Congratulations to the 2023 Judicial Well-Being Award Winners Judge Elizabeth Brodsky and the 5th Judicial District!
Chief Judge William Bain 4th Judicial District
Chief Judge Bain works tirelessly as an ally and leader in establishing well-being in our district. He regularly meets with and encourages multiple team members in the district's well-being efforts. For example, there is a well-being committee that disseminates resources, inspirational images/statements and organizes and presents court-wide activities such as lunches and breakfasts. Judge Bain authorizes funds for the events and activities, attends them all and assists in planning and disseminating awareness about all of the efforts. He is also a steering committee member and avid supporter of our diversity and equity committee. He similarly regularly sends out emails to the entire courthouse communicating activities and his support, encourages committee members and communicates the importance to him of seeing the well-being of everyone in the district. Seeing the chief leader of your district "walk-the-walk" of the importance of well-being is key.
Judge Kelley Southerland 17th Judicial District
Judge Southerland is universally well-liked both inside out outside of our courthouse. When she is not on the bench, she almost always has people in her office chatting, seeking advice, and wanting to be around her. I believe this is because she emits a certain "sparkle" that people can't seem to get enough of! She is always available for docket coverage, with a solution on a difficult issue, and for a discussion regarding making lifestyle healthy choices. Judge Southerland encompasses wellness, having led wellness functions at judicial conference, and becoming involved in our wellness committee in the 17th Judicial District. I believe Judge Souther- land is very deserving of this award, as she motivates everyone to do their best, from staff to judicial officers to the litigants who appear before her. Judge Southerland makes people want to be their best selves, and should be recognized for doing so!
Judge Sean Finn 17th Judicial District
In July of 2022, I was diagnosed with a rare head & neck cancer and was told I would need surgery followed by therapy. There was a chance that I would not be able to talk after the surgery, and the recovery time was estimated at 10- 12 weeks if all went well. At the time, I was assigned to the smaller of the two jurisdictions in the 17th JD, Broomfield County, which only has two district court judges--myself and Judge Sean Finn. Judge Finn handled civil and DR, and my docket was criminal, juvenile, & probate. When I told him that I had a little over a week to wrap up my docket and would be out indefinitely on medical leave, he immediately and without hesitation told me that he would take my entire docket. He, along with our chief judge Don Quick, both told me that the only focus was my health, and not to worry about coverage. Together, they ensured that during my 8-week leave, only one matter required senior judge coverage. Upon my return, the parties and the attorneys raved about how well the docket was handled, and the care that they were shown by Judge Finn. The other members of the Broomfield bench, Judge DeWick and Magistrate Russell also covered when Judge Finn could not. I will never be able to thank them enough for their willingness to help me through a difficult time both personally and professionally. Our jobs as judicial officers are incredibly difficult. They are, however, also incredibly rewarding. Having colleagues who have your back without a second thought makes doing this job possible. Judge Finn is known for many things--his intellect, his community service, his wicked sense of humor--but he should also be known for the depth of his character and his gigantic heart. He is a friend and a colleague, and I will forever be in his debt.
Judge Elizabeth Brodsky 20th Judicial District
Elizabeth or Liz Brodsky handled Judge Kristy Martinez's docket when Judge Martinez was battling cancer. She not only tended to her docket but she tended to Judge Martinez as an amazing friend and supporter. I understand that this was very difficult for Liz and took a huge emotional toll on her. She not only lost a colleague but she lost a deep personal friend. I want to acknowledge Liz for all she did for the 20th JD bench as well as what she did for Judge Martinez and her family.
4th Judicial District
The administration team of our district works dili- gently to support the well-being of all district staff and judicial officers. The team regularly checks in with employees through well-being newsletters, courthouse-wide events and providing thoughtful tokens. For example, the team will present breakfast burrito days where everyone is invited to come to a common area to socialize and grab some breakfast. We also have a pancake day and BBQ day, both in the courtyard of the courthouse every summer where judicial officers volunteer to cook and serve and the staff partakes and interacts with everyone. I believe the efforts contribute to a significant number of our team members feeling that the 4th is a good place to work. The administration team also has provided space and professionals for facilitated connecting when a colleague passed away, and numerous opportunities for well-being trainings.
5th Judicial District
The Fifth JD has created a culture to support well-being over many years. From the bench/bar raft trips that were put-in annually with the 9th JD to the sabbatical program in which every judicial officer volunteers a week of coverage to a colleague every year so that they may have a real break and re-charge for a month twice a decade. We ensure that our annual judicial retreat includes team building to improve our bond (past activities have included horseback riding and hiking).
Hence, when a colleague has a family event or wants to attend a memorial service for a deceased friend, we are almost competitive to be the first to offer to help to cover a docket or a trial to support each other. Operating in an environment where we know we cover each other's backs are both re-assuring and affirming. I believe we have created an aspiration that all districts and judicial officers deserve.
17th Judicial District
The 17th JD STAR Committee was formed in February 2022 in an effort to involve our courthouse communities in creating ways to spread kindness and gratitude throughout the year to fellow employees. This Employee Appreciation committee is made up of employees and judi- cial officers (Judge Southerland, Judge Seedorf, Judge DeWick, Magistrate Lord-Blegen, Judge Nowak and Judge Finn) from both Adams and Broomfield courthouses who spend endless time, creativity and energy to build community and make the 17th JD a great place to work!
Our mission is to recognize and acknowledge employees of the 17th Judicial District, by promot- ing success, creativity, and high performance through motivation and teamwork. Our goal is to celebrate hard work, diversity, thoughtfulness and respect within a collaborative and positive work environment.
STAR offers well-being related activities every month to engage and appreciate our employees such as Heart Healthy Month; Random Acts of Kindness Week; Bring Your Child to Work Day (collaborative event with Probation, the PD's Office, the DA's Office & Law Enforcement); Staff Appreciation Day; Partnership Appreciation Day; School Supply Drive; Spirit Week; Fall Fun Week; and Chili Cookoff and Salsa Showdown. These efforts help to bring people together, build a strong sense of pride in our workplace and most of all, give us all a reason to smile, laugh and have fun even through the most challenging of times.
Most recently, the STAR Committee put together Pet Appreciation Week which included some- thing each day of the week to honor our fur family members:
MONDAY: Pet Photo Bingo
TUESDAY: Guess the Judicial Officer's Pets Game
WEDNESDAY: Gifts for the Cats and Dogs of the 17th and Courthouse Pet Trivia
THURSDAY: Cutest Pet Picture Contest
FRIDAY: Puppy Adoption Event and Gifts for Cutest Pet Picture Contestants (pet badges for their Paw Clerks and Purrdicial Assistants)
We are so grateful to the 17th JD STAR Committee for their incredible commitment to bringing well-being to the judicial officers and employees of the 17th Judicial District!
