Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Monica M. Márquez has appointed the Honorable Amanda Hunter as the new chief judge of the 11th Judicial District, which includes Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, and Park counties. Judge Hunter will assume her new role on October 29, succeeding the Honorable Patrick W. Murphy.
Judge Murphy has been a district judge since 2012 and served as chief judge since 2015. He recently announced his retirement. Chief Justice Márquez expressed appreciation for Judge Murphy's contributions, stating, "Chief Judge Murphy is an institution in Colorado’s judiciary and will be greatly missed. We wish him the best in his upcoming and well-deserved retirement."
Judge Hunter was appointed to the District Court bench on November 8, 2022. Her previous roles include serving as a Custer County Court Judicial Officer and working as a public defender in Salida's regional office. She earned her law degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2011.
In her capacity as chief judge, Judge Hunter will oversee administrative functions within the district. Her responsibilities include appointing key court personnel such as the court executive, chief probation officer, and clerk of court. Additionally, she will manage personnel matters, financial duties, case management tasks, and ensure efficient operation of courts and probation services.