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Michael L. Bender

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Michael L. Bender
Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court
In office
December 1, 2010 – January 7, 2014
Succeeded byNancy E. Rice
Associate Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court
In office
January 2, 1997 – December 1, 2010
Appointed byRoy Romer
Preceded byGeorge E. Lohr
Succeeded byWilliam W. Hood III
Personal details
Born (1942-01-07) January 7, 1942 (age 82)
The Bronx, New York[1]
SpouseHelen H. Hand
Alma materDartmouth College,
University of Colorado Law School

Michael Lee Bender[2] (born January 7, 1942)[3] is an American attorney and jurist, who served as the 44th Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court.

Bender earned a B.A. from Dartmouth College in 1964 and a law degree from the University of Colorado Law School in 1967.[3] Prior to becoming a judge, he worked in private practice, for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and as a public defender in Denver and Jefferson County and for the state.[4] Bender also taught criminal law, criminal trial advocacy, and employment discrimination law at the University of Denver College of Law.[3]

Bender was first appointed to the Colorado Supreme Court January 2, 1997 by Governor Roy Romer,[3] to a seat vacated by the retirement of George E. Lohr.[5] He won retention in 2010, despite opposition from conservative and Libertarian groups.[4] He was voted Chief Justice by his fellow justices in 2010, taking the position on December 1, 2010. He retired from the court on January 7, 2014.

Bender is a registered Democrat.[4] He has five children with his wife, Helen H. Hand, a psychologist who runs Colorado Free University; the couple live in the Stapleton development in Denver.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Michael Bender". 14 July 2017.
  2. ^ Who's Who in American Law, 2002-2003. Marquis Who's Who. 2002. p. 42.
  3. ^ a b c d Bio - Michael L. Bender, Colorado State Judicial Branch, retrieved June 22, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d Cardona, Felisa (November 11, 2010), "Michael L. Bender to lead Colorado's top court", The Denver Post, retrieved June 22, 2012.
  5. ^ Staff Writer (January 14, 1997). "On The Bench". Pueblo Chieftain.