Who is running for 17th Judicial District (Adams and Broomfield) District Court, Retention: Judge Sean Patrick Finn in 2026?

Judge, 17th Judicial District Court (Adams and Broomfield Counties)

Sean Patrick Finn is the sitting 17th Judicial District Court judge, standing for a retention vote on the November 3, 2026 ballot¹. He was appointed in 2018 and was previously a prosecutor in Adams, Broomfield and Boulder Counties².

• District Court judge in the 17th Judicial District (Adams and Broomfield Counties) since 2018²
• Senior Deputy District Attorney in Adams and Broomfield Counties; Chief Trial Deputy and Chief Appellate Deputy in Boulder County²
• University of Colorado (undergraduate); Loyola Law School; teaches judges and attorneys across Colorado²
• Appointed District Court judge in the 17th Judicial District in 2018 by Governor John Hickenlooper². This is a retention election: voters decide yes or no on keeping the sitting judge, and no opponent is on the ballot¹.
• Bar poll: Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation, 2026 evaluation: Recommendation: Meets Performance Standards. "The Seventeenth Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance agrees by a vote of 7 to 1, with two commissioners absent, that Judge Sean Patrick Finn MEETS PERFORMANCE STANDARDS." This is an official state commission evaluation of the judge's performance, not an endorsement². The commission's written finding also says: "some members of the Commission identified concerns relating to Judge Finn’s interaction with attorneys that warrant continued attention," and that the commission discussed these matters directly with him. It also reports notable strengths in legal knowledge, administrative performance and courtroom management.²