The benches in courtroom two at the Montezuma County Combined Courts quickly filled the morning of Nov. 18 as people crowded in to watch Ian MacLaren, the newest addition to the court, get formally sworn in.
Judge Todd Jay Plewe of the 22nd Judicial District led MacLaren through the oath of office, and started off with a warm welcome.
“It’s my honor to swear in Ian MacLaren,” said Plewe. “I’m excited to serve with him.”
After MacLaren took the oath with a raised right hand, his mother delivered his long black gown in an act of what Plewe called “tradition.”
Once MacLaren zipped the gown with minor difficulties, he gave a speech.
“Thank you all for being here. I’m not sure I’d be here without each and every one of you,” said MacLaren as he looked out at the crowded room of friends, family and former coworkers.
He grew up in Montezuma County, and said how he loved the area and its people.
“I want to serve and do right by the people in this community,” he said.
MacLaren intends to be all the things a judge ought to be: unbiased, fair. It’s paramount, though, to not put people into boxes, he said.
“It’s easy to do. Every time I’m on the bench, I strive not to do this,” he said. “I also strive to not box myself in.”
Before Gov. Jared Polis appointed him to the Montezuma County Court in the 22nd Judicial District on Oct. 16, MacLaren worked for the county for nearly nine years.
“It’s been a great ride,” MacLaren said at his last Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners meeting on Nov. 12.
Since 2021, he’s been the Montezuma County attorney, and before that, he was the assistant county attorney for five and a half years.
“It’s been a fun couple of years,” said Montezuma County Commissioner Jim Candelaria. “I like seeing bright young men moving forward.”
Work as a private practitioner at Ian MacLaren Attorney at Law overlapped with his county responsibilities from 2016 to 2021.
In 2023, he landed his first job as a judge in Dove Creek as municipal court judge. Not long after, in May this year, Polis appointed him to the Dolores County Court in the 22nd Judicial District.
“I believe in our Constitution – I know it sounds cliché – and the legal system it has created,” MacLaren said.
Although that “system” isn’t perfect, he said.
He said the moment he knew he wanted to be a judge was when he was a young attorney representing someone afflicted with alcoholism and learning disabilities.
What that person needed was sober living and treatment, but he never got it and ultimately died.
He said it’s something he’ll never forget, and though he can’t fix the system, he’ll uphold mandates and do his best.
MacLaren filled the vacancy Judge JenniLynn Lawrence left when she was appointed to the 21st Judicial District in Mesa County earlier this year. Assistant County Attorney Stephen Tarnowski will take MacLaren’s place as Montezuma County Attorney.
“I’ve got a trial at 1:30 p.m. today” MacLaren said with a laugh.
