DENVER - Governor Bill Owens announced the appointment of Gilbert M. Roman of Lakewood to the Colorado Court of Appeals. He fills a vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Henry E. Nieto, whom the governor appointed in 1999.

"Gilbert Roman will bring to the Court of Appeals his reputation for hard work and integrity, along with a sharp, analytical mind," said Governor Owens. "He will add valuable experience to the bench in the areas of business and complex civil litigation. Gilbert Roman is highly respected in the legal community."

Among past honors and awards, Roman was named Outstanding Lawyer of the Year by the Hispanic National Bar Association in 2000 and was selected Outstanding Young Lawyer by the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association in 1993. In addition, the Denver Bar Association selected Roman in 2000 for its Richard Marden Davis Award - given in recognition of "professional excellence with leadership in Denver's civic, cultural, educational and charitable activities."

Roman currently is a partner with the firm Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons where he specializes in civil litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Among his previous employers were Kaiser-Hill Company and Sherman & Howard.

He has served as vice chair of the Colorado State Personnel Board (1993-1997) and chaired the Colorado Commission on Family Medicine (1990-1992). He received his bachelor's degree from Colorado State University and his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School.

The initial term of office for a Colorado Court of Appeals judge is a provisional term of two years, after which the incumbent must stand for retention to serve an additional eight years. The annual salary for this position is $111,647.