Dea M. Lindsey
District Court Judge, Boulder County
March 2026
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9519: Judicial officers and state judicial employees volunteer for the Judicial Equity Project.
9699: Judge Lindsey and family.
The Colorado Bar Association and the Colorado Judicial Institute’s Diversity on the Bench Coalition are proud to launch a new series highlighting Colorado judges who serve communities across the state—from urban centers to rural districts. This series invites community members, students of all ages, and the public to learn more about the judges who serve in their local courts, with a particular focus on each judge’s background and unique journey to the bench.
The first judge featured in this series is Judge Dea M. Lindsey, who has served on the Boulder County District Court bench since April 2021. Judge Lindsey, thank you for sharing your story. Your experiences help strengthen our community, inspire others to consider careers in law or public service, and promote a more inclusive, understanding, and just society.
Readers are encouraged to share this story with students, attorneys, and members of the community. Those interested in meeting or speaking with Judge Lindsey may contact coalition co-chairs Judge Cynthia D. Mares (ret.) or Judge Mariana Vielma at diversity@cobar.org.
Roots and Beginnings
Judge Lindsey grew up in Michigan until the age of 10, when she moved to Denver following her parents’ divorce. She is a proud graduate of Denver’s East High School, where she participated in dance and gymnastics. After graduating, she attended the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) in Greeley on a dance scholarship, majoring in dance with an emphasis in kinesiology and physical education.
While at UNC, Judge Lindsey went on to earn a master’s degree in physical education with an emphasis in exercise physiology. During this time, she worked as an assistant manager, personal training director, and fitness director at a fitness center, and served as a coach and choreographer for the UNC dance team and other area schools. Later, she danced professionally as an inaugural member of the Denver Broncos Cheerleaders for several years and served as director of the Denver Nuggets dance team.
Although Judge Lindsey had a deep passion for dance and fitness, her work in the fitness and professional sports industries sparked a growing interest in the legal field, ultimately leading her to make the bold decision to change careers and attend law school.
Overcoming Barriers in Law School
Judge Lindsey’s path to law school and the bench was not without significant challenges. As a young mother of two—ages 3 and 1—she attended law school while working, and she and her husband struggled financially. When she expressed interest in pursuing a legal career, she often encountered skepticism, including from individuals in positions of mentorship or influence who emphasized reasons she might not succeed. But despite these barriers, Judge Lindsey persisted, graduating from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 1999.
Building Expertise in Preparation for the Bench
Judge Lindsey’s professional experiences before, during, and after law school prepared her well for judicial service. While in law school, she interned with the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, criminal defense attorney Larry Pozner, and Colorado Legal Services, and she participated in moot court. During her third year, she worked in the Colorado State Public Defender’s Office.
After passing the bar exam, Judge Lindsey began her legal career as a deputy state public defender in the Greeley office. After two years, she entered private practice with other former public defenders, focusing primarily on criminal defense as alternate defense counsel. Reflecting on that time, Judge Lindsey notes, “Working in this area of the law prepared me for doing almost anything without fear.”
She later served as a county attorney handling dependency and neglect cases, where she worked closely with families facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives. This role strengthened her empathy, resilience, and appreciation for collaboration.
While serving as a county attorney, Judge Lindsey was asked to take on a new role representing public safety. In that capacity, she advised the Sheriff’s Office and the Office of Emergency Management during emergency situations, provided training for law enforcement and juvenile detention staff, and litigated civil rights cases. At this point in her career, she felt confident she could handle the full range of cases that would come before her as a district court judge. She was appointed to the 20th Judicial District Court of Colorado by Governor Jared Polis on March 17, 2021.
Community Involvement and Leadership
Judge Lindsey is widely recognized for her leadership and advocacy on issues of racial equity and justice. She regularly speaks on these topics and emphasizes the importance of addressing systemic racism within the justice system.
As she explains, “As long as there are negative disparities in the justice system by race, it is critical to create awareness and knowledge about the impacts of systemic racism and take action to decrease the utilization of outdated, and therefore, likely racist policies that haven’t been considered for their impact on people of color or other marginalized groups of diverse individuals.”
Striving for Diversity on the Bench
Judge Lindsey, along with many judges and community leaders, remains deeply concerned that the demographics of Colorado’s judiciary do not reflect the diversity of the communities it serves.
She points to data showing that arrest rates, jail populations, and prison populations disproportionately impact people of color compared to their representation in the general population. As Judge Lindsey explains, “People of color have rarely seen themselves represented in positions of power. When we see judges that represent what we look like, it creates confidence and trust in the judicial system. Studies have found that greater representation of Black judges on the bench led to heightened perceptions that the courts were legitimate.”
Judge Lindsey believes that a diverse bench leads to more equitable jurisprudence, informed by a wider range of life experiences, resulting in fairer outcomes for all. This vision led her to create the Judicial Equity Project, which provides education and raises awareness among judges and judicial employees about the impact of inequity within the justice system.
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She also recognizes the importance of representation in challenging harmful stereotypes. For students and attorneys questioning whether a judicial career is possible, Judge Lindsey’s story demonstrates that passion, perseverance, and commitment can lead to leadership roles on the bench.
Encouraging Future Leaders
When asked what advice she would offer to law students and attorneys considering judicial service, Judge Lindsey says: “I would encourage anyone who would like to see actual change with their presence to become a judge, with a giant caveat. People of color are doing the bulk of equity work because we know the outcomes will be better for people of color and all people. By virtue of being a person of color, life is already generally more difficult than it is for others. Being a person of color in a power position, particularly given very small numbers, is difficult and challenging. Therefore, ‘opting out’ of this challenge is understandable. However, I would add that until our numbers increase in these positions, the challenges are greater for all people of color.”
Judge Linsdey also says it’s important to find a good professional and personal fit when considering a judgeship. In some cases, pursuing a judicial career requires relocating, as alignment between a judge and the community in which they preside is essential. Judge Lindsey, for example, worked in Boulder County for many years while living in a different county. Through her long tenure with the county, she developed a deep familiarity with the legal community there. In Colorado, judges must reside in the jurisdiction they serve in order to be appointed. Although relocating was a significant decision, Judge Lindsey believes it was the right choice.
Challenges and Rewards
Many people shy away from discussing the most difficult experiences in their lives, but Judge Lindsey believes that both the obstacles and successes she has faced—as a person and as a lawyer—have made her a better judge. These experiences deeply challenged her and have enabled her to connect more profoundly with those who appear before her. Rather than viewing her experiences with racism, family addiction, and other hardships as sources of shame, she sees them as sources of strength. Judge Lindsey believes these challenges have built her character, resilience, and motivation to pursue a purpose greater than herself.
When reflecting on the rewards of judicial service, Judge Lindsey identifies the friendships and sense of community she has developed as the most meaningful aspects of her role. Through collaboration with colleagues on her bench and shared efforts toward equity, she has found deep fulfillment knowing that others share the love of serving the public. She describes these relationships as invaluable and says she would never trade them. The unexpected joy of this journey continues to inspire her, particularly as she watches friends and colleagues persevere through challenges and achieve remarkable accomplishments. In her view, these successes are possible only through collaboration and collective growth.
Making a Difference
In Judge Lindsey’s eyes, increasing the number of judges of color is essential to creating a fair and effective judicial system. She draws on data, personal experience, and the experiences of others to demonstrate that diversity on the bench leads to stronger and more equitable outcomes.
She shared a moment that underscores this reality: While walking through a courtroom in her judicial robe, a woman looked at her with disbelief and exclaimed, “You’re a judge? That’s crazy!” Although the woman smiled, her reaction reflected a deeper issue—the continued underrepresentation of people of color in judicial roles. For Judge Lindsey, moments like this are clear indicators that Colorado still has significant work to do in ensuring its judiciary reflects the communities it serves.
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