Hon. Patrick D. Butler (Ret.) served as a district court judge in the 20th Judicial District (Boulder County) from 2011 to 2024. Judge Butler presided over domestic relations, civil, criminal, juvenile, mental health and probate dockets. While in a civil docket, he presided over many cases involving automobile accidents, medical and dental malpractice, contracts and construction defects.

While in a domestic docket, Judge Butler handled everything from simple dissolutions and parenting time cases to the most complex domestic cases involving large marital estates and difficult allocation of parental responsibilities issues.

Prior to his district judge appointment, Judge Butler was a magistrate from 2009 to 2011 in the 18th Judicial District (Arapahoe, Douglas and Elbert counties). As a magistrate, he handled civil and domestic matters, including debt collection, protection orders and child support collection.

Prior to being appointed as a magistrate, Judge Butler practiced plaintiff and defendant civil litigation and criminal defense from 1986 to 2009. During his career in private practice, he tried approximately 150 jury trials.

In private practice, Judge Butler handled a wide variety of personal injury and contract disputes, including plaintiff automobile, trucking, motorcycle collision and premises liability lawsuits. He also represented two trucking companies and one insurance company as defense counsel.

When he is not acting as a neutral or special master, Judge Butler devotes his time as a volunteer for USA Boxing as a certified boxing official. This includes roles as a referee, ring supervisor, timekeeper and judge.

Judge Butler has always been an active athlete and has participated in a wide variety of sports over the years. He has completed two Ironman triathlons and many shorter triathlons. He has competed in powerlifting, boxing and distance running events. In 2001, he rode his bicycle from Colorado to Maryland in 12 days, averaging 138 miles per day. He has completed several ultramarathons and marathons.

Judge Butler takes satisfaction in helping parties settle their cases in a more cost-effective and comfortable format, through both mediation and arbitration. As a special master, he stands ready to give the attention to time-consuming and/or complex matters that the courts cannot otherwise timely attend to, so that the parties can move more expeditiously through the litigation process.

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

• Colorado Bar
• United States Supreme Court
• United States District Court for the District of Colorado
• 10th Circuit Court of Appeals

Background and Education

• J.D., Gonzaga University School of Law
• B.S., Business, Keene State College