Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper celebrated U.S. Senate bipartisan confirmation of Judge Kato Crews to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. Bennet and Hickenlooper spoke on the Senate floor to support Judge Crews’ nomination to the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado ahead of his confirmation vote.

“Judge Crews will approach this role from the rich perspective of both a litigator and a judge. Throughout his career, Crews has practiced law for the government and firms big and small. He’s tried cases from the perspective of employers and employees; for clients with a lot of resources and for clients with none at all,” said Bennet. “With his experience, intellect, and character, Judge Crews will make a remarkable addition to Colorado’s District Court.”

“Judge Kato Crews’s experience, intellect, and integrity will make him a judge for all of Colorado,” said Hickenlooper. “His bipartisan confirmation is a win for Coloradans and the rule of law.”

In 2018, Judge Kato Crews became the District’s first Black Magistrate Judge. Crews began his career as an attorney with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board, Denver office before entering private practice as an attorney with Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons LLP, where he made partner. He was later a founding partner of Hoffman Crews Nies Waggener & Foster LLP, where he focused on civil litigation and labor and employment law. While on the bench, Judge Crews founded the Federal Limited Appearance Program with the Colorado Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, which provides pro bono representation to pro se litigants during certain court hearings. He also sits on the board of Colorado Bar Association-Continuing Legal Education, and regularly makes himself available to students and young lawyers for mentoring and guidance. 

A Pueblo native, Judge Crews received his undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Colorado, and his law degree from the University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law, where he served on the Arizona Law Review. 

This is the fifth vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado that the senators have helped fill since 2021. The Senate confirmed Judge Rodriguez in June 2021, Judge Sweeney in May 2022, Judge Wang in July 2022, and Judge Gallagher in March 2023 after Bennet and Hickenlooper recommended them to the White House. The Senate also confirmed Judge Veronica Rossman to serve on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, which serves six states including Colorado, after Bennet and Hickenlooper recommended her.

Bennet and Hickenlooper recommended Judge Crews to President Biden in August 2022. Biden nominated Judge Crews in February 2023.