Second Judicial District - District Court Judge
Honorable Nancy E. Rice
Retention Year: 1996
Recommendation: Retain
The Judicial Performance Commission of the Second Judicial District recommends that Judge Rice BE RETAINED.
Judge Rice graduated from Central High School in Cheyenne, Wyoming and attended Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, graduating with honors in 1972. Judge Rice attended law school at the University of Utah where she served as editor-in-chief to the Journal of Contemporary Law.
Judge Rice’s first position was as a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Fred Winner. In 1976 she started working for the Colorado State Public Defender’s office in the appellate division. After leaving the public defender’s office in 1977, Judge Rice was employed by the Unites States Attorney’s office in Denver. While with the U.S. Attorney’s office, Judge Rice prosecuted cases in federal court, and also served as deputy chief of the civil division.
Judge Rice was appointed a district court judge in 1988. Since her appointment, Judge Rice has served in the civil, criminal, and domestic divisions. A highlight of Judge Rice’s career was receiving the Judicial Excellence Award in 1993. Judge Rice has been an active speaker on professional issues and has written numerous articles for legal publications. In 1994, she was appointed by the Colorado Supreme Court to a special committee to investigate civil litigation and discovery abuse.
Judge Rice has taught at the University of Colorado Law School for the past ten years. In addition, she is a faculty member at the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada and at the National Institute of Trial Advocacy.
Judge Rice is a single parent with a ten year old adopted daughter. She enjoys playing the cello in a quartet. She also enjoys all sports and spends most of her free time with her family.
Written survey results showed that 83.3% of attorneys and 93.8% of jurors favored retention; 13.9% of attorneys favored non-retention; and 2.8% of attorneys and 6.3% of jurors had not opinion.