Claudia J. Jordan
Alma materUniversity of North Carolina, Charlotte; University of Colorado School of Law
OccupationRetired Judge

Honorable Claudia J. Jordan is a retired judge in Colorado. Jordan was the first Black female judge in the Rocky Mountain region, seated in 1994.[1] She retired in 2014.

Claudia Jean Jordan grew up in North Carolina, raised by her grandparents in a sharecropping family. Many adults had only an elementary level education, and Jordan heard the adults around her talking about how they needed a good lawyer. She became the kid in the neighborhood who read legal documents to neighbors who could not read.[2] She attended segregated schools until 10th grade.[3]

Jordan was the first Black analyst for the Colorado Legislative Council. She helped put together the blue book for voters.[2]

Jordan earned a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte[3] in political science in 1975.[4] Jordan was only one of three Black students and the only Black woman in her law school class at the University of Colorado School of Law.[2][5] She graduated in 1980,[4] and was admitted to the State Bar of Colorado in 1982.[3]

Jordan began her legal career as a law clerk for Hon. Morris Cole on the 2nd Judicial District Court.[3] Another of her mentors was James Flanagan.[2] She started out as a deputy state public defender from 1982 to 1987,[4][5] and served as a private practice attorney from 1987 to 1994.[3]

In 1994, Jordan was appointed to the Denver County Court by Mayor Wellington Webb, and became the first Black female judge in the Rocky Mountain region.[6]

Jordan retired in 2014 after 20 years on the bench. Mayor Michael Hancock recognized her work by proclaiming September 30 as Claudia Jordan Day.[5]

Jordan served on the board of trustees for the Denver Bar Association, and the board of governors of the Colorado Bar Association.[5]

Recognition

  • 2014, University of Colorado School of Law Alumni Honoree[7]
  • 2011, Colorado Women's Bar Association Judicial Reception Honoree[8]
  • 1998, Colorado Women's Bar Association Mary Lathrop Trailblazer Award[9]
  • 1996, Blacks in Colorado Hall of Fame

References

  1. ↑ Mallegg, Kristin B. (2007). Who's Who Among African Americans. Gale.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Budner, Ali (October 19, 2020). "Two Black Women Judges In Colorado Reflect On This Time In America". Colorado Public Radio.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Judge Claudia J. Jordan: Professional Background and Legal Expertise". Trellis.law.
  4. 1 2 3 "Jordan, Claudia 1996 Evaluation". Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Nicholson, Kieran (September 28, 2014). "Mayor honors former Judge Claudia Jordan". The Denver Post.
  6. ↑ Smith, Micah (February 22, 2022). "Retired Denver judges react to Biden's Supreme Court nominee". Denver 7.
  7. ↑ "2014 Alumni Honorees". University of Colorado Bounder Law.
  8. ↑ "ANNUAL JUDICIAL RECEPTION". Colorado Women's Bar Association.
  9. ↑ "The Legacy of Mary Lathrop" (PDF). Colorado Women's Bar Association.
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