You’ve probably seen the name pop up if you follow Colorado legal news or local government updates in the Denver metro area. It’s one of those names that people search for when they are looking for specific court rulings or trying to understand the makeup of the 1st Judicial District. Judge Sarah B. Cure isn't a celebrity, and she isn't making national headlines for scandalous reasons, but in the world of law and order in Jefferson and Gilpin counties, she's a pretty central figure.
She's a District Court Judge.
Most people don't think about judges until they have to stand in front of one. Then, suddenly, every detail about their background, their temperament, and their history matters immensely. If you're looking for the "dirt," you won't find much. Instead, what you find is a career built on the steady, often grueling work of the public defense system and the private bar before ascending to the bench.
The path to the 1st Judicial District bench
Governor Jared Polis appointed Sarah Cure to the 1st Judicial District Court back in 2021. This wasn't a random selection. The 1st Judicial District covers a massive chunk of Colorado’s front range, including places like Golden and Lakewood. It’s a busy circuit. Before she took the oath, Cure was running her own firm, The Cure Law Office.
Think about that for a second. Running a solo practice in criminal defense and family law is basically a masterclass in stress management. You’re dealing with people on the worst days of their lives. Whether it's a messy divorce or a felony charge, the stakes are high. That background is a bit different from judges who spend their whole lives as prosecutors. It gives a different lens.
She took over the vacancy left by Judge Margie Enquist. It's a big seat to fill.
Educational roots and early career
Cure didn't just stumble into law. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Colorado. After that, she headed to the George Washington University Law School. That’s a heavy hitter school. If you can survive law school in D.C., you can probably handle a courtroom in Golden.
Honestly, the transition from defense attorney to judge is always an interesting one to watch. You go from being a fierce advocate for one side to being the "neutral arbiter." It’s a shift in identity. People who worked with her in private practice often describe her as someone who knew the statutes backward and forward.
What does a District Court Judge actually do?
A lot of people confuse Municipal judges with District judges. Municipal judges handle the small stuff—traffic tickets, barking dog complaints, minor code violations. District Court is where the "real" drama happens.
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We’re talking about:
- Felony criminal cases (the heavy stuff).
- Large civil disputes where the money involved is substantial.
- Domestic relations (divorce and custody battles that can't be settled easily).
- Juvenile cases and probate matters.
In the 1st Judicial District, the caseload is relentless. Judge Sarah B. Cure handles a variety of these, but her background in family law and criminal defense makes her particularly well-suited for the domestic and criminal dockets. If you end up in her courtroom, you're likely dealing with something that has a significant impact on your life or liberty.
It's not like TV. There are no dramatic "Order in the court!" shouts every five minutes. It’s mostly paperwork, scheduling conferences, and very carefully weighed legal arguments about things like the admissibility of evidence or the interpretation of a specific Colorado statute.
Public perception and performance reviews
In Colorado, we have this thing called the Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation. It’s actually pretty cool because it gives voters a way to see how judges are doing without having to go sit in a courtroom for three weeks.
Judges are evaluated on several criteria:
- Integrity (Are they honest?).
- Legal knowledge (Do they actually know the law?).
- Communication (Can they explain their rulings?).
- Temperament (Are they jerks to the people in the room?).
- Administrative skills (Do they keep the docket moving?).
When a judge like Sarah Cure comes up for retention, these reports become public. Most attorneys who have appeared before her note her preparation. There’s nothing a lawyer hates more than a judge who hasn’t read the briefs. From most accounts, Cure does the homework.
She has a reputation for being "fair but firm." It’s a cliché, yeah, but in the legal world, it’s the highest compliment you can get. It means you might lose your case, but you’ll feel like you were heard and that the rules were followed.
Why her background in the Public Defender’s office matters
Before the private practice, Cure was a Deputy State Public Defender. This is crucial. Public defenders are the "trench warriors" of the legal system. They are overworked, underpaid, and they see the systemic issues of the law every single day.
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Having a judge who has been a PD means they understand the "human" element of the criminal justice system. They know about the struggles with mental health, addiction, and poverty that drive so many people into the courtroom. It doesn't mean they are "soft" on crime. It just means they have a broader context than someone who has only seen things from the prosecution’s side.
The 2024 retention cycle
If you live in Jefferson or Gilpin County, you likely saw her name on the ballot recently. Retention elections are weird. Judges don't run against opponents. Instead, the ballot asks a simple question: "Should Judge Sarah B. Cure be retained?"
The 2024 evaluations generally favored her. The Commissions on Judicial Performance usually provide a "Meets Performance Standards" or "Does Not Meet Performance Standards" recommendation. For Cure, the focus has often been on her ability to handle the complex emotional weight of family law cases while maintaining a strictly legal focus.
Navigating the 1st Judicial District website
If you are actually looking for her division or need to know her court rules, you have to go through the Colorado Judicial Branch website. Every judge has their own "Practice Standards." These are basically the "house rules" for their courtroom.
For Judge Cure, these standards might include:
- How she prefers exhibits to be labeled.
- Whether she allows virtual appearances via Webex (which became a huge deal post-2020).
- Timelines for filing motions.
Basically, if you show up in her court and haven't read her specific standards, you’re going to have a bad time. Lawyers spend hours obsessing over these tiny details because a judge’s preference can change the entire flow of a trial.
Common misconceptions about District Judges
A lot of people think judges just "decide" who wins. In reality, in a jury trial, the judge is more like a referee. They don't decide if the defendant is guilty; the jury does. The judge just makes sure the evidence is presented fairly and that the lawyers don't break the rules of procedure.
However, in "bench trials"—which are common in family law—Judge Sarah B. Cure is the one making the final call. That is an incredible amount of power. Deciding where a child sleeps at night or how a family's life savings are split is heavy work.
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People often assume judges are politically motivated. While they are appointed by a Governor (who is a politician), Colorado’s merit-based system is designed to minimize that. Once they are on the bench, their job is to follow the law, regardless of who appointed them.
Actionable steps for dealing with the legal system
If you have a case in front of Judge Cure—or any judge in the 1st JD—here is what you actually need to do.
First, check the docket regularly. Dates change. Cases get pushed. Don't rely on a letter that was mailed three weeks ago. Use the online search tools provided by the state.
Second, read the Case Management Order. This is the document that outlines exactly what is expected of you and your legal team. If Judge Cure issued one, it is the law of your case.
Third, dress for the occasion. It sounds superficial, but respect for the court matters. You don't need a three-piece suit, but you should look like you take the situation seriously.
Fourth, if you are self-represented (pro se), utilize the Self-Help Center at the Jefferson County Combined Court in Golden. They can't give you legal advice, but they can make sure you have the right forms. Judge Cure cannot give you legal advice from the bench; it’s literally against her job description.
Lastly, understand that the legal process is slow. It’s frustratingly, agonizingly slow. Whether it’s a civil suit or a criminal matter, patience is a requirement, not a suggestion.
Whether you're a law student studying her rulings or a resident wondering about the name on your ballot, Sarah B. Cure represents the "new guard" of the Colorado judiciary—experienced, tech-savvy, and deeply rooted in the local legal community.
Next Steps for You:
If you have an active case, verify your next appearance date through the Colorado Judicial Branch's online docket search. If you are researching for a vote, download the full Judicial Performance Evaluation report from the official state website to see the detailed survey results from attorneys and jurors who have actually spent time in her courtroom. Knowing the data is always better than relying on hearsay.