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Colorado Judicial Branch
Mary J. Mullarkey, Chief Justice
Gerald Marroney, State Court Administrator
Dec 19, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Karen Salaz
303/837-3633
1-800-888-0001 Ext. 633
Appel appointed to Third Judicial District chief judge position
Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey has appointed Claude W. Appel to the position of chief judge in the Third Judicial District (Huerfano and Las Animas counties). The appointment becomes effective Jan. 1, 2003.
“I am looking forward to serving in this capacity and working with the judges and employees of the district to serve our citizens to the best of our ability,” says Appel. “Unfortunately, our judicial department employees are being called upon to make sacrifices such as taking furlough days without pay due to the fiscal impact the economy has had on our state budget, but we have an excellent workforce and we will get through these tough economic times.”
Judge Appel was appointed as a district judge in March 1986; he served as a county judge from January 1985 to March 1986. Prior to his appointment as a judge, he served as a deputy district attorney and also had a private law practice. He received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in 1974 and his law degree from the University of Colorado in 1978.
The Huerfano County Teen Court program, which diverts certain juvenile offenders from the traditional juvenile justice system through alternative sentences imposed by the offender’s peers, is an example of how Judge Appel has positively affected his district outside of his courtroom.
Colorado is divided into 22 judicial districts, each with a chief judge. As chief judge in the Third Judicial District, Appel will serve as the administrative head of the district. He will be responsible for appointing the district administrator, chief probation officer and clerks of the court to assist in the personnel, financial and case management of the district along with seeing that the business of the courts is conducted efficiently and effectively. Other responsibilities include judicial assignments within the district.
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