Dorothy Binder

1923 - 2017

The Honorable Dorothy Binder, the first female deputy district attorney in the history of Colorado, passed away at home on April 30, 2017. Born to Leonard and Ethel (Lilly) Binder in Jackson Michigan on April 10, 1923, Dorothy had an older sister Rosalee and younger siblings Dolores and L. James, all of whom predeceased her. After graduating high school in 1941, she became a mechanical draftsman (her preferred title) and worked both in drafting and on assembly lines during World War II, including a stint at the Ford plant in Michigan that produced the B24 bomber. Her association with the military continued when she later joined the Naval Reserve and was a "weekend warrior" at Buckley Air Force Base from 1950 until her honorable discharge in 1956. In early 1947, Dorothy visited Denver and, struck by the natural beauty of the area, decided to make it her home. She worked as a janitor, waitress, and clerk to pay her way through the University of Denver from which she graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1950 with a degree in pre-professional social work. While a social worker for the Denver Department of Welfare, she attended Westminster College of Law (later the University of Denver School of Law), graduated first in her class with a law degree in 1956, and was admitted to the Colorado Bar that same year. Two years later, in 1958, Dorothy was appointed a deputy district attorney in Denver. She continued as a deputy district attorney in Arapahoe and Adams counties until 1971 when she was appointed a juvenile court referee (magistrate) and then judge for Adams County. In 1978, she was appointed by Governor Richard Lamm as a judge in the 17th Judicial District of Colorado - the first woman ever to hold the position in that district. She served in that capacity until 1986, when she "retired" to senior judge status and served as an arbitrator until 1992. During her years in the Denver area, Dorothy sat on the board of various community outreach programs focused on alcohol treatment, mental health, and domestic abuse. She was also a member of the Colorado Judicial Department Committee that developed a handbook and video for jurors in Colorado courts - a service that, no doubt, neophyte (or simply reluctant) prospective jurors are still grateful for today. As a member of the Colorado Carvers Club, Dorothy spent many hours administering the activities of that cutting edge group while honing her skills (and crippling her thumbs) in the creation of countless special pieces of wood art. Dorothy will be remembered as a wise, no-nonsense friend and mentor. She developed her talent for mediation growing up as a New Deal Democrat in Jackson, the birthplace of the Republican Party. She was a loyal fan of the Broncos and an aficionado of women's softball - a game she played (in the catcher's position) on city leagues as a teenager. She was a much-loved aunt to more nieces, nephews, great-nieces and -nephews, and great-great-nieces and -nephews than could fit into three jury boxes. No funeral services are planned; memorial donations may be sent to: Colorado Carver's Club, PO Box 19171, Denver, CO 80219 Community Reach Center, 1870 West 122nd Ave., Suite 100, attn. Finance Dept., Westminster, CO 80234 ACLU of Colorado, 303 East 17th Ave., Denver CO 80203