Gov. Bill Ritter’s selection of Monica Marquez as Colorado’s newest Supreme Court justice was a bold move from a man not known for making bold moves.
The 41-year-old lawyer, who has no prior experience as a judge, will become the first Latina and the first openly gay member of the state’s highest court when she takes her seat on the bench Dec. 1 — replacing Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey, who is retiring after 23 years of service.
We applaud the historic moment, while also taking note of the bipartisan applause showered on Marquez after her selection.
Marquez worked for Democrat Ken Salazar when he was Colorado’s attorney general and with Republican John Suthers, the current officeholder.
On the appointment, Suthers said, “The governor has made an excellent appointment to the Colorado Supreme Court. Monica is one of the brightest attorneys I have worked with in my long career in public service. Her clear, concise writing and sharp legal mind will make her an outstanding addition to the Colorado Supreme Court.”
But most impressive — and hopefully not overlooked amid all of the talk of her unique life experiences — are her credentials.
Marquez was valedictorian at Grand Junction High School before attending Stanford University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. She then graduated from Yale Law School, where she was editor of the Yale Law Journal.
Marquez argued many consequential cases for Colorado, including ones that touched on the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, congressional redistricting and campaign finance laws.
It is a bit concerning that Marquez lacks any bench experience, but as the governor has pointed out, five of the seven present Supreme Court judges did not have prior judicial experience when they were named.
Moreover, Marquez has an intimate familiarity with how judges run their chambers, as she clerked for both a federal judge in Massachusetts and for Judge David M. Ebel on the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals here in Denver, according to a recent profile of her in The Denver Post.
She also is the daughter of retired Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Jose D.L. Marquez, the first Hispanic in that court’s history.
Overall, though, what’s most imperative is that Marquez has the tools and intelligence to adhere to the Constitution and show deference to the law.
Judging from her background and exemplary resume, we expect she will perform admirably. And while we would expect any governor to name a judge who shares his legal philosophy, we hope that won’t keep Marquez from being an independent voice on the bench, worthy of her bipartisan accolades.
