Nathan B. Coats
Nathan Benjamin Coats (born January 23, 1949)[1] is the former Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court.[2] He was appointed to the Supreme Court on April 24, 2000 by Governor Bill Owens.[3]
Ben Coats | |
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Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court | |
In office June 30, 2018 – December 31, 2020 | |
Preceded by | Nancy E. Rice |
Succeeded by | Brian Boatright |
Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court | |
In office April 24, 2000 – December 31, 2020 | |
Appointed by | Bill Owens |
Preceded by | Gregory K. Scott |
Succeeded by | Maria Berkenkotter |
Personal details | |
Born | January 23, 1949 |
Education | University of Colorado, Boulder (BA) University of Colorado Law School (JD) |
Education
Coats received his Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Colorado in 1971, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado Law School in 1977.[4]
Career prior to appointment
Prior to his appointment to the bench, he was the Chief Appellate Deputy District Attorney for the Second Judicial District (Denver County) from 1986 to 2000. He also served in the Appellate Section of the Colorado Attorney General's Office in the 1970s and 1980s.
Supreme Court committees
Coats has served on numerous Colorado Supreme Court and other committees.[3]
- Colorado Supreme Court Criminal Rules Committee, Member 1983–2000, Chair 1997–2000;
- Colorado Supreme Court Board of Law Examiners 1984–1994;
- Colorado Supreme Court Appellate Rules Committee 1985–2000;
- Colorado Supreme Court Civil Rules Committee, Joint Civil/Criminal Subcommittee on the Colorado Rules of Evidence, 1996–2000;
- Colorado Supreme Court Criminal Pattern Jury Instructions Committee, 1987–2000;
- Colorado Supreme Court Jury Reform Pilot Project Committee, 1998–2000;
- Colorado District Attorneys Council Legislative Committee, 1990–2000;
- Reporter for Governor's Columbine Commission, Fall 1999 – April 2000;
- Lecturer, Denver Police Academy, 1986–1997;
- Chief Reporter for the Erickson Commission on Officer-Involved Shootings, 1996–1997.
Retention election results
46th Chief Justice
Coats became Chief Justice on June 30, 2018.[8] He is the 46th member of the Court to be named Chief Justice since Colorado's statehood in 1876.[8]
Retirement
Coats retired on December 31, 2020.[9] On November 20, 2020 Gov. Jared Polis appointed former Boulder District Court judge Maria Berkenkotter to replace Coats on the supreme court bench, effective January 1, 2021.[10]
References
- "Nathan B. Coats". NNDB. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- "Supreme Court Justices". Retrieved August 29, 2013.
- "Colorado Judicial Branch - Bio". www.courts.state.co.us. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
- "Nathan Coats". Ballotpedia.
- "Official Publication of the Abstract of Votes Cast for the 2002 General" (PDF). 2017-10-13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-10-13. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
- "2012 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). 2017-09-06. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-09-06. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
- "Colo. Const. Art. VI § 23". Justia. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- "Justice Nathan B. Coats named next Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice". www.courts.state.co.us (Press release). 12 April 2018. Retrieved 2018-04-12.
- "Chief Justice Nathan B. Coats announces retirement, Justice Brian D. Boatright to serve as next Chief Justice as Colorado Supreme Court moves to rotational terms for Chief" (Press release). Denver, Colorado. August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- Lacey, Hank (20 November 2020). "Berkenkotter is Colorado's Newest Supreme Court Justice". Circuit Media. Law Week Colorado. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
External links
Legal offices | ||
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Preceded by Gregory K. Scott |
Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court 2000–2020 |
Succeeded by Maria Berkenkotter |
Preceded by Nancy E. Rice |
Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court 2018–2020 |
Succeeded by Brian Boatright |