Judge Carlos Samour was sworn in Monday as the newest state Supreme Court justice.
Samour was the chief judge in Arapahoe County and presided over several high-profile cases, including the Aurora theater shooting trial.
When Rene Lima-Marin was mistakenly released early only to be thrown back in jail after the mistake was discovered, Samour re-released him. The judge ruled re-jailing someone was unfair.
"[Samour] has presided over some of Colorado's highest profile cases in recent history and has distinguished himself, without exception, as being fair and impartial regardless of the magnitude of the case," Gov. John Hickenlooper said in a statement on the day of his appointment.
Samour is also leading a blue ribbon commission on overhauling the state's cash bail system.
He was born in El Salvador and came to the United States when he was 13. Samour graduated from Columbine High School and the University of Colorado.
