Colorado Governor Jared Polis has announced three judicial appointments in Colorado's 4th Judicial District, naming Mary K. Linden and Amy P. Cullen Cano to the district court serving El Paso and Teller counties and Douglas G. Bechtel to the El Paso County Court.

Linden's appointment fills a vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable David Prince and takes effect June 1, 2026. Cano's appointment fills a new judgeship created by Senate Bill 25-024 and takes effect July 1, 2026. Bechtel's appointment fills a vacancy created by the retirement of the Honorable Steven Katzman and is effective May 27, 2026.

Linden has been Managing Partner and Co-Founder at Linden Kominek, PC, doing business as Linden Law Group, since 2005. Her practice primarily consists of civil matters. She previously served as an Associate Attorney at Vaughan & DeMuro, PC from 2004 to 2005 and as Senior Associate at Mulliken, Gleason, Weiner & Whitney, PC from 1994 to 1999. Linden earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1989 and her Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law in 1993.

Cano has served as a Magistrate in the 4th Judicial District since 2025, presiding over a docket of domestic and civil matters. She previously held positions in the 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office as Senior Deputy District Attorney in 2025, Deputy District Attorney III from 2021 to 2025, Deputy District Attorney II from 2018 to 2021, and Deputy District Attorney I from 2015 to 2018. Cano earned her Bachelor of Science from Colorado State University Pueblo in 2006 and her Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado Law School in 2014.

Bechtel has served as an El Paso County Court Magistrate in the 4th Judicial District since 2024, where his docket consists of criminal and civil matters. He previously served as a Deputy District Attorney in the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office from 2005 to 2024. Bechtel earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois in 1994 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 2006.

Colorado’s 4^th Judicial District includes El Paso and Teller counties.