William W. Hood, III

William W. Hood III has served on the Colorado Supreme Court since January 2014. Before joining the court he spent seven years as a judge on the Denver District Court. Earlier he was a litigation partner at a Denver law firm and, for ten years, a prosecutor in Colorado's 18th Judicial District.

He graduated from Syracuse University and the University of Virginia School of Law and has taught advocacy courses as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. The Denver Bar Association gave him its Judicial Excellence Award in 2011, and the Colorado Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers gave him its Distinguished Jurist Award in 2014.

One commissioner was absent for the 9 to 0 vote, and one seat was vacant. The commission writes that "overall, respondents affirmed that Justice Hood meets performance standards."

It finds that he "is courteous to attorneys and treats parties equally without regard to race, sex, or economic status." It writes that he "demonstrates an admirable work ethic and issues decisions in a timely manner" and that during oral arguments "he is respectful of the attorneys and their allotted time, and he asks insightful questions." It describes his opinions as "well organized" and his writing style as one "that makes the reader’s job easier." The commission calls him "a valuable member of the Colorado Supreme Court."