Judge David J. Cordova

Judge David J. Cordova was born in Dawson, New Mexico a mining town that no longer exists. He grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and always missed his home state of New Mexico. When we would travel to New Mexico from Colorado, and if we drove, when we crossed into the state of New Mexico, he would take a deep breath and tell us that the air in New Mexico was so much better.

Judge Cordova came from humble beginnings but always wanted to be a lawyer so he could help people. He had an extensive and varied career during his lifetime. After graduating from Denver University Law School he began his career at Legal Aid in Denver doing divorces and later learning Immigration law. He then became a Public Defender for Denver and then later in Brighton where he eventually became the Head at that office where he assigned attorneys case files and did administrative work on top of his own caseload. Next he worked at the Environmental Protection Agency where he did water law, and then was eventually nominated for the position of Immigration Judge in Denver. In Denver at that time, he was the second Judge to join the Denver office. Later, one more Judge was hired, but the caseload was horrifically high, and in addition he was expected to travel to the Salt Lake City Court, every six weeks for one week to hear cases there as well. Because he was a Federal Judge he would travel extensively to many other states to hear cases there as well. Needless to say the job was very demanding, and dangerous as his life was threatened more than once. But on the lighter side, we were out shopping one Saturday, when we were approached by a rather serious looking man who recognized Judge Cordova and wanted to speak to him. We waited for what we thought would be an onslaught of complaints, thinking he had been deported, and when he began to thank the Judge for allowing him to stay in the United States we were not only relieved but happy that his outcome at Court had been a positive one.

His love for the law was followed closely with his love for football. We always teased him and told him he could have been a referee as he knew the game so well. He grew to love the Buff’s when he taught Immigration Law at CU and attended all the Buff’s games while teaching there, and watched every game at home when they played. He always wore a CU baseball cap and t-shirts with CU’s logos. He also enjoyed watching the Broncos, and other football teams as well. He will be sorely missed, by his family as he was our anchor and loved very much.

To honor David's wishes we will be having a private family service.