Court of Appeals Judge Ted Tow has been named chief judge-designate of the Colorado Court of Appeals, according to an announcement from Chief Justice Monica Márquez. This transition comes as Chief Judge Gilbert Román approaches the end of his term on July 31, 2026. Judge Tow will begin an onboarding process and work directly with Chief Judge Román until that time.
Chief Justice Márquez said, “Chief Judge Román’s leadership as chief of the Colorado Court of Appeals has been marked by his integrity, intelligence, and commitment to justice. On behalf of the entire Colorado Supreme Court, I thank Chief Román for his years of exemplary leadership as chief. As we welcome Judge Ted Tow as the new Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, I am confident that his dedication, experience, commitment to judicial excellence, and his deep understanding of the law will serve the Court and our state well in the years ahead.”
Reflecting on his tenure, Chief Judge Román stated, “Serving as Chief Judge of the Colorado Court of Appeals has been the greatest honor of my professional career. I am deeply grateful to former Chief Justice Boatright for entrusting me with this responsibility and to Chief Justice Márquez for her leadership and partnership this past year. Like all chief judges, my hope is that my colleagues and staff feel I have left the court in a strong position. I am confident the court is well-positioned for the future under Judge Tow’s capable leadership.”
Judge Tow commented on his new role: “I am grateful for Chief Justice Márquez’s trust and confidence. It is a privilege to be given the responsibility of leading the amazing team at the Court of Appeals, and I look forward to continuing the work of my tremendous predecessors in advancing the goals of access to justice and the rule of law.”
Judge Ted C. Tow joined the Colorado Court of Appeals in February 2018 after serving seven years as a District Judge in Adams County’s 17th Judicial District. His prior roles include Executive Director at Colorado District Attorneys’ Council and deputy district attorney. He also worked in private practice focusing on labor and employment law with firms in Chicago and Denver.
Judge Tow holds degrees from University of Kansas (B.A.) and Wayne State University Law School (J.D., summa cum laude). He has held several positions within legal organizations such as serving on boards for both Colorado Bar Association and Colorado Bar Foundation. Additionally, he was chairperson for Colorado Judicial Discipline Commission and frequently leads legal education programs on courtroom practices, family law, civil procedure, ethics, among other topics.
