Robert S. “Bob” Hyatt was appointed today as the new chief judge of Denver District Court, replacing Judge Larry Naves, who is retiring.
The appointment was announced by Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey. Hyatt’s appointment is effective April 1.
Mullarkey praised both Naves and Hyatt.
“Chief Judge Naves’ contribution to the judiciary during the past 23 years have not gone unnoticed; he served the people of Denver and Colorado well and he will be missed,” Mullarkey said in a statement. “I look forward to working with Judge Hyatt in this new role and am confident he will be a strong, effective leader for the Second Judicial District (Denver).”
Hyatt will serve as the administrative head of the district court. In that capacity, he will be responsible for appointing the district administrator, chief probation officer and the clerk of the court. Other responsibilities include judicial assignments within the district.
Hyatt is popular among his fellow judges and has routinely received high marks on his judicial evaluations.
Hyatt was appointed to the Denver District Court bench in November 1987 after serving three years in Denver County Court.
Before that, he served in the Colorado Attorney General’s office. He received his undergraduate degree in English from St. Louis University and earned his law degree from the University of Missouri law school in 1977.
Before becoming a judge, Hyatt worked as a television news reporter and anchorman in St. Louis.
His court biography says he volunteers on a regular basis at the Denver Dumb Friends League.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
