--- title: "Adam J. Espinosa | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/adam-j-espinosa-co-district-court-judge-2nd-judicial-district" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # Adam J. Espinosa 2nd Judicial District District Court · Judge ## Profile - Court: 2nd Judicial District District Court - State: Colorado - Role: Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - Current Denver District Court judge, Division 203, assigned to the Criminal Division and presiding over felony criminal matters - Judge Espinosa has dedicated his legal career to public service, public safety, and access to justice - He has taught over one hundred continuing legal education courses and published several articles in the area of legal ethics, access to justice, and unbundled legal services - His legal career has focused on public service, public safety, and access to justice ### Education - Washburn University — J.D. (2002) ### Additional information - Appointed to Denver District Court by Governor Jared Polis in 2021 - Prior to joining the bench, Judge Espinosa served as a senior trial attorney for the Colorado Supreme Court Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel and as a deputy district attorney in several Colorado counties - Previously, he served as a Denver County Court Judge where he presided over the Civil, Municipal Criminal, and State Criminal Divisions of that court, presiding over two hundred and eighty trials - Provided valuable feedback on IAALS's recommendations for modernizing judicial performance evaluation - Previously served on Denver County Court in its Civil, Municipal Criminal, and State Criminal Divisions, presiding over 280 trials - Denver District Court Judge assigned to the Criminal Division where he presides over felony criminal matters - Active in the community, having served in leadership positions on numerous local, state, and national boards including the Denver Crime Prevention and Control Commission, the Colorado Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission, the ABA Standing Committee on Client Protection, and the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association - Held leadership positions on the Denver Crime Prevention and Control Commission, Colorado Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission, ABA Standing Committee on Client Protection, and Colorado Hispanic Bar Association; taught more than 100 continuing legal education courses and published on legal ethics, access to justice, and unbundled legal services - Member of the IAALS Uncomplicated Courts Initiative Advisory Committee - He is committed to serving the people of Denver and to the improvement of our courts - Frequent lecturer and author for the several bar associations, law schools, and other groups on various legal, ethical, and professional responsibility topics ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### expanded media coverage Scope: statewide Colorado expanded media coverage requests must comply with Chapter 38, Rule 3 and are submitted to the court before the proceeding; authorization remains subject to court rules, orders, restrictions, and limitations. Evidence excerpt: you agree with the criteria set forth in Chapter 38, Rule 3, as well as all orders, rules, restrictions, or limitations issued or imposed by the court [Request for Expanded Media Coverage](https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/media/request-expanded-media-coverage?topic=76&wrapped=true) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### expanded media notice Scope: statewide Colorado expanded media coverage applications generally must be submitted at least twenty-four hours before the court proceeding, though judges may consider shorter-notice requests in some circumstances. Evidence excerpt: Expanded Media Coverage applications to be submitted at least 24 hours in advance of the court proceeding in question. [Request for Expanded Media Coverage](https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/media/request-expanded-media-coverage?topic=76&wrapped=true) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/contact/adam-j-espinosa) - [Official roster](https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/contact/adam-j-espinosa) - [Colorado Judicial Branch official judicial roster](https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/contact/adam-j-espinosa) - [Request for Expanded Media Coverage](https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/media/request-expanded-media-coverage?topic=76&wrapped=true) - [Uncomplicated Courts Initiative Advisory Committee](https://iaals.du.edu/uncomplicated-courts-initiative-advisory-committee) - [Denver District Court Judges and Staff](https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/denver-district/denver-district-court-judges-and-staff?language=en) - [Recommendations for Modernizing Judicial Performance Evaluation](https://iaals.du.edu/sites/default/files/documents/publications/jpe_recommendations.pdf) - [Ichabod Magazine — Fall 2021](https://wordpress.almabaseapp.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/56/2024/05/Fall-2021-Ichabod-Magazine-for-web.pdf) - [Adam J. Espinosa](https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/contact/adam-j-espinosa) - [Uncomplicated Courts Initiative Advisory Committee](https://iaals.du.edu/uncomplicated-courts-initiative-advisory-committee) - [Denver District Court Judges and Staff](https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/denver-district/denver-district-court-judges-and-staff?language=en) - [Adam J. Espinosa](https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/contact/adam-j-espinosa) - [Recommendations for Modernizing Judicial Performance Evaluation](https://iaals.du.edu/sites/default/files/documents/publications/jpe_recommendations.pdf) - [Ichabod Magazine — Fall 2021](https://wordpress.almabaseapp.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/56/2024/05/Fall-2021-Ichabod-Magazine-for-web.pdf) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/adam-j-espinosa-co-district-court-judge-2nd-judicial-district", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/adam-j-espinosa-co-district-court-judge-2nd-judicial-district", "name": "Adam J. Espinosa | KnowJudges", "description": "Adam J. Espinosa, 2nd Judicial District District Court. 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