But ask Dorschner who will be his new boss, and he comes up empty-handed.
“I would be hard-pressed to answer that,” says Dorschner.
Similarly, the spokesman for Sen. Ken Salazar who, as Colorado’s senior U.S. senator, would be charged with submitting recommendations of who should be Colorado’s next U.S. attorney to president-elect Barack Obama, is mum on the possibilities.
“It’s still too early in the process,” says Matt Lee-Ashley, Salazar’s spokesman. “We’re not there yet.”
Indeed, Salazar’s expected appointment to become secretary of the interior may take him out of the process entirely.
The likelihood that Colorado’s current U.S. attorney, Troy Eid, appointed by George W. Bush in 2006, will continue in that role is slim. But the lengthy nomination process to name a replacement, which could take months, hasn’t deterred the rumor mill from spinning grist.
Though top profile cases like the Nacchio, Barton and Roman Catholic nun cases often make the headlines, the cases that come before the U.S. attorney in Colorado usually are those involving natural resources, federal military and correctional facilities, crimes on Indian reservations, federal child porn cases, and terrorism. Before Eid was appointed, John Suthers served as U.S. attorney until he became Colorado’s attorney general; before that Democrat Tom Strickland served.
Top among the likely contenders to emerge to replace Eid, according to several knowledgeable sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, is Don Quick, the 17th Judicial District district attorney who previously worked for Salazar when he was Colorado’s attorney general — including three years as Salazar’s chief deputy overseeing 330 attorneys, investigators and staff. In all, Quick has more than 20 years of civil and criminal prosecution experience and has been appointed to numerous boards, commissions and task forces, including serving as president of the Colorado District Attorney’s Council from 2006-07.
On Monday afternoon, Quick confirmed he’s “taking a look at it.” The timing isn’t ideal, Quick told the Colorado Independent, pointing out that he was re-elected just last month to second term as district attorney for the 17th Judicial District, which includes Broomfield and Adams counties.
Yet at the same time, Eric Holder, Obama’s selection for attorney general, has been very supportive of the types of programs that have inspired Quick, including youth initiatives to keep kids in school that are similar to one that Quick has installed in Adams County.
“It’s difficult, timing-wise, but that part is very intriguing to me — the possibility of taking such a position under the leadership of Eric Holder. At this point, I can say I’m taking a look at it,” Quick said.
Several other names have been mentioned as possible candidates for Colorado U.S. attorney or have expressed interest publicly in the position. They include:
• Willie Shepherd — The chairman and co-founder of Denver-based Kamlet Shepherd Attorneys at Law is active in Democratic Party politics, as well as Denver’s business, civic, and philanthropic communities. He has served on a number of commissions and task forces and serves on the boards of directors of the Denver Metro Chamber Foundation, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Concern and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. According to his law firm’s Web site, Shepherd specializes in environmental, regulatory and administrative law as well as land use and zoning. He represents Fortune 500 companies, and medium to smaller-sized businesses on a variety of complex regulatory issues.
• Bob Troyer — An attorney with Hogan and Hartson law firm, Troyer is a trial lawyer who, according to his company’s Web site, focuses on class action litigation, complex commercial litigation, environmental litigation, white collar defense, and internal investigations. He has litigated cases in over 10 federal jurisdictions and argued numerous appeals before the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Jaime Pena — Currently an assistant U.S. attorney in Colorado, working in the economic crimes division.
• Michael Carrigan — A former Denver deputy district attorney who currently works at the Denver-based law firm Holland & Hart. “It’s something I’m seriously considering, and (it’s) flattering to have some people mentioning my name,” Carrigan told PolitickerCO.com early this month.
• State Rep. Bernie Buescher — The expected next speaker of the House of Representatives was defeated in his re-election bid and has subsequently expressed interest in the U.S. attorney position, as well as the vacant position for president of Colorado State University. Buescher has also made the final cut and is one of three being considered for the vacant Colorado secretary of state position.
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