New Judges Named in 4th Judicial District
Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael L. Bender has appointed the Hon. Gilbert Martinez to serve as the new chief judge in the 4th Judicial District (El Paso and Teller counties).
Judge Martinez will replace the Hon. Kirk S. Samelson, who served as chief judge for more than five years. Judge Samelson will continue to preside over a district court docket.
“I would like to thank Judge Samelson for his contributions to the 4th Judicial District over the past five years,” Chief Justice Bender said. “Judge Martinez has previously served as chief judge in the 4th Judicial District and I look forward to working with him again in that capacity.”
Chief Justice Bender also appointed District Court Judge David Prince to serve as the district’s deputy chief judge. Both appointments are effective Feb. 9, 2012.
“The 4th Judicial District is one of the state’s largest districts with very diverse needs,” Chief Justice Bender said. “Along with Judge Martinez, Judge Prince will assist in managing personnel matters and developing a long-term strategy for the best ways in which to serve the people of El Paso and Teller counties.”
Judge Martinez is a native of Colorado, having been born in Trinidad and raised in the Denver area. A graduate of the University of Colorado, he served as a public defender from 1978 to 1989, directing the Colorado Springs Public Defender’s Office for four of those years. In 1989, Judge Martinez was appointed to the district court bench.
Judge Prince was appointed to the district court in April 2006. Before taking the bench, Judge Prince was a commercial litigator with Holland & Hart. His practice included primarily fiduciary, finance, construction, business, real estate, and intellectual property litigation. Judge Prince graduated from the University of Utah Law School where he served on the law review and received Order of the Coif honors.
Colorado is divided into 22 judicial districts, each with a chief judge who serves as the administrative head. Chief judges’ responsibilities include appointing the district administrator, chief probation officer and clerks of the court; assisting in the personnel, financial and case- management duties of the district; seeing that the business of the courts is conducted efficiently and effectively; and making judicial assignments within the district.
