Durango attorney Douglas Reynolds was appointed last week to the La Plata County Court bench by Gov. Jared Polis.
Reynolds will fill the vacancy left by Judge Reid Stewart, who was elevated to a district court position this fall.
“I’ve spent the last 21 years taking care of private party clients in Durango, and I’m proud of that, but I’m ready to serve the entire community in a different role,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds has had his eye on the bench for several years. He first applied for a position in 2017, and has submitted six applications since.
County court judges typically handle misdemeanor criminal cases and civil disputes involving less than $25,000, while district court judges oversee felony cases and higher-dollar civil matters.
Reynolds was selected from three finalists submitted to the governor by the judicial nominating commission.
He is a partner at The Reynolds Law Group, where he has practiced since 2017, focusing primarily on civil and real estate law. Previously, Reynolds practiced in Durango as a partner at Bopp Reynolds Law Group and as an attorney with the Law Offices of Michael E. McLachlan and Goldman, Robbins & Nicholson, PC.
Reynolds earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado Denver and a law degree from Duke University School of Law.
He will be sworn in at 4 p.m. Jan. 16. He will serve a two-year term before facing a retention vote.
jbowman@durangoherald.com
