Judge Profiles

Judge Plotz recently served as Chief Judge for the Eleventh Judicial District in Colorado. In that position, he supervised seven judges and two magistrates. During his tenure as Chief he instituted a case management system that improved the flow of cases throughout the district and promoted the early resolution of civil, domestic and probate cases. After serving fifteen years (1989-2005) on the district bench, Judge Plotz now serves on assignment as a Senior Judge throughout the state.

Prior to his appointment to the bench, Judge Plotz served as a regional office director for the Colorado State Public Defender for ten years. Before joining the Public Defender's Office, Judge Plotz was in private practice in Leadville, Colorado, from 1974 to 1979.

Judge Plotz earned his law degree in 1973 from the University of Denver. He also received his Bachelor of Arts from DU, majoring in political science. In 2000, Judge Plotz attended the National Judicial College where he studied advanced family law issues on a scholarship provided by the College. Over the past fifteen years Judge Plotz taught various courses in law for Colorado Mountain College, and he regularly participates as a judge for "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution," a statewide program to engender interest in the Constitution at the high school level.

During his tenure on the bench, Judge Plotz actively participated as a settlement judge. He has been successful in settling numerous construction industry cases, personal injury cases and domestic cases. As Chief Judge, he instituted a system of settlement conferences before the magistrates in the district as well as requiring mediation in most civil cases.