To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
Through: David L. Corliss, Town Manager
From: Kristin Read, Assistant Town Manager
Title
Resolution Appointing David J. Thrower as the Presiding Judge of the Town of Castle Rock Municipal Court and Approving a Service Contract
Body
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Discussion
Municipal Judge Lou Gresh retired on January 1, 2025, after 38 years of service to the Town. Upon his retirement announcement, Town Council authorized the formation of a selection committee to publish an RFP and receive applications for the Town’s next Presiding Judge.
Mayor Gray and Councilmember Dietz led the committee in this process, and seven people applied to be the Town’s next judge. The committee interviewed three applicants in March and is unanimously recommending David J. Thrower to serve as Presiding Judge through the end of the position’s current term in January 2026. A resolution to this effect is attached.
Town Code requires the Municipal Judge to be licensed to practice in Colorado, in good standing with the State Supreme Court and have a minimum of five years’ experience in active practice of law. Judge Thrower has been licensed to practice law in Colorado since 1994. He has served as a municipal judge since 2014 and presently serves as the presiding judge in Dacono, Estes Park, Louisville, Mead, Morrison, Nederland and Superior. He is also a relief judge in Erie and Johnstown.
Thrower’s undergraduate degree is in history and political science from Colorado College, and his jurisprudence degree is from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Before beginning his municipal employment, Judge Thrower worked with various law firms in Boulder in diverse practice areas. He has served as a municipal judge full time since 2022.
Mayor Gray and Councilmember Dietz offered Judge Thrower $3,500 per month to serve as Presiding Judge, and he has agreed to the attached contract. The contract’s terms are similar to the agreement Council held with Judge Gresh, with a few updates to bring items in line with current and best practices. If Council approves the agreement, Thrower will begin work immediately, presiding over his first court session in Castle Rock on April 9.
Staff thanks all applicants for their interest in serving the community, as well as Aurora Presiding Judge Shawn Day and Castle Rock Public Safety Commission Chair Nate Marsh for their service on the committee.
Proposed Motion
“I move to approve the resolution as introduced by title.”
Attachment
Attachment A: Resolution
Exhibit 1: Service Contract