About Judge Gurley (retired)
The Hon. Richard T. Gurley (retired) was born and raised in Aurora, IL. After graduation from law school he practiced law in Tampa Bay for 12 years, first as a prosecutor and later as a civil and criminal defense litigator. He relocated to Colorado in 1998 where he opened the Grand Junction and Denver, Colorado offices of the Florida-based law firm of Carlson, Meissner & Gurley.
He was appointed to serve as a District Court judge in 2006 and was retained in Retention Elections in 2010, 2016, and 2022. In his last two retention elections he was recommended for retention by 97% and 95% of attorneys respectively. He was selected to serve as a United States Magistrate Judge in 2023, and he was sworn in by the Chief Judge of the District of Colorado in 2024.
Education:
Creighton University
Indiana University B.S. Business Economics & Public Policy
Drake University J.D.
University of Colorado M.B.A.
University of Nevada M.J.S. (Masters in Judicial Studies) – thesis pending
Bar Admissions:
Colorado, (Florida, Illinois, and Montana inactive).
Judicial Experience:
Colorado District Court Judge 2007 to 2024.
District Court Judge’s Association, President 2022-2023.
Appointed in 2016 to serve as one of seven District Court judges statewide appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to serve on the Panel on Multi-District Litigation to hear cases in the Supreme Court pursuant to CRCP 42.1 six times per year when the parties were involved in litigation in multiple judicial districts. Appointed Chair of the Panel in January 2024.
Member, Access to Justice Subcommittee chaired by Justice Hart of the Supreme Court.
Co-Chair of Mesa County Access to Justice Committee.
Served on Civil Benchbook Committee.
Completed the 40-hour Civil Mediation Course, National Judicial College, Reno, NV.
Served as a mediator on civil cases for other Mesa County District Court judges.
United States District Court Magistrate Judge for the District of Colorado. Appointed 2024.
Adjunct Faculty Member, Colorado Mesa University. 2008-Present.