Judge Martinez Retires – Welcome to New Chief Judge William Bain
CASA extends our gratitude and very best wishes to Fourth Judicial District Chief Judge Gilbert Martinez upon his retirement. Judge Martinez (pictured left), who took pride in swearing in all new CASA volunteers as officers of the court, has dedicated his career on the bench to the safety and welfare of children and he will be missed!
We also offer a warm welcome to Judge William Bain (pictured right) who will take the reins as chief judge on Aug. 1.
Announcement from the Colorado Judicial Branch:
Bain appointed Chief Judge of the 4th Judicial District
Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Nancy Rice appointed District Court Judge William Bain to serve as the Chief Judge of the 4th Judicial District (El Paso and Teller counties).
He replaces retiring Chief Judge Gilbert Martinez who was appointed to the District Court in 1989, served as Chief Judge from 1994 to 2007, and then again from 2012 to date. Judge Bain’s appointment is effective upon Judge Martinez’s retirement on Aug. 1, 2017.
“Chief Judge Martinez has dedicated the entirety of his nearly 40-year career to the law through public service and is to be commended for his vast contributions to the judiciary,” Chief Justice Rice said. “I wish him well in his retirement. He will be missed by many.”
Judge Bain is a fifth generation Colorado native, who was appointed to the District Court by Governor Bill Ritter in 2010.
“I am pleased to appoint Judge Bain to this important role,” Chief Justice Rice said. “I am confident he has the characteristics necessary to be a successful leader and I look forward to working with him.”
Judge Bain has resided in Colorado Springs since 1997. He received his undergraduate degree from Middlebury College and his J.D. from Cornell Law School in 1996. Judge Bain first worked in private practice with Welborn, Sullivan, Meck and Tooley in Denver. He then served as a deputy district attorney in the 4th Judicial District and as a civil litigator for the City of Colorado Springs before being appointed to the bench. He has served on the boards of Court Care, Safe Passage, the El Paso County Bar Foundation, and has been the president of the Ben S. Wendelken American Inn of Court.