Susan J. Blanco
Justice, Colorado Supreme Court
April 2026
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The CBA 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 second judge featured in this series is Justice Susan Blanco, who was appointed to the Colorado Supreme Court on February 17, 2026. Prior to her appointment, she served as chief judge of the Eighth Judicial District, representing Larimer and Jackson counties. We are grateful to Justice Blanco for sharing her story to help strengthen our communities, inspire others to pursue careers in law and public service, and advance a more inclusive, informed, 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 Justice Blanco may contact coalition co-chairs Judge Cynthia D. Mares (ret.) or Judge Mariana Vielma at diversity@cobar.org.
Roots and Beginnings
Justice Susan Blanco’s inspirational story starts in Fort Collins. As an Iranian American, Justice Blanco and her family brought diversity to this prototypical city that inspired Disney’s Main Street, USA. Her family bravely moved to the United States from Iran, seeking safety and new opportunities after the Iranian revolution. Inspired by their resilience, Justice Blanco developed a strong desire to give back, which is now present in everything she does, as a judge and as a community leader.
Discovering a Call in Law
While in college at Colorado State University, Justice Blanco’s love of advocacy blossomed as her achievements in speech and debate grew. Law school, rather than medical school, felt like the right path. It would afford her the opportunity to help others and support justice for all.
Overcoming Barriers
Justice Blanco admits the journey to becoming a judge wasn’t easy. As many of us do, she faced financial hurdles; she also didn’t have mentors to guide her at first, which made the journey daunting at times. But as her many successes show, these hurdles only strengthened her resilience and resourcefulness.
Building Expertise
Justice Blanco graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Colorado State University in 2000. She earned her JD from the University of Colorado School of Law in 2003. But she didn’t stop there—she earned her LLM (Master of Laws) from Duke Law School. Her legal career began in corporate litigation and mergers and acquisitions, but she soon found herself drawn to supporting people in need, working first as a prosecutor and later as a defense attorney and guardian ad litem. In 2008, Justice Blanco founded her own law practice, where she represented families in crisis and handled a wide range of cases that gave her firsthand insight into how the legal system shapes people’s everyday lives. She went on to become the first woman and the first Iranian American to serve as chief judge of Colorado’s Eighth Judicial District, serving Larimer and Jackson counties, before joining the Colorado Supreme Court bench in February.
Commitment to Community
Community involvement is a cornerstone of Justice Blanco’s work. She has been a member of numerous professional organizations, including the CBA, the Colorado Women’s Bar Association, and the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association. Her husband is Hispanic, so that community is near and dear to her. She helped found MENA (the Middle Eastern North African Bar Association of Colorado). Through these organizations, she has developed programs like Lawyers Teaching for Change (a program that teaches civics in elementary schools) and the Colorado Diverse Attorney Community Circle (a program to build community and leadership for diverse attorneys). She has also been an active chair for COBALT, the CBA’s leadership training program. Additionally, Justice Blanco teaches at CU Law School. She believes that her involvement with these organizations allows her to build relationships, mentor aspiring lawyers, and share leadership skills. Teaching and mentoring also bring her energy and keep her connected with students, which helps her understand the community’s changing needs and perspectives and offers her endless opportunities to support and guide others.
Striving for Diversity
Justice Blanco believes that Colorado’s judiciary should reflect the community it serves. She believes a judiciary attuned to the people it serves fosters public trust and strengthens justice. She supports diversity by mentoring, participating in law school programs, and advocating for inclusive hiring and retention practices. She believes that following these steps helps ensure the legal community respects every voice and culture. She believes that diverse voices from across Colorado strengthen the quality of the policies we implement and the decisions that directly affect communities throughout the state.
In Justice Blanco’s own words, “A bench that mirrors our community instills confidence and justice. People must be assured they’ll be treated with respect and fairness. Bias has no place in our system. If we lose the confidence of the people we serve, the judiciary will suffer.”
Commitment to Fairness
Justice Blanco believes judicial officers have a duty to administer justice fairly and equitably. To her, this means staying open to growth, learning from every experience, and speaking up when something needs to change—whether in the courtroom or behind the scenes.
Encouraging Future Leaders
Justice Blanco has this advice for law students and new lawyers: “The path to the bench is deeply rewarding. It is a job filled with purpose, leadership opportunities, and chances to shape the future of our profession. If you’re motivated to make a positive impact, consider a judicial role—you’ll become a change-maker in your community.”
Rewards and Challenges
Serving as a judicial officer has given Justice Blanco a meaningful platform—whether launching initiatives like the Latinx Task Force (created at the Larimer County Justice Center to provide resources and assist non-English-speaking people to navigate the American court system); speaking to national audiences about being an Iranian American judge; or speaking at a Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) cording ceremony (a pre-commencement or graduation event that honors and celebrates the achievements of new graduates).
We asked Justice Blanco what challenges she faces. She shared that it can be challenging to navigate ensuring her perspective is fully heard in professional conversations as someone with a different background and set of experiences in the legal community. She believes that bringing a diverse viewpoint can require persistence and intentional engagement. Even so, Justice Blanco believes that the positive outcomes and experiences she has enjoyed far exceed any challenges she has faced.
Making a Difference
One of Justice Blanco’s proudest achievements, with the help of an amazing multidisciplinary team, was the recent launch of the Veterans Court in Fort Collins. This court program was launched to help vulnerable individuals involved in the justice system. Within just a few months, Justice Blanco has already seen many participants rebuild their families and their futures. She shared a story about a veteran who was on the brink of going to prison until he was sentenced to treatment court. He now serves other veterans and is working on opening a nonprofit organization. With proper support, he is making all his court requirements, has stable housing, and maintains his sobriety. Another proud achievement is the launch of the competency courts, which helps stabilize defendants with mental health or development needs navigate the court system. The vulnerable can easily get stuck in the criminal justice system, but finding a way to stabilize and assist these individuals has developed a court that now has statewide presence and national attention. The competency court has won multiple humanitarian and visionary awards. For Justice Blanco, witnessing people regain their lives and learn how to overcome the obstacles of mental health challenges and addiction has been an amazing and inspiring experience.
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