Susan Blanco is chief judge of the 8th Judicial District (Larimer and Jackson counties) and was appointed to the bench in January 2017.
She is passionate about her work improving access to justice locally and statewide. Her community engagement and collaboration led to the development of the first Competency Court in Colorado. She also presides over Wellness Court, a specialty court serving those with severe and persistent mental health diagnosis. She previously served as a deputy district attorney followed by over a decade in private practice.
She serves on numerous committees including the Judicial Department’s Chief Judges Council, the Advisory Committee on Language Access, and the Colorado Access to Justice Commission.
While on the board of directors for the Colorado Women’s Bar Association, she helped create the “Lawyer’s Teaching for Change” program for elementary students to learn the importance of law and legal professions.
Blanco earned a bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and a juris doctorate from the University of Colorado School of Law.