Wilson Owens will replace Judge Gannett on the bench. Owens is currently the Lead Deputy Public Defender in the Dillon Regional Office of the Colorado State Public Defender, a position he has held since 2008. His practice consists of criminal defense, including juvenile, misdemeanor, and felony matters. Owens earned his B.A. from Colorado College in 2003 and his J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 2008.  Owens’ appointment is effective Jan. 1, 2019.

Leadville had two (of seven) representatives – Leslie Cook-Knerr and Michael Bordogna – on the Judiciary Nominating Commission which made its recommendations to the Governor. On October 12, the commission made the following nomination recommendations to fill the two seats on the bench: Catherine Cheroutes, Monica McElyea and Reed Owens, all of Breckenridge; Jonathan Shamis of Leadville; and David Taylor of Black Hawk.

In other judicial news, Gov. Hickenlooper also appointed Darryl Fitzgerald Shockley as a district court judge in the 2nd Judicial District. Shockley fills a vacancy occasioned by the retirement of the Honorable William Robbins.

Shockley currently serves as Chief Deputy District Attorney in the Denver District Attorney’s Office, a position he has held since 2015. He serves in the Economic Crime, Family Violence, and Gang Units. Previously, he was Senior Deputy District Attorney with the Denver District Attorney’s Office (2004-2015) and an attorney at White and Steele, PC (2002-2004).  Shockley earned his B.A. from the University of Missouri – Kansas City in 1998 and his J.D. from the University of Missouri – Columbia in 2002.

Shockley’s appointment is effective Dec. 31, 2018.