Gary M. Jackson
2nd Judicial District
Honorable Gary Jackson (Ret.) a native of Colorado, grew up in Denver and graduated with honors from George Washington High School in 1963. He received an academic scholarship to the University of Redlands in California and earned his undergraduate degree and juris doctorate from the University of Colorado in Boulder. He began his legal career as a deputy district attorney with the Denver District Attorney's Office in 1970 and became a Chief Trial Deputy at the age of 27. In 1974, he was hired by the United States Attorney's Office, District of Colorado and was assigned to the Civil Division of the United States Attorney's Office, where he received a Special Commendation from U.S. Attorney Edward Levi and F.B.I. Director Clarence Kelley for his successful representation of the F.B.I. in a multi-million-dollar civil suit. In 1976, Gary entered private practice and became a partner in the law firm of DiManna, Eklund, Ciancio & Jackson. In 1982 Michael DiManna and Gary Jackson formed the law firm of DiManna & Jackson, a partnership that continued until Gary's appointment by Mayor Michael Hancock to the Denver County Court bench in January 2013. In 1971, Gary was one of the founders of the Sam Cary Bar Association, an organization dedicated to promoting professionalism and the exchange of ideas among African-American lawyers. He has had many roles within the organization including Treasurer and President; and in 2006 was honored with the King Trimble Life Time Achievement Award. With his participation in the Sam Cary Scholarship Endowment Fund and the Delta Eta Boule Foundation (Chair for 18 years), these organization have awarded deserving African-American students more than $500,000 dollars in scholarships. Gary has generously shared his legal knowledge and experience through mentoring programs and instruction at colleges and law schools throughout Colorado. His active participation in the legal community has also meant serving on several boards including the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, the American College of Trial Lawyers, and the American Board of Trial Advocates (of which he is the former President). Gary is currently the Co-Chair of the Colorado Bar Association/Colorado Judicial Institute Coalition on Judicial Diversity which has a four year initiative to address the lack of diversity in the Colorado state judiciary. Since its inception in 2019, 11 Black judges have been appointed to state court positions. With a celebrated legal career spanning five decades, Gary has been recognized with many accolades and awards including: Colorado Super Lawyer (2006-2012), the National Bar Association's Wiley Branton Award (2001), the Order of the Coif from CU Law School (2003), the Colorado Bar Association's Award of Merit (2011), CU Law's William Lee Knous Award (2010), the CU George Norlin Award (2008), the National Black Prosecutor's Norman Early Lifetime Award, (2018), the George Washington High School Inaugural Hall of Fame (2016) and the National Bar Association Fred Gray Hall of Fame (2021)(only the second recipient from Colorado). The Honorable Judge Gary Jackson presided in the Criminal Division of Denver County Court from 2013 to 2020. In 2018 the Colorado Judicial Institute recognized Gary with its Judicial Excellence Award for County Court Judge of the year. Mayor Michael Hancock presented Gary with Monte Pascoe Civic Leadership Award in 2018. In 2019 Colorado Law Week in its annual Barrister's Magazine selected Gary as Trial Judge of the year. In 2020 the Center for Legal Inclusiveness awarded Gary the Hon. Wiley Daniel Lifetime Achievement Award. Also, in 2020 Colorado Law Week, the Denver Bar Association awarded Gary its Judicial Excellence Award. Lastly, at the Colorado Judicial Conference in 2020, Gary was awarded the Anthony Greco Judge of the Year for Colorado state county court judges. Gary retired on December 30, 2020 and is now a Senior Judge for the Denver County Courts. Gary is semi-retired but in September 2021 passed the state and national real estate examinations. He is now Vice President of Marketing for Action Jackson Realty working with his wife, Regina Jackson in the buying and selling of real estate in Colorado.
04/23
