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ANNUAL JUDICIAL RECEPTION

Each year, the CWBA is proud to honor all members of the Colorado judiciary at our Annual Judicial Reception, and honor specific judicial official(s) for their meaningful work.
 
Judicial Reception Honorees:

2014  Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Karen Ashby

2013  Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Diana Terry

2012 C. Jean Stewart, Former Denver Probate Judge

2011 Denver County Judge Claudia J. Jordan

2010 Denver District Court Judge Christina M. Habas

2009 18th Judicial District Court Judge Angela R. Arkin

2008 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Sandra I. Rothenberg

2007 Denver Juvenile Court Judge Orrelle Rodgers Weeks

2006 Pueblo County Court Judge Adele K. Anderson and Denver County Court Judge Mary Celeste

2005 U S District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Coan and Denver District Court Judge John Coughlin
2004 Colorado Supreme Court Justice Nancy Rice and Boulder County Court Magistrate Kristina Hansson
2003 18th Judicial District Court Judge Cheryl Post

2002 First (Jefferson County) Judicial District Court Judge Ruthanne Polidori

2001 Boulder District Court Chief Judge Roxanne Bailin and Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Aurel Kelly (in memoriam)

2000 Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary J. Mullarkey and Denver County Court Judge Alfred C.  Harrell, Jr.

1999 Magistrate Judge Pamela A. Gagel and Denver District Court Judge Shelley I. Gilman

1998 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge JoAnn Vogt and U. S. District Court Judge Zita Weinshienk

1997 District Court Judge Patti O’Rourke

1995 Colorado Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Love Kourlis

1994 U. S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and 10th Circuit of Appeals Chief Judge Stephanie K. Seymour

1993 U. S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Patricia Clark and U. S. District Court Judge Zita Weinshienk

1992
Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph Quinn (retired)

1991
District Court Judge Joyce Steinhardt

1990 Aleene Ortiz-White

1988 Janice B. Fischbach

1987 Jean E. Dubofsky and Mary J. Mullarkey


Each year, the CWBA is proud to honor all members of the Colorado judiciary at our Annual Judicial Reception, and honor specific judicial official(s) for their meaningful work.
 
Judicial Reception Honorees:

2014  Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Karen Ashby

2013  Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Diana Terry

2012 C. Jean Stewart, Former Denver Probate Judge

2011 Denver County Judge Claudia J. Jordan

2010 Denver District Court Judge Christina M. Habas

2009 18th Judicial District Court Judge Angela R. Arkin

2008 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Sandra I. Rothenberg

2007 Denver Juvenile Court Judge Orrelle Rodgers Weeks

2006 Pueblo County Court Judge Adele K. Anderson and Denver County Court Judge Mary Celeste

2005 U S District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Coan and Denver District Court Judge John Coughlin
2004 Colorado Supreme Court Justice Nancy Rice and Boulder County Court Magistrate Kristina Hansson
2003 18th Judicial District Court Judge Cheryl Post

2002 First (Jefferson County) Judicial District Court Judge Ruthanne Polidori

2001 Boulder District Court Chief Judge Roxanne Bailin and Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Aurel Kelly (in memoriam)

2000 Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary J. Mullarkey and Denver County Court Judge Alfred C.  Harrell, Jr.

1999 Magistrate Judge Pamela A. Gagel and Denver District Court Judge Shelley I. Gilman

1998 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge JoAnn Vogt and U. S. District Court Judge Zita Weinshienk

1997 District Court Judge Patti O’Rourke

1995 Colorado Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Love Kourlis

1994 U. S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and 10th Circuit of Appeals Chief Judge Stephanie K. Seymour

1993 U. S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Patricia Clark and U. S. District Court Judge Zita Weinshienk

1992
Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph Quinn (retired)

1991
District Court Judge Joyce Steinhardt

1990 Aleene Ortiz-White

1988 Janice B. Fischbach

1987 Jean E. Dubofsky and Mary J. Mullarkey



Each year, the CWBA is proud to honor all members of the Colorado judiciary at our Annual Judicial Reception, and honor specific judicial official(s) for their meaningful work.
 
Judicial Reception Honorees:

2014  Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Karen Ashby

2013  Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Diana Terry

2012 C. Jean Stewart, Former Denver Probate Judge

2011 Denver County Judge Claudia J. Jordan

2010 Denver District Court Judge Christina M. Habas

2009 18th Judicial District Court Judge Angela R. Arkin

2008 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Sandra I. Rothenberg

2007 Denver Juvenile Court Judge Orrelle Rodgers Weeks

2006 Pueblo County Court Judge Adele K. Anderson and Denver County Court Judge Mary Celeste

2005 U S District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Coan and Denver District Court Judge John Coughlin
2004 Colorado Supreme Court Justice Nancy Rice and Boulder County Court Magistrate Kristina Hansson
2003 18th Judicial District Court Judge Cheryl Post

2002 First (Jefferson County) Judicial District Court Judge Ruthanne Polidori

2001 Boulder District Court Chief Judge Roxanne Bailin and Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Aurel Kelly (in memoriam)

2000 Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary J. Mullarkey and Denver County Court Judge Alfred C.  Harrell, Jr.

1999 Magistrate Judge Pamela A. Gagel and Denver District Court Judge Shelley I. Gilman

1998 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge JoAnn Vogt and U. S. District Court Judge Zita Weinshienk

1997 District Court Judge Patti O’Rourke

1995 Colorado Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Love Kourlis

1994 U. S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and 10th Circuit of Appeals Chief Judge Stephanie K. Seymour

1993 U. S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Patricia Clark and U. S. District Court Judge Zita Weinshienk

1992
Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph Quinn (retired)

1991
District Court Judge Joyce Steinhardt

1990 Aleene Ortiz-White

1988 Janice B. Fischbach

1987 Jean E. Dubofsky and Mary J. Mullarkey




Each year, the CWBA is proud to honor all members of the Colorado judiciary at our Annual Judicial Reception, and honor specific judicial official(s) for their meaningful work.
 
Judicial Reception Honorees:

2014  Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Karen Ashby

2013  Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Diana Terry

2012 C. Jean Stewart, Former Denver Probate Judge

2011 Denver County Judge Claudia J. Jordan

2010 Denver District Court Judge Christina M. Habas

2009 18th Judicial District Court Judge Angela R. Arkin

2008 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Sandra I. Rothenberg

2007 Denver Juvenile Court Judge Orrelle Rodgers Weeks

2006 Pueblo County Court Judge Adele K. Anderson and Denver County Court Judge Mary Celeste

2005 U S District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Coan and Denver District Court Judge John Coughlin
2004 Colorado Supreme Court Justice Nancy Rice and Boulder County Court Magistrate Kristina Hansson
2003 18th Judicial District Court Judge Cheryl Post

2002 First (Jefferson County) Judicial District Court Judge Ruthanne Polidori

2001 Boulder District Court Chief Judge Roxanne Bailin and Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Aurel Kelly (in memoriam)

2000 Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary J. Mullarkey and Denver County Court Judge Alfred C.  Harrell, Jr.

1999 Magistrate Judge Pamela A. Gagel and Denver District Court Judge Shelley I. Gilman

1998 Colorado Court of Appeals Judge JoAnn Vogt and U. S. District Court Judge Zita Weinshienk

1997 District Court Judge Patti O’Rourke

1995 Colorado Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Love Kourlis

1994 U. S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and 10th Circuit of Appeals Chief Judge Stephanie K. Seymour

1993 U. S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Patricia Clark and U. S. District Court Judge Zita Weinshienk

1992
Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph Quinn (retired)

1991
District Court Judge Joyce Steinhardt

1990 Aleene Ortiz-White

1988 Janice B. Fischbach

1987 Jean E. Dubofsky and Mary J. Mullarkey





Each year, the CWBA is proud to honor all members of the Colorado judiciary at our Annual Judicial Reception, and honor specific judicial official(s) for their meaningful work with our Judicial Excellence Award.

The CWBA nominations process is now closed for the 2025 Judicial Excellence Award. Nominations were due February 12, 2025. 

The honoree was celebrated at our Annual Judicial Reception on April 15, 2025, at Davis Graham. Click here to register to attend

QUESTIONS?

Please contact any of our Judicial Committee Co-Chairs:

Meet Our 2025 Judicial Excellence Honoree

The Honorable Isabel Pallarés
Denver County Court


Judge Isabel Pallarés’ judgment-free language in her courtroom has earned her a reputation for treating all who appear before her with respect and discretion and for protecting privacy in cases that touch on someone’s immigration status, medical condition, or mental health issues. She was appointed to the Denver County Court bench in 2017 marking the beginning of a distinguished tenure. Prior to her appointment, Judge Pallarés served the citizens of Denver as the Chief Deputy District Attorney for the office’s Sexual Assault Unit. She began her practice as a judicial intern for Federal District Court Judge Daniel B. Sparr and as a judicial law clerk for Denver District Court Chief Judge Michael A. Martinez. After law school, Judge Pallarés worked as an intern for the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

She volunteers as a member of Our Courts which is a joint activity of citizens, lawyers, and judges to provide nonpartisan information to the public about our state and federal courts. Judge Pallarés has demonstrated a commitment to community service and is a member of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado, the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association, the Colorado LGBTQ+ Bar Association, the Colorado Women’s Bar Association, the Sam Cary Bar Association, and the South Asian Bar Association of Colorado. She is also a member of the Colorado Bar Association and the Denver Bar Association. She currently serves as an At-Large Director for the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association.

Judge Pallarés is the 2024 Denver Bar Association Judicial Excellence Award recipient for her extraordinary service and exceptional contributions to improving the judicial system. Outside of the courtroom, Judge Pallarés has served on the Judicial Well-being Standing Committee since 2019 and is the recipient of several professional awards including the Colorado Supreme Court Wellbeing Award, which recognizes judicial officers who support their colleagues' wellbeing. She received her undergraduate degree from Boston University where she graduated magna cum laude and her law degree from the University of Colorado School of Law.

Click here to read an article about Judge Pallarés in the Colorado Lawyer.

The CWBA is grateful for the ongoing and generous financial support of Davis Graham for hosting and sponsoring this award’s presentation each year at the CWBA Annual Judicial Reception.

Past Judicial Reception Honorees

  • 2024   Denver County Court Judge Olympia Z. Fay
  • 2023   8th Judicial District Chief Judge Susan Blanco
  • 2022  Adams County Court Judge Mariana Vielma
  • 2021  17th Judicial District Court Chief Judge Emily E. Anderson
  • 2019  Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Terry Fox
  • 2018  Denver County Court Judge Theresa A. Spahn
  • 2017  19th Judicial District Court (Weld County) Judge Julie C. Hoskins
  • 2016  U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Kristen L. Mix
  • 2015  Denver County Court Judge Doris E. Burd
  • 2014  Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Karen Ashby
  • 2013  Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Diana Terry
  • 2012  C. Jean Stewart, Former Denver Probate Judge
  • 2011  Denver County Judge Claudia J. Jordan
  • 2010  Denver District Court Judge Christina M. Habas
  • 2009  18th Judicial District Court Judge Angela R. Arkin
  • 2008  Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Sandra I. Rothenberg
  • 2007  Denver Juvenile Court Judge Orrelle Rodgers Weeks
  • 2006  Pueblo County Court Judge Adele K. Anderson and Denver County Court Judge Mary Celeste
  • 2005  U S District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Coan and Denver District Court Judge John Coughlin 
  • 2004  Colorado Supreme Court Justice Nancy Rice and Boulder County Court Magistrate Kristina Hansson 
  • 2003  18th Judicial District Court Judge Cheryl Post
  • 2002  First (Jefferson County) Judicial District Court Judge Ruthanne Polidori 
  • 2001  Boulder District Court Chief Judge Roxanne Bailin and Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Aurel Kelly (in memoriam) 
  • 2000  Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary J. Mullarkey and Denver County Court Judge Alfred C.  Harrell, Jr. 
  • 1999  Magistrate Judge Pamela A. Gagel and Denver District Court Judge Shelley I. Gilman
  • 1998  Colorado Court of Appeals Judge JoAnn Vogt and U. S. District Court Judge Zita Weinshienk 
  • 1997  District Court Judge Patti O’Rourke 
  • 1995  Colorado Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Love Kourlis
  • 1994  U. S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and 10th Circuit of Appeals Chief Judge Stephanie K. Seymour
  • 1993  U. S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Patricia Clark and U. S. District Court Judge Zita Weinshienk 
  • 1992  Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Joseph Quinn (retired) 
  • 1991  District Court Judge Joyce Steinhardt
  • 1990  Aleene Ortiz-White
  • 1988  Janice B. (Fischbach) Davidson
  • 1987  Jean E. Dubofsky and Mary J. Mullarkey


CALENDAR

“Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.”





GET IN TOUCH

Colorado Women's Bar Association

P.O. Box 1918

Denver, CO 80201

Telephone: (303) 831-1040

Email: execdir@cwba.org



THE ADVOCATE   
 SPRING 2024

VOL. 46, SPECIAL EDITION


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