The Hon. Catherine J. Cheroutes is a judge for the 5th Judicial District Court of Colorado. She was appointed to the bench by former Governor John Hickenlooper on February 1, 2019, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Wayne Patton.
The 5th Judicial District encompasses Clear Creek County, Eagle County, Lake County, and Summit County.
Prior to her appointment, Cheroutes was a managing partner at Cheroutes Zweig, a law firm she joined in 2015. In that capacity, she specialized in domestic relations and criminal defense matters. She also handled court appointments in dependency and neglect, juvenile delinquency, and divorce cases.
Cheroutes earned a bachelor’s degree from Franklin & Marshall College in 1990. She then completed a J.D. at the University of Colorado Law School in 1993. She is admitted to practice in Colorado (1993) and the United States District Court for the District of Colorado (1994).
After graduating from law school, Cheroutes spent time as an associate at Carlson, Carlson & Dunkelman and DeJong & Associates. She was also the owner of the Cheroutes Law Firm and of counsel to the Rietz Law Firm, supplementing her practice with service as a deputy district attorney for the 5th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Cheroutes was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, where she attended Manual High School. When not presiding over legal proceedings, she enjoys skiing, biking, hiking, playing tennis, and cooking.