Gretchen B. Larson

Gretchen B. Larson, a Colorado native, earned her undergraduate degree at Southern Methodist University in 1989 and her law degree at the University of Colorado School of Law in 1993. She was a prosecutor in the 21st Judicial District in Grand Junction from 1993 to 1999 and in the 9th Judicial District in Glenwood Springs from 1999 to 2005, then returned to the District Attorney's Office in Grand Junction in March 2005.

She was appointed to the county court bench in July 2006 and to the Twenty-First Judicial District Court by Governor Hickenlooper in November 2016. Voters retained her in 2020 with 74.82 percent of the votes cast on the question: 56,679 yes and 19,076 no.

The commission had one vacancy and one commissioner absent for its 8 to 0 vote. It writes that "attorneys rated Judge Larson very highly, while non-attorney responses were more mixed; the Commission considered these results in the context of all available information."

The commission finds that she "demonstrates strong legal knowledge and applies the law appropriately in the cases before her." It writes that commissioners noted "her skill in the courtroom and her ability to manage complex matters effectively while maintaining appropriate control over courtroom proceedings and ensuring cases move forward in a timely and orderly manner." The commission describes her judicial temperament as "fair, respectful, compassionate, and professional" and writes that she treats "parties, attorneys, litigants, and court staff with dignity".