Colorado Supreme Court Justice Allison Eid nominated to fill Gorsuch seat on 10th Circuit

DENVER – President Donald Trump has nominated Colorado Supreme Court Justice Allison H. Eid to fill the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals seat vacated when Neil Gorsuch was confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Washington Times first reported Eid’s nomination, saying the judge was also on the president’s list of potential Supreme Court nominees. The Denver Post was able to confirm that was the case shortly afterward, citing two congressional sources.

A source in Congress confirmed to Denver7 Eid would be nominated shortly before Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., and the White House sent out news releases announcing Eid’s nomination.

Eid was a clerk for Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court and for Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jerry E. Smith before working at Denver-based Arnold & Porter on commercial and appellate cases, then served as the state’s Solicitor General and taught at the University of Colorado School of Law.

She was appointed to the Colorado Supreme Court in 2006, then retained by voters in 2008.

Eid was also appointed by President George W. Bush in 2002 to serve on a committee that documents the history of the U.S. Supreme Court.

“These nominations follow the successful confirmation of Associate Justice Neil M. Gorsuch to the United States Supreme Court, the successful confirmation of Judge Amul R. Thapar of Kentucky to serve as a Circuit Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the nomination of numerous candidates to other judgeships,” the White House said in a statement.

Gardner and other Colorado Republicans praised Trump’s pick of Eid for the Denver-based court.

“Justice Allison Eid is an excellent choice to serve on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. I have known Allison since my days as a student at the University of Colorado Law School and have been extremely impressed with her service on Colorado’s Supreme Court,” he said.

“Whether she was clerking for Justice Clarence Thomas, teaching at CU Law, arguing cases as Colorado’s Solicitor General, or writing opinions as a member of the state’s Supreme Court, she has always been an ardent defender of the Constitution and committed to upholding the rule of law. I look forward to supporting Allison throughout her confirmation process.”

“Justice Allison Eid will be missed in Colorado’s Supreme Court, but she will be a great addition to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.” Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., said.

“President Trump had many outstanding options to consider when it came to replacing Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch on the Tenth Circuit. I am confident that the President made a wise decision with the selection of Colorado Supreme Court Justice Allison Eid,” Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., said in a statement.

“Her current service as a Justice, as well as her past service as Colorado’s Solicitor General, as a Professor at CU Law School, and as a clerk to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas have shown her to be a dedicated defender of the Constitution and someone who will be committed to upholding the rule of law. I wish to extend my personal congratulations to Justice Eid and her entire family.”

It’s unclear at this point when the confirmation process for Eid might begin. He nomination came along with 10 others Wednesday.

Colorado’s Judicial Branch spokesman, Rob McCallum, said Eid had no comment at this time.