One of Denver County Court’s longest-serving judges, , died unexpectedly on Friday, court officials said Saturday afternoon. He was 59 years old.
Additional information about what caused Rudolph’s death was not immediately available, county court spokesperson Carolyn Tyler said.
Rudolph was appointed in 2005 by then-Mayor John Hickenlooper and, at 37 years old, was among the youngest judges in the state, court officials said in a news release.
In a statement, Denver County Presiding Judge Kerri Lombardi said Rudolph, a friend and colleague of more than 31 years, was one of the most vibrant, larger-than-life people she has ever known.
“He walked into every room and filled it with his presence, his laugh, his generosity of spirit. As a jurist, he demonstrated every day that the administration of justice is not an abstraction, but a practice carried out with integrity, fairness, and deep humanity,” Lombardi said.
Rudolph was born and raised in Cheyenne, Wyoming; earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Wyoming and law degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska; and began his career as a deputy state public defender in Colorado in 1993.
He was appointed as magistrate in Denver District Court in 1999 and also served as a magistrate in the 17th Judicial District before he was appointed a county judge, court officials said.
Rudolph was known for his involvement with local charities including Denver Kids, mentoring minority law students and advocating for early prostate cancer detection after his father’s diagnosis.
“He believed that judges who are present in their communities are better judges, and he lived that belief without exception,” Lombardi said. “His loss leaves a profound void in this Court and in this community, and his example will shape us for years to come.”
Funeral and memorial service arrangements will be announced at a later time.
This is a developing story and may be updated.
