District Judge Larry Naves Appointed As New Chief Judge in Denver

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May23, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Karen Salaz

303/837-3633

1-800-888-0001 Ext. 633

District Judge Larry Naves appointed as new chief judge in Denver

Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey has appointed District Court Judge Larry J. Naves as the new chief judge in the Second Judicial District. Naves will assume the position on July 1, 2006, upon the retirement of Chief Judge H. Jeffrey Bayless.

“Judge Bayless has been an exemplary public servant and I wish him well in his retirement,” says Mullarkey. “Judge Naves will be a strong, effective leader of the Denver District Court. I look forward to working with him.”

Judge Naves was born in Birmingham, AL. He received his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Denver in 1968. In 1974 he received his juris doctorate from the University of ColoradoSchool of Law. Prior to his appointment to the bench, he served in the Colorado Public Defender’s Office as a deputy state public defender from 1974 to 1979. He practiced in the U.S. Public Defender’s Office as an assistant federal public defender from 1979 to 1984. In 1984 he entered private practice with the law firm of Schoenwald, Burke & Naves.

In his 20 years on the bench, Judge Naves has handled all types of civil, domestic and criminal cases. He presently serves in the civil division.

Professional organizations Judge Naves is active in include the Denver Bar Association where he served on the board of trustees from 1992 to 1994, Colorado Bar Association, Sam Carey Bar Association, Colorado Supreme Court’s Civil Jury Instructions Committee, and Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline. He also served on the Colorado Children’s Chorale Board of Trustees from 1999 to 2005. Judge Naves is married and has three children.

Colorado is divided into 22 judicial districts, each with a chief judge. As chief judge in the Second Judicial District, Naves 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 operations 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.

Editor’s Note: There is a printable high resolution photo (17 megabytes) of Judge Naves available at

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