Peter G. Koclanes Elected as Chair of the Colorado Judicial Institute

Denver, Colo. (May 9, 2019) – Sherman & Howard attorney Peter G. Koclanes was elected as Chair of the Colorado Judicial Institute (CJI) on May 9 and will begin his tenure effective immediately. A member of the CJI board of directors since 2012, Peter will succeed Barbara B. Randell of Future Image Group as the CJI chair for a two-year term.

The Colorado Judicial Institute strives to preserve and enhance the fairness, impartiality, and excellence of Colorado’s courts, to further public understanding of the Colorado judicial system, and to ensure that the courts meet the needs of the people.

“I accept this position with incredible humility and a profound sense of responsibility to the Colorado judicial system, CJI, and my fellow members,” said Koclanes. “CJI holds an important place in the history of the Colorado judicial system, and the opportunity to help shape CJI’s future as Chair is one of the highest honors of my professional career.”

As Chair, Peter will work with Joshua Anderson and lead the 40 member board of directors, the Emeritus Directors, and the Young Professionals Committee to expand CJI’s reach and awareness. He also will help coordinate the efforts of the eight different committees and spearhead the tenets of this membership organization – providing public education around the Colorado judiciary, supporting judicial education through scholarships to judges, and safeguarding the merit-based selection and retention system in Colorado.

“We are honored to have an individual with Peter’s experience, involvement in, and dedication to the legal and civic communities lead our community-run organization,” said Joshua Anderson, CJI Executive Director. “Peter has a passion for supporting the judicial system in our state and we are privileged to have him at the helm.  And, I personally look forward to partnering with him on a variety of projects to streamline our processes, grow our membership, and further educate the community about the Colorado judicial system.”

A Member in and former Chair of Sherman & Howard’s Litigation, Trials, & Appeals Group, Peter is a trial lawyer who represents public and private companies, as well as individuals, in complex business matters. With more than 30 years of experience, Peter’s clients count on him to find creative solutions for their disputes, and in support of their overall business goals, in a wide variety of commercial litigation. Peter currently serves on the firm’s Executive Committee and has been recognized as a leading trial lawyer by, among others, Chambers USA in the area of Litigation: General Commercial and Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Commercial Litigation and Intellectual Property Litigation.

This story was covered by Law Week Colorado in the May 27 editionSubscription or purchase required. 

ABOUT THE COLORADO JUDICIAL INSTITUTE

The Colorado Judicial Institute’s mission is to preserve and enhance the fairness, impartiality, and excellence of Colorado’s Courts, to further public understanding of the Colorado judicial system, and to ensure that the courts meet the needs of the people. Founded in 1979, CJI’s focus includes public education, research projects into the effectiveness of court procedures, research into the experiences of citizens appearing before the court, continuing professional education for judges and judicial department staff, the appropriate use of alternative dispute resolution, and public policy efforts in support of needed court improvements and projects.

 

ABOUT SHERMAN & HOWARD L.L.C.

Sherman & Howard is an Am Law 200 law firm with ten offices located in Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Missouri, and New Mexico. Our attorneys provide high-quality legal and business solutions to a broad range of clients including private, public and government entities throughout the nation and abroad. We have preeminent capabilities in the aerospace and government contracting, infrastructure and construction, financial services, natural resources, telecommunications, technology, manufacturing, consumer products and retail, and nonprofit industries. With more than two dozen attorneys who focus exclusively on estate and tax planning as well as family and matrimonial law, Sherman & Howard also boasts one of the nation’s most respected private client practices.