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Half dozen applicants being considered for open judge seat in Pitkin County

 

  A local committee will interview applicants today for the seat that will be vacated by Ninth Judicial District Court Judge Gail Nichols, who is retiring in October.

 

Sources say there six applicants for the district court judge position. Two of them confirmed to Aspen Public Radio that they have applied. Two declined to comment and the remaining didn’t return phone calls seeking comment.

Jim Leuthauser is one of the two confirmed applicants. He’s a deputy DA for the Ninth district and says he has worked in the prosecutor’s office for 21 years. Glenwood Springs attorney Charlie Willman is also applying. He’s private civil litigation attorney, and says becoming a judge is a natural progression in his 40 year  legal career. Willman has also handled criminal cases.

Two of the remaining applicants work in Aspen in both the public and private sectors. The nomination process is not open to the public, until the committee sends its three finalists to the Governor. He will appoint someone within two weeks of receiving the names.

The district judge position pays $160,000 a year and oversees civil and criminal cases in Pitkin, Garfield and Rio Blanco counties.

Carolyn Sackariason, Aspen Public Radio news.