Polis Appoints Matthew Berumen to Las Animas County Court 3rd Judicial District

Governor Polis appointed Matthew T. Berumen to the Las Animas County Court in the 3rd Judicial District to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of the Honorable John D. Mochel. The appointment was announced Jan. 20, 2026, and is effective Feb. 5, 2026.

Matthew Berumen joins the county bench from the Law Office of Kenneth E. Davidson, where he has worked since 2022 handling civil litigation. His practice focus and decades of legal experience position him to take on the mix of civil and administrative matters that move through the county court docket.

Berumen’s career spans private practice, in-house counsel, and academic work. From 2019 to 2022 he served as Corporate Counsel at Credit Service Company, Inc., and from 2020 to 2022 he also held the title of Chief Compliance Officer at the same company. He taught as Affiliate Faculty at Metropolitan State University of Denver from 2017 to 2021. Earlier roles include attorney positions at Greenberg & Sada, PC (2013-2018), Vargo & Janson (2009-2013), his own firm Matthew Berumen, PC (2005-2008), Takaki & Berumen, LLC (2002-2005), the Law Office of Alfonso Cabral (2002), and the Orchard Law Firm (1997-2002).

Berumen earned a B.A. from Colorado State University in 1992 and a J.D. from Whittier Law School in 1997. That combination of courtroom practice, corporate compliance work, and teaching gives Berumen experience in civil litigation strategy, regulatory issues, and legal instruction that will inform his approach on the bench.

For Las Animas County residents, the appointment means a new judge will begin managing matters in county court starting Feb. 5, 2026. Parties with pending hearings, attorneys who practice in the 3rd Judicial District, and those following civil dockets should watch for updated calendars and case assignments as the court transitions duties previously handled by the Hon. John D. Mochel. Local litigants involved in civil disputes may notice continuity in procedure, though case management styles can shift as each judge sets courtroom priorities.

The immediate next step is the formal swearing-in and the transfer of Mochel’s docket responsibilities. As Matthew Berumen takes the bench, Las Animas County court users can expect updated schedules and notices from the courthouse reflecting the change in judicial assignment.