By Ali McNally, LAW WEEK COLORADO
Theresa Spahn, a former top executive in Colorado’s Judicial Branch, is the new director of the Judicial Selective Initiative at the University of Denver’s Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, headed by former Colorado Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Love Kourlis.
“It’s a national initiative that is going to leverage what we consider a unique window of opportunity to really move the needle on judicial selection reform throughout the U.S.,” said the institute’s spokeswoman, Dallas Jamison. “[Kourlis] has known Theresa for some time and is a big fan of her work and her achievements.”
Jamison added that the institute will make a formal announcement on Dec. 10 that will detail the initiative’s official agenda and participants. Spahn and Kourlis were out of time at press time and could not be reached.
Spahn quietly joined the institute last month. She formerly headed the state Office of the Child’s Representative. Linda Weinerman has been acting as interim executive director.
The office is a state agency charged with representing in dependency and neglect (child abuse), delinquency, domestic relations, paternity, truancy and probate cases. The office contracts with more than 250 attorneys.
According OCR staff attorney Sarah Ehrlich, applications will be reviewed and interviewing will begin next week. Spahn’s former position should be filled by Dec. 1, she said.