Seven applicants apply for latest round to fill La Plata County Court judge opening

Seven people have applied for the vacant La Plata County Court judgeship previously held by former Judge Anne Woods.

Some familiar names grace the list of applicants in this bonus round of musical-chair applications for the position briefly appointed to Anthony Baca, before the governor chose instead to reposition Baca into the vacancy left by Todd Norvell on the 6th Judicial District bench.

The applicants are Susan Bandy, Jason Eley and Arthur Jacobs, each of Durango; Anthony Edwards of Silverton; Matt Margeson of Cortez; Zachary Rogers of Fort Walton Beach, Florida; and Reid Stewart of Hesperus.

Eley, Edwards, Margeson and Stewart previously applied for the position at the same time that Baca had applied. Edwards and Stewart had, along with Baca, been nominated by the 6th Judicial Nominating Commission for consideration by Gov. Jared Polis.

Margeson, Edwards and Stewart had also applied for the 6th Judicial District position that Baca now holds.

The 6th Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet Feb. 1 at the La Plata County Courthouse to consider the candidates. The commission will select nominees to forward to the governor based on written applications, recommendations and personal interviews. Although not all applicants have made it to the interview stage before being dropped for consideration by the commission.

The person chosen will serve an initial two-year term before standing for retention at the next general election. The annual salary for the position is $175,908.

Public comment about the qualifications of the applicants is invited. Comments may be directed to any member of the commission, with a copy to the ex officio chair, Justice Maria E. Berkenkotter, 2 E. 14th Ave., Denver, CO 80203, or via email to judicial.vacancies@judicial.state.co.us, no later than 4 p.m. Jan. 30.

Contact information for the nominating commission members is:

gjaros@durangoherald.com