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County Court
Judges
Back Row, left to right: Judges Larry Bohning, Claudia Jordan, Robert Crew, Herbert Galchinsky
Middle Row, left to right: Judges John Marcucci, Andre Rudolph, Raymond Satter, Doris Burd, Andrew Armatas, Alfred Harrell, James Breese
Front Row, left to right: Court Administrator Matthew McConville, Judges Clarisse Gonzales, Johnny Barajas, Brian Campbell, Aleene Ortiz-White, Kerry Hada, Presiding Judge Mary Celeste
The Denver County Court has seventeen judges serving as judicial officers. The judges are appointed through a merit selection process by a bipartisan nominating commission which interviews candidates and makes a recommendation to the Mayor of Denver. The Mayor appoints a judge from the nominees to serve a provisional two-year term. After the two year provisional term, the judges must stand for retention election to serve a full four year term and face retention elections every four years. The judges are assigned to one of the several court divisions on a rotating basis. The majority of the Denver County Court judges' workload is dedicated to handling jury trials, trials to the court and a myriad of pre-trial hearings. The judges also conduct arraignments, reviews and sentencing.
Pursuant to the Charter of the City and County of Denver, The Mayor of the City and County of Denver appoints one of the sitting Denver County judges to serve as presiding judge.The presiding judge is the appointing authority for the employees of the court, is responsible for the assignment of judges to respective divisions and is charged with the general supervision of the court.The presiding judge serves as an ex-officio member of the Judicial Performance Commission and the Judicial Nominating Commission.The Honorable Mary A. Celeste is currently serving as the Presiding Judge of the Denver County Court.
 Honorable Raymond N. Satter
Education
- JD, The Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America (1973)
- BA English & History, University of Denver (1970)
Professional Experience
- Denver County Judge (October 30, 1987 to present)
- Associate Municipal Judge, City of Englewood (1985 to 1986)
- Sole Practitioner (1978 to 1987)
- Partner, Tallmadge, Tallmadge, Wallace & Hahn (1976 to 1977)
- Sole Practitioner (1975 to 1976)
- Associate, Wallace, Armatas & Hahn (1973 to 1975)
Bars
- Colorado Supreme Court (1973)
- United States Supreme Court (1976)
- United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit (1973)
- United States District Court for the District of Colorado (1973)
- United States Tax Court (1981)
Professional Affiliations and Committees
- Member, Colorado Supreme Court Committee on Rules of Civil Procedure
- Chair, Subcommittee on Small Claims Court Rules Revisions
- Chair, Subcommittee on Revision of Rule 107, Contempt
- Colorado Bar Association
- Colorado Bar Association Ethics Committee
- Subcommittee on Civil Rules and Discovery Abuses
- Denver Bar Association
- Delegate to C.B.A. Board of Governors (1995)
- D.B.A. Board of Trustees (1998 to Present)
- American Judicature Society
- Colorado Municipal Judges Association
- Denver Law Club
- Secretary, Denver Law Club (1989 to 1990)
- Life Member, Colorado Bar Foundation
Honors
- Denver Bar Association Judicial Excellence Award, 1992 and 1995
- Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities (1973)
- Who's Who in Society
- Who's Who in American Law
- Who's Who is America 2000
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Honorable James B. Breese
Education
- Harvard University, AB, Cum Laude, (1969)
- Northeastern University School of Law, JD, (1973)
Professional Experience
- Appointed Denver County Court Judge, April 1987. Approximately nine years in the criminal division, three years in the civil division and two years in the general sessions division.
- Sole Practitioner in General Practice except when teaching. (1974 to 1987)
- Associate Clinical Professor of law at University of Colorado Law School (1979 to 1982)
- Assistant Professor of Clinical Education at University of Denver Law School (1978 to 1979)
Admissions to Practice
- Colorado (1973)
- US District Court for District of Colorado (1974)
- Tenth Circuit US Court of Appeals (1977)
- US Supreme Court (1978)
Professional Affiliations and Committees
- Colorado Bar Association
- Denver Bar Association
- Marsh Inns of Court
- Colorado County Judges Association
Publications
- Colorado DUI Bench Book, primary author of evidence section
Honors
- Faculty Humanist Award, University of Colorado School of Law (1980)
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Honorable Doris E. Burd
Education
- Temple University School of Law, JD (1975)
Professional Experience
- Legal Aid Society of Denver (1975 to 1976)
- University of Denver College of Law, Clinical Education Instructor (1977 to 1979)
- Private Practice (1980 to 1989)
- Denver County Court Judge (1989 to present)
Bars
Professional Affiliations and Committees
- Colorado Bar Association
- Denver Bar Association
- Colorado Women s Bar Association
Honors
- Denver Bar Association Judicial Excellence Award (1996)
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Honorable Brian T. Campbell
Education
- Thomas Jefferson High School, Denver, CO
- Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois
- University of Colorado School of Law, Boulder, CO
Professional Experience
- Law Clerk US District Court Judge Fred M. Winner, 1974
- Associate -- Gorsuch, Kirgis, Campbell, Walker and Grover (January 1974 to March 1980)
- Denver County Court Judge (March 1980 to present)
- Presiding Judge (August 1990 to January 1993)
Bars
- Denver Bar Association
- Colorado Bar Association
- Colorado Women s Bar Association
- Minoru Yasui Inn of Court
Professional Affiliations and Committees
- President Minoru Yasui Inn of Court (January 1996 to September 1977)
- Colorado Bar Association Board of Governors (1984 to 1986 and 1977 to 1999)
- Colorado Bar Association Bar Fellows (1989 to present)
- Colorado Trial Judges Council President (1990 to 1991 and 1992 to 1993)
Honors
- Denver Bar Association Judicial Excellence Award (1990)
- Rocky Mountain Children s Legal Clinic Champions for Children Award (1998)
- Colorado Women s Employment and Education Silver Flame Award (1998)
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Honorable Mary A. Celeste
- Presiding Judge -
Education
- California Western School of Law (1983) JD
Professional Experience
- Denver County Court Judge (2000 to present)
- Law Office Mary A. Celeste (1994 to 2000)
- Partner, Kavanaugh, Celeste & DiStitger (1991 to 1994)
- Partner Kavanaugh, Sanford & Celeste (1987 to 1991)
- Law Office Stephen Tinkler (1984 to 1987)
Professional Affiliations
- Arraj Inns of Court (Pupilage Leader)
- Adjunct Professor, University of Denver College of Law
- Denver Bar Association (Conciliation Panel)
- Colorado Bar Association (Board of Governors)
- Colorado Women s Bar Association (Executive Committee)
- American Judge s Association (Education Committee)
- Career Service Authority (Board Member)
- Colorado County Judges Association
- Colorado Municipal Judges Association
Honors
- Editor-in-Chief, Cal-Western International Law Journal Outstanding Editor Award
- Paul Hunter Award Human Rights
- American Association of University Women Trailblazer Award
Publications
- Cal-Western International Law Journal
- Colorado Lawyer
- American Judges Association Court Review
Bars
- Colorado Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- United States Supreme Court
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Honorable Robert B. Crew, Jr.
Judge Crew was appointed to the Denver County Court Bench in September 1977. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Crew was in private practice in Denver, specializing in corporate law. He also served as a part-time County Court Magistrate. Judge Crew received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and graduated from the University of Cincinnati Law School in 1968. Judge Crew presently hears criminal cases. During his 24+ years on the bench, he has served in all divisions of the County Court, including civil and traffic court, arraignments, advisements and general sessions trials for municipal ordinance violations, criminal court, environmental court, preliminary hearings and protective orders.
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Honorable Alfred C. Harrell
Judge Harrell was born in East Orange, New Jersey in 1943. He graduated from East Denver High School in 1962. After graduation from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1966, he worked for the United States Veteran s Administration until 1968. In the fall of 1968 he commenced the study of law at the University of Denver. Judge Harrell worked for IBM and Honeywell Information Systems while in law school. He graduated from that school s night division in 1971. After 13 years in private practice, Judge Harrell was appointed to the Denver County Court in 1985, where he has been consistently recognized as one of the top judges in Colorado.
Judge Harrell s commitment to excellence includes taking the broadest possible view of the legal profession. He has served as first vice president of the Denver Bar Association, treasurer of the Sam Cary Bar association and first vice president of the Colorado Lawyers Health Program; and has helped to promote the American Inns of Court system in Colorado. The Inns of Court are groups of 60 to 100 lawyers and judges who meet regularly to promoted civility and ethical responsibility in the practice of law. A charter member and a former resident of the William E. Doyle Inn, Judge Harrell has encouraged multi-racial and gender neutral membership in the Inns of Court now flourishing in Colorado. In addition he reaches out to women and minority lawyers serving as a mentor himself and helping to establish the kind of supportive mentoring relationships that help fledgling lawyers survive and thrive.
As part of the University of Colorado s Community Mentor Program, he volunteered to help high-risk students succeed at the University. He also brings his time and experience to elementary school students, telling them about the court system, encouraging them to stay in school and providing a warm, accessible role model. His community activities are devoted to the betterment of society; and his commitment has been given public recognition by the Denver Bar Association, the Colorado Bar Association, the Colorado Women s Bar Association, the Asian American Bar Association of Colorado and the University of Colorado. An award from the Colorado Bar Association reads as follows: "In recognition for your dedication as an outstanding mentor, teacher and role model to your fellow professionals. There is no higher accolade for a lawyer or judge than to be recognized as a superlative example whom our newest colleagues can learn and follow.
Judge Harrell is a frequent public speaker and guest lecturer. He is also a faculty member of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA).
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Honorable Claudia J. Jordan
Education
- BA, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, North Carolina (1975)
- University of Colorado School of Law, Boulder, Colorado (1980)
Professional Experience
- Denver County Court Judge (1994 to present)
- Sole practitioner (1987 to 1994)
- Colorado Public Defender s Office, Trial Attorney, Denver Office (1982 to 1987)
Professional Affiliations and Committees
- Sam Cary Bar Association
- Denver Bar Association
- Colorado Bar Association
- Colorado Women s Bar Association
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Honorable Andrew S. Armatas
Education
- University of Denver, College of Law, JD 1965
- University of Colorado at Boulder, BA 1962
- East High School, Denver, Colorado 1957
Professional Experience
- Denver County Court Judge, February, 1990 to Present
- Presiding Judge of Denver County Court, 1995 to1997
- Assistant City Attorney for Denver, Colorado 1969 to1972
- City Attorney (part-time), for Broomfield, Colorado 1974 to1986
- Partner, Tallmadge, Tallmadge, Wallace and Hahn, PC 1965 to1990
Bars
- Colorado Supreme Court 1965
- United States District Court for the District of Colorado 1965
Professional Affiliations and Committees
- Denver Bar Association
- Colorado Bar Association
- Colorado Hispanic Bar Association
- Denver Bar Association Representative to the Colorado Bar Association Board of Governors 1994 to 1995
- Member: Denver Board of Adjustment 1989 to 1990
- Director on the Metropolitan Sewage Disposal District 1972 to 1983
- Member of Colorado Supreme Court Magistrates Committee, 1999
- Member of Supreme Court: County Judge Weighted Caseload Committee, 2001
- Member: Colorado Judicial Coordinating Council 1997 to present
- Executive Committee: Colorado County Judges Association, 2000 to 2000
Publications
- Article in The Docket, April, 1991: "Judge Says: Take My Advice, Take the Plea."
- Article in The Docket, March, 1996: "If You Want Action, Try County Court."
Honors
- Denver Bar Association: Appreciation Award for Teen Court Program, 1993
- Service Award, Denver Public Works Department: Keep Denver Beautiful Graffiti Abatement Program, 1994
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Honorable Johnny Barajas
Appointed to the Bench in October 2002, Judge Barajas was sworn into office on January 14, 2003. Barajas was raised in Colorado Springs and graduated from Colorado State University in 1981. He received his law degree from the University of Denver in 1984.
Judge Barajas began his legal career at the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Denver in 1984 as a Reginald Heber Smith Community Lawyer Fellow in Poverty Law. He remained with Legal Aid until 1989 when he joined Holland and Hart’s Denver office. Judge Barajas remained with Holland and Hart until 1992 when he joined the CIGNA Corporation’s field litigation office, Mann and Shappell. Judge Barajas remained with CIGNA for a year and then opened his own law practice. In 1995 Judge Barajas was appointed as a Magistrate for the City and County of Denver. In 1997 Barajas was appointed as a District Court Magistrate for the 17th Judicial District (Adams County).
Judge Barajas presently handles traffic cases for the Denver County Court.
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Honorable Aleene Ortiz-White
Judge Aleene Ortiz-White is a native of Denver and joined the Denver County Court in 1989. She enjoys the human aspect of her work as well as the legal issues. She graduated from CU Boulder in 1975 and from the University of Puget Sound School of Law in 1981. Her professional journey includes civil and criminal litigation, immigration practice, secondary education, and youth services counselor. Recently she has been a mentor for high school and law students and a judge for the state mock trial competition. In past years, Judge Ortiz-White has been a volunteer instructor of Taekwon-do, English As a Second Language, and NITA workshops. She is a member of the Colorado Hispanic Bar, Colorado Women’s Bar, and Colorado Bar Associations. She enjoys cycling, skiing, and photo treks with her husband, Paul J. White.
Activities
- CHBA Public Policy Committee 2001 to present
- CHBA Public Policy Committee 2001 to present
- CBA Board of Governors 2003
- Testimony at SB 67 Hearing
- Bench Bar Retreat
- County Court Committees (Restraining Orders, Felony Bond Schedule, Training for Courtroom 12T)
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