Gov. Polis appoints District Court Judges in Eighth Judicial District

DENVER — Gov. Polis today announced the appointment of Laurie K. Dean and Daniel M. McDonald as District Court Judges in the Eighth Judicial District, to fill judgeships created pursuant to Senate Bill 19-043 and the retirement of the Honorable Thomas R. French, respectively. 

Dean is Associate Legal Counsel at Colorado State University, a position she has held since March 2019. Her practice consists of higher education, employment, and general litigation matters. Previously, she was a Deputy District Attorney in the 8th Judicial District (2013-2019); Special Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office (2012-2013); Law Clerk to the Honorable Lucy Koh in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (2011-2012); Associate Attorney with O’Melveny & Myers (2008-2010); and Law Clerk to the Honorable Richard Clifton in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (2007-2008). Dean earned her B.A. from Princeton University in 2003, and her J.D. from Stanford University in 2007.

McDonald is the Chief Deputy District Attorney for the Eighth Judicial District Attorney Office. He has worked in the office since 2005. His practice consists of criminal matters. McDonald earned his B.A. from Louisiana State University in 2001, and his J.D. from University of Colorado Law School in 2005.

Dean’s appointment is effective January 1, 2020, and McDonald’s appointment is effective January 18, 2020. 

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