Surrounded by metro area law enforcement officials, 17th Judicial District Attorney Don Quick describes Operation Sweet Leaf which involved the arrest of several individuals and confiscation of sever illegal marijuana grows in multiple counties. Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post
Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper found a spot for his party’s losing attorney general candidate, announcing him Tuesday as the state’s newest district court judge.
Don Quick will fill a vacancy on the bench in the 17th Judicial District left by the retirement of Judge Chris Melonakis. The district covers Broomfield and Adams counties.
Quick, a Democrat, lost the attorney general’s race in the Nov. 4 election to Republican Cynthia Coffman. Coffman received 51 percent and Quick received 42 percent, .
The appointment is a cozy fit for Quick, who served as district attorney for the 17th district from 2005 through 2013.
He also served as chief deputy district attorney, chief trial deputy district attorney and deputy district attorney. Earlier in his career, he worked in the attorney general’s office as the chief deputy.
Quick is currently senior counsel at Beatty & Wozniak. His appointment is effective Jan. 12.
Melonakis announced his departure in September after . The district judicial nominating commission to interview potential candidates for the post.
Quick’s initial term is two years. If voters retain him in the election, he can win another six-year term. The current annual salary for the position is $145,219.
