Michael Patrick Halpin

Michael Patrick Halpin took office as the Custer County Court judge on December 1, 2022. He is not an attorney. The position is part time, with a typical docket of one day a week, and he hears civil, criminal, misdemeanor, traffic, small claims and infraction cases.

He became a certified peace officer after attending the Colorado State Patrol Training Academy in 1989, rose to the rank of technician and investigated and reconstructed serious injury and fatal crashes. After retiring from the State Patrol he supervised court security for the Custer County Sheriff and worked in the courts for more than 14 years. He retired after 34 years in law enforcement.

Two commission members were absent for the 7 to 0 vote, and one seat was vacant. Survey invitations went to attorneys and non-attorneys who appeared in his court, but the commission writes that "the survey responses were inadequate to be statistically meaningful." After interviewing him, it "came away feeling assured that the citizens of Custer County are being well-served with Judge Halpin on the county court bench."

He has attended training for non-attorney judges, which the commission says created a network of peers. In its words, he "works to treat everyone equally in his courtroom" and wants people appearing before him to "have a full understanding of the proceedings before they leave his courtroom."