Polis appoints Schwartz to 8th District Court, Perez to Weld County Court
One vacancy is effective immediately, while the other begins Jan. 13, 2027. The appointees bring experience in domestic-relations matters, civil litigation and work as public defenders or prosecutors.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis appointed Jeffrey M. Schwartz to the 8th Judicial District Court and Michael M. Perez to the Weld County Court in the 19th Judicial District on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, according to the governor’s office. The vacancy created by the retirement of Juan G. Villaseñor is effective immediately, while the vacancy created by the retirement of Renee S. Doak is effective Jan. 13, 2027.
Schwartz has served as a district court magistrate in the 8th Judicial District since 2023, handling domestic relations matters. He previously was a founder and partner at Schwartz & Waible, LLC, and a deputy public defender in the Colorado Springs office of the Colorado State Public Defender.
Perez has been an associate attorney at Wagstaff Law Firm since 2025, practicing civil litigation. He previously served as a deputy district attorney in the 17th and 19th judicial districts.