Michael A. Martinez
JAMS
Honorable Michael A. Martinez (Ret.), served as a judicial officer in Colorado for more than 28 years in the county and district courts of the 2nd and 17th Judicial Districts. In 2000, he was appointed by Governor Bill Owens to the Denver District Court, a court of general jurisdiction where he presided in all subject areas of the court - civil, domestic relations and criminal matters. During his tenure, he presided over hundreds of trials, hearings and evidentiary proceedings. In 2013, Judge Martinez was selected as Chief Judge of the 2nd JD, serving from January 2014 until his retirement in August 2022. As Chief Judge, he was responsible for the administration of the Second Judicial District. He also served as Presiding Judge of the Colorado Statewide Grand Jury, an investigative body charged with the responsibility to investigate violations of state law, including violations of civil rights, drug and sex trafficking, securities fraud, insurance fraud, theft and organized crime. Prior to taking the bench, he was a trial lawyer in the public and private sector, trying more than 60 criminal and civil trials to verdict in county, district and federal courts. The primary areas of emphasis were personal injury, medical malpractice, products liability and general negligence. Judge Martinez also served as Associate General Counsel for the Regional Transportation District in Denver. In that position, he was responsible for litigating civil, administrative and labor matters. Judge Martinez is active in the community, having served on numerous boards, committees and commissions, including the Denver County Court Commission on Judicial Discipline, Rose Community Foundation, Colorado Child Support Commission (Chair), Colorado Hispanic Bar Association, Supreme Court Magistrate Rules Committee, Supreme Court Public Access Committee, Supreme Court, Court Records Committee, Supreme Court Committee on Senior Judge Program Reform, Judicial Personnel Review Board, Denver Public Schools Special Education Advisory Committee and the Executive Committee of the District Judges Association. Judge Martinez also served as Co-Chair of the Chief Judges Council from 2015 through 2022 and was recognized with a special award for Judicial Excellence and leadership (during the COVID-19 pandemic) by the Colorado Judicial Institute. He is also a Fellow of the Academy of Court Appointed Neutrals. Judge Martinez is a former trial attorney, dedicated to the improvement of trial advocacy skills, and is a long-time faculty member of more than 30 years with the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. He has taught advocacy programs for NITA, the American Bar Association, the Colorado Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the Hispanic National and Colorado Hispanic Bar Associations, national law firms and pro bono/governmental entities. Judge Martinez is also dedicated to the improvement of Colorado's Judicial Branch. He has been actively involved in the judicial education curriculum for more than 10 years and served as Co-Dean of the New Judge Orientation Program for the last three years. Judge Martinez consistently received high marks from attorneys, litigants and court stakeholders for his demeanor, strong communication and case management. He was also given the Judicial Excellence Award by the American Board of Trial Advocates in 2016, an honor conveyed by distinguished members of the Plaintiffs and Defense Trial Bar in recognition of his contributions to the advancement of the right to trial by jury. Judge Martinez regularly presents CLE presentations on ethics, trial practice and professionalism, including a recent ABA/HNBA program for the Academy of Court Appointed Neutrals, the American College of Trial Lawyers and for ABOTA in conjunction with the Faculty of Federal Advocates. After retiring, Judge Martinez joined the team at JAMS Denver, a dispute resolution firm where he specializes in mediation, arbitration, statutory judge, and court appointed neutral engagements on discovery matters. His background as a judge and a trial lawyer provides him with a unique perspective into the legal process and allows him to intuitively evaluate risk and resolution options to assist the parties.
(04/25)
