Hon. Susan Blanco ’03 named to Colorado Supreme Court
Governor Jared Polis named the Hon. Susan J. Blanco ’03 to the Colorado Supreme Court on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
Blanco will fill the vacancy left by Justice Melissa Hart this past December. Also named as finalists were 1st Judicial District Court Judge Christopher Zenisek and Solicitor General Andrea Wang.
Hon. Susan Blanco ’03
Blanco, who currently serves as the first female Chief Judge of the 8th Judicial District (Jackson and Larimer counties), will be the first Iranian-American female to serve on the Colorado Supreme Court.
“My journey to the Colorado Supreme Court reflects the enduring promise of our Constitution — that opportunity, justice, and equal protection under law belong to all,” said Blanco. “As an Iranian American, I am especially mindful of the freedoms and constitutional rights that define this nation. I am honored to uphold the rule of law and to serve the people of Colorado with independence, humility, and respect for our constitutional framework.”
Justice Blanco was appointed to the bench by John Hickenlooper in January 2017, where she presided over criminal, civil, probate, domestic relations, adoptions, and appeals. Prior to the bench, she served as a Deputy District Attorney, followed by over a decade in private practice as a solo practitioner.
During her time as a judicial officer, Justice Blanco was dedicated to the advancement of access and inclusivity for those served by the courts. Through her community engagement and leadership, she pioneered the first Competency Court in Colorado. This court is the 2022 recipient of the City of Fort Collins Human Relations award because of the impact of diverting citizens with behavioral health challenges from jail to care. Justice Blanco also developed the 8th Judicial District's Latinx Task Force which led her to receive the 2022 CHBA Community Service Award. She has served as a Commissioner on the Colorado Access to Justice Commission since 2020.
Justice Blanco graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Colorado State University in 2000 and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Colorado School of Law in 2003. In May 2025, she earned a Latin Legum Magister from Duke University focused on Judicial Studies. She has previously taught in the School of Social Work at Colorado State University, and has been an adjunct faculty member at Colorado Law since 2024.
“Judge Blanco’s legal leadership has profoundly shaped not only our students here at Colorado Law, but the broader Colorado community,” said Lolita Buckner Inniss, Colorado Law Dean and Provost’s Professor of Law. “We are honored to count her among our distinguished alumni and extend our heartfelt congratulations on this remarkable achievement.”
Outside of her work for the Judicial Branch, Justice Blanco has served on the Colorado Women's Bar Association's Board of Directors, the Colorado Bar Association's Executive Council, and the Colorado Bar Association's Criminal Law Executive Council. Through her collaboration, the CWBA's "Lawyer's Teaching for Change" program was developed. She was also a founding board member of the Colorado Bar Association's Diverse Attorney Community Circle. Justice Blanco is also co-chair of the CBA's leadership training program, COBALT, and a founding member of Colorado’s Middle Eastern North African Bar Association.
Her other honors include speaking nationally for the American Bar Association and for the Iranian Bar Association. She is a Ted Speaker on the importance of community collaboration and is the recipient of the 2023 CWBA Judicial Excellence Award.