Third Judicial District — Huerfano and Las Animas Counties

District Judges

Claude W. Appel

Chief Judge

Huerfano County

(719) 738-1040

Allegations of improper judicial practices by Appel reported in October, 2001. He was accused of using cocaine by Judge Haeger and attorney Bill Danks (Denver Post, 10/17/03 p. 4B). But he was later made chief judge of the district.

Norman Arends

Las Animas County

No longer on Bench as of February 2007.

Arends appointed chief judge after Manzanares was relieved by Colorado Supreme Court in October, 2001, after allegations of improper judicial practices made against two judges in 3 ^rd J.D. in fall of 2001. But later moved back.

Leslie Gerbacht

Las Animas County

(719) 846-3316

Appointed by Bill Owens in September 2006. Former state public defender.

Replaced George A Newman

Jesse C. Manzanares

Las Animas County

Has stepped down as of 2003.

Now the county attorney.

George A. Newman

Las Animas County

(719) 846-3316

No longer on bench as of February 2007.

County Judges

Bruce Billings

Las Animas County

(719) 846-3316

Robert E. Haeger

Huerfano County

No longer on bench as of February 2007.

Allegations of improper judicial practices by Haeger reported in October, 2001. Accused of cocaine use by attorney Bill Danks (Denver Post, 10/17/03 p. 4B). As of 10/28/03 (Denver Post, p. 4B) Haegar is suing the FBI for releasing information about alleged cocaine use by Judge Appel

Sanders witnessed Judge Haeger in Huerfano County Court in February 2004. Haeger was incredibly kind to the pro se litigant and ruled against DA, who then childishly stormed out of the courtroom.

Ellen Haskins Trujillo

Huerfano County

(719) 738-1040