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Judicial Elections
Colorado Supreme Court Elections 2026
Colorado Supreme Court justices are appointed by the governor from a list drawn up by a nominating commission, then face voters in yes/no retention elections every 10 years. 1 seat is on the November 3 ballot.
Rules as of October 15, 2026 · candidates as of October 15, 2026 · source Ballotpedia
Are judges elected in Colorado?
- Highest court
- Colorado Supreme Court — 7 justices
- How chosen
- Commission + appointment
- Voters
- Voters decide retention
- Term
- 10 years (shorter first term)
- To serve again
- Yes/no retention vote
- 2026 ballot
- 1 seat on November 3 — 1 retention
How Colorado chooses its judges
Colorado Supreme Court justices are appointed by the governor from a list drawn up by a nominating commission, then face voters in yes/no retention elections every 10 years.
- Seats: 7 justices on the Colorado Supreme Court.
- Term: 10 years, after at least two years before the first retention vote.
- To serve again: Yes/no retention vote.
- Age rule: Must retire by 72.
- Other courts: All state courts except water and municipal courts use the same commission-and-retention system.
Compare every state on the judicial selection table.
Colorado Supreme Court elections in 2026
1 seat is up in 2026 (retention votes).
Retention vote
Retention vote- William W. HoodIncumbent
Voters answer yes or no on keeping this justice. There is no opponent.
Candidates as of October 15, 2026 from Ballotpedia. Results for November races are added once certified. Party labels are not shown because they do not appear on the ballot.
How to research judges on your Colorado ballot
- Official evaluations: Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation — the state’s official reviews of judges facing voters.
- Your sample ballot: Colorado’s official election site shows every judicial race on your ballot, including local courts.
- Deadlines and voting options: How to vote in Colorado — registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
- Candidate details: Ballotpedia tracks each candidate’s background, endorsements and spending; local news and the state bar often publish candidate surveys.
Judicial ethics rules bar candidates from promising how they will rule, so a judge’s record and experience usually say more than campaign ads. This site does not endorse or rate candidates.
Federal judges in Colorado
Federal judges are never on a ballot: the President nominates them and the U.S. Senate confirms them for life. Colorado’s two senators vote on every nominee and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.
Colorado’s senators: John Hickenlooper (Democratic) and Michael Bennet (Democratic).
Confirmed by recorded vote in 2026
No federal judge for a court in Colorado has been confirmed by roll-call vote in 2026.
District judges for courts in Colorado and circuit judges from the state. Judges confirmed by voice vote leave no roll call; the Senate’s list of confirmed nominations has them. Roll calls from the snapshot refreshed Oct 1, 2026.
Open federal judgeships
The U.S. Courts list no vacant district judgeship in Colorado as of October 15, 2026.
Source: uscourts.gov current judicial vacancies. Every vacancy nationwide is on the judicial elections hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are judges elected in Colorado?
Colorado Supreme Court justices are appointed by the governor from a list drawn up by a nominating commission, then face voters in yes/no retention elections every 10 years. All state courts except water and municipal courts use the same commission-and-retention system.
How long is a term on the Colorado Supreme Court?
10 years, after at least two years before the first retention vote. At the end of a term, they face yes/no retention votes to stay on the court. Must retire by 72.
Who is running for the Colorado Supreme Court in 2026?
1 seat is on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Retention: William W. Hood, incumbent.
How do I research judges on my Colorado ballot?
Start with the Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation, the state's official judicial performance evaluation program (https://judicialperformance.colorado.gov/). Your sample ballot from https://www.coloradosos.gov/voter/pages/pub/home.xhtml lists every judicial race, including local courts. Ballotpedia, local news and the state bar cover candidates' experience and endorsements.
Who appoints federal judges in Colorado?
The President nominates and the U.S. Senate confirms them; they serve for life. Colorado's senators, John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet, vote on every nomination and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.
Related
Judicial Elections in Every State
How all 50 states choose judges, every 2026 supreme court race, and federal confirmations.
How to Vote in Colorado
Registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
Colorado Senators & Representatives
Your delegation in Congress and when each term ends.
What Can Congress Do?
Can Congress declare war, override a veto, impeach a cabinet member, remove a senator, overrule the Supreme Court, or invoke the 25th Amendment? Question by question, with live vote math.