Amendment D – New 23rd Judicial District Judges

In 2020 the state legislature passed House Bill 20-1026 to create in 2024 the 23rd Judicial District (JD) consisting of only Arapahoe County. Arapahoe County has been part of the 18th Judicial District which also includes Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln Counties.

The elected official associated with each judicial district is the district attorney (DA). The 20th Judicial District consists of Boulder County, and our DA is Michael Dougherty. The 23rd JD will have its first district attorney election in 2024.

Amendment D adds a section about the transition process to the state constitution. Specifically, it directs the governor to reassign judges from the 18th Judicial District to the 23rd Judicial District.

Recommendation: leaning yes/leaning for

It’s unclear why telling the governor to reassign judges must be in the state constitution. If the state constitution already had language about the transition process and it had to be altered, then a constitutional amendment would be understandable. Why add clutter to the constitution?

Nevertheless, it’s probably less work to approve Amendment D than to argue against it being in the constitution.

Website for the Yes side
No known website – Info on a proponents’ website appreciated.

Website for the No side
No known website – Info on an opponents’ website appreciated.


Approved Ballot Language
Amendment D (Constitutional)

Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution concerning judges of the newly created twenty-third judicial district, and, in connection therewith, directing the governor to designate judges from the eighteenth judicial district to serve the remainder of their terms in the twenty-third judicial district and requiring a judge so designated to establish residency within the twenty-third judicial district?

YES/FOR ____
NO/AGAINST ____

HCR22-1005 to refer Amendment D to the voters
https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/2022a_hcr1005_signed.pdf