About Edward
After 24 years as a civil litigator and 16 years as a Colorado District Court Judge, Ed Moss retired in August 2020. Before being appointed to the bench he had a varied career as a U.S. Army officer, United States Supreme Court intern, United States District Court law clerk, commercial trial lawyer emphasizing real estate, oil and gas, and general commercial law, a member of the Westminster, Colorado City Council, and Mayor of Westminster, Colorado.
Since his appointment to the Colorado District Court in 2004, Judge Moss presided over hundreds of criminal, civil, mental health, family law, juvenile delinquency, and child dependency and neglect trials. He is a frequent lecturer on attorney and judicial ethics and was the 2016 – 2017 Chair of the Colorado Bar Association Ethics Committee. In 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice invited Judge Moss to discuss judicial performance criteria at an international symposium in Ankara, Turkey.
Bar Admissions
- United States Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit
- U.S. District Court District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court Central District of California
- Colorado
- California
Education
- Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, District of Columbia
- Southwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles, California
- J.D.
- Honors: Research Assistant to Professor Norman Karlin.
- Law Review: Southwestern University Law Review, Associate Editor
- Law Review: California’s Treatment of Pretrial Notice of Alibis, Southwestern University Law Review (1976)., Author
- University of California, Santa Barbara
- B.A.
- Honors: Distinguished Military Graduate, U.S. Army Reserve Officers Training Corps.
- Major: Political Science
Classes/Seminars
- Eliminating Bias in the Legal Profession and CRPC 8.4(g): Constitutional and Ethical Restrictions on Lawyer Conduct and Speech, Family Law Spring Update, CBA/CLE, Denver, Colorado (in-person and on-line) (May 26, 2022)
- Legal Ethics and the Recalcitrant Client, CBA/CLE, Adams Broomfield Bar Association (December 10, 2021)
- Candor to the Tribunal: Colorado Rule of Professional Conduct 3.3, Colorado Bar Association President’s Visit, Heart of the Rockies Bar Association (September 23, 2021)
- Hijabs, Kufis, Yarmulkes and Covid Masks in the Courtroom, Colorado Municipal Judges Association, City of Longmont, Colorado Media Center (on-line) (April 22, 2021)
- Divorcing your Client: Legal Ethics and Withdrawal from Representation, CBA/CLE, Adams Broomfield Bar Association (December 18, 2020)
- Attorney Liens and Security Interests, Ciancio Brown, P.C. (in-house) (December 16, 2020)
- Judicial and Legal Ethics for Judicial Law Clerks and Interns, Colorado Judicial Department, Supreme Court chambers, Denver, Colorado (July 27, 2020)
- Real Estate Partition, Colorado Real Estate Symposium, CBA/CLE, Denver, Colorado (on-line) (July 17, 2020)
- CRE 702 and Admission of Scientific and Non-Scientific Evidence, Front Range [Certified Public Account] Valuation Group, Denver Tech Center (February 19, 2020)
- Compliance with Amended CRPC 8.4(c): engaging in dishonesty, fraud, deceit, and misrepresentation, Douglas-Elbert Counties Bar Association, Centennial, Colorado (November 12, 2019)
- Using Social Media to Investigate the Opposing Party – Colorado Rule of Judicial Conduct 8.4(c), Lawyers Public Information Foundation, Cannes, France (October 2019)
- Candor to the Tribunal – Colorado Rule of Professional Conduct 3.3 (panel discussion), Colorado Bar Association Litigation Section, Denver, Colorado (September 2019)
- A Colorado Guide to Judicial Disqualification Under CRCP 97, CRCrimP 21, and Code of Judicial Conduct 2.11 (co-presented), Colorado Judicial Conference, Vail, Colorado (September 2019)
- Ethics for Judicial Law Clerks and Interns, Colorado Supreme Court Courtroom, Denver, Colorado (June 2019), presented annually since 2008
- Update, Hearsay Under the Colorado Rules of Evidence, Family Law Evidence Practicum, Colorado Bar Association, Denver, Colorado (May 2019)
- Reporting Lawyer and Judge Misconduct, Family Law Spring Update, Colorado Bar Association, Denver, Colorado (April 2019)
- Confidentiality in Motions to Withdraw, Family Law Spring Update, Colorado Bar Association, Denver, Colorado (April 2019)
- Colorado Administrative Law Judge Biennial Judicial Ethics Conference, Judicial Disqualification, Denver, Colorado (December 2018)
- Judicial Disqualification – Colorado Code of Judicial Conduct 2.11 and CRCP 97, Lawyers Public Information Foundation, Dubrovnik, Croatia (October 2018)
- Meritorious Claims, Terminating Representation and Representing Clients with Diminished Capacity (Panel), Family Law Institute, Vail, Colorado (August 2018)
- Independent Factual Research – Code of Judicial Conduct Rule 2.9(C), Hearings Division, Colorado Department of Revenue, Denver, Colorado (December 2017)
- Legal Ethics & Lawyer Responses to Online Reviews, Lawyers Public Information Foundation Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (September 2017); also, Colorado Bar Association Family Law Section
- Hearsay, Under the Colorado Rules of Evidence, Family Law Evidence Practicum, Colorado Bar Association, Denver, Colorado (June 2017)
- Straight Talk with Judges (panel), Colorado Judicial Institute, Denver, Colorado (March 2017)
- Social Relationships & Disqualification, Colorado Municipal Judges Association, Cheyenne Mountain Resort, Colorado Springs, Colorado (October 2016)
- Candor to the Tribunal, Colorado Rule of Professional Conduct 3.
3, Lawyers Public Information Foundation, St. Petersburg, Russia (May 2016); also, Pueblo County Bar Association, Pueblo, Colorado - Legal Ethics and the Recalcitrant Client, Lawyers Public Information Foundation, Cancun, Mexico (October 2015) (also, Colorado Bar Association Family Law Spring Update, Denver, Colorado (April 2016)
- Divorcing your client: Legal ethics and withdrawal from representation, Colorado Bar Association Family Law Institute, Vail, Colorado (August 2013) (also, Adams and Broomfield Counties Bar Association (April 2016)
- Settlement Agreements and the Rules of Professional Conduct, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Denver, Colorado (December 2015)
- Primer on Judicial Ethics for Spouses and Domestic Partners, Colorado State Judicial Conference, Vail, Colorado (September 2015)
- Ethics for Judicial Law Clerks and Interns, Colorado Supreme Court courtroom, Ralph Carr Judicial Center, Denver, Colorado (June 2015)
- Independent Factual Research: Code of Judicial Conduct Rule 2.9(C), 24th National College on Judicial Conduct and Ethics (Chicago 2015)
- Judicial Ethics Update, Colorado State Administrative Law Judge Conference, Denver, Colorado (December 2014)
- Settlement Agreements and the Colorado Code of Professional Conduct, Lawyers Public Information Foundation, St. Thomas, U.
S. Virgin Islands (October 2014) - Recusal and Legal Error as Judicial Misconduct, Colorado State Judicial Conference, Vail, Colorado (September 2014)
- The Declaration of Independence and the American Right to Jury Trial, Colorado 17th Judicial District, Brighton, Colorado (August 2014)
- Court Appointed Interpreters and the Colorado Code of Judicial Conduct, Colorado Court Interpreters Conference, Lowry Campus, Community College of Aurora, Colorado (January 2014)
- Analysis of in forma pauperis applications, 17th Judicial District, Brighton, Colorado (November 2013)
- When is Disqualification Required by the American Bar Association Code of Judicial Conduct?, American Judicature Society’s 23rd National College on Judicial Conduct and Ethics, Chicago, Illinois (October 2013)
- Legal Ethics and Amendments 20 & 64 (Legalization of marijuana), Lawyers Public Information Foundation, Panama City, Panama (October 2013)
- Attorney Fee Awards, Colorado State Judicial Conference, Vail, Colorado (September 2013)
- Colorado’s Civil Access Pilot Project: One Year In, Adams, Broomfield Bar Association, City and County of Broomfield, Colorado (April 2013)
- A Few Rules from the Code of Judicial Conduct, Colorado Municipal Judges Association, Breckenridge, Colorado (April 2013)
- Divorcing Your Client: Legal Ethics and Withdrawal from Representation, Lawyers Public Information Foundation, Ritz Carlton Hotel, Powerscourt (Dublin), Ireland (October 2012); also, Denver Bar Association Ethics Committee (December 2012)
- What Judges Want You to Know, National Business Institute, Denver, Colorado (panel member). (October 2012)
- Candor to the Tribunal: Rule 3.3 of the Colorado Rules of Professional Responsibility, Pitkin and Garfield County Bar Associations, Aspen, Colorado (May 2012); also, Colorado Judicial Institute Judges Roundtable , Denver, Colorado (October 2012)
- Symposium on the Colorado Supreme Court’s People v. Schultheis Opinion, University of Denver Strum College of Law, Denver, Colorado (September 2012)
- The Adult Diminished Capacity Client: Rule 1.14 of the Code of Professional Conduct, Colorado Bar Association Family Law Institute Vail, Colorado (August 2012)
- Colorado’s Civil Access Pilot Project, Adams Broomfield Bar Association, Adams County Justice Center (panel member). (April 2012)
- Ethics Issues Inherent in Unbundling Legal Services, Colorado Bar Association Legal Ethics Committee, Denver, Colorado (panel member). (December 2011)
- Ethics Issues Related to Colorado Rule of Civil Procedure 16.2, Colorado Bar Association Legal Ethics Committee, Denver, Colorado (December 2011)
- The Adult Diminished Capacity Client: Rule 1.
14 of the Code of Professional Conduct, Lawyers Public Information Foundation, Los Sueňos Marriott Resort, Herradura, Costa Rica (October 2011) - The Kids are on Their Own: Legal Ethics and the Duty of Client Loyalty, Lawyers Public Information Foundation, Hyatt Regency Resort, Santa Barbara Plantation, Curacao (October 2010), also, Colorado Bar Association Family Law Institute, Beaver Run Resort, Breckenridge, Colorado (August 2011)
- Discovery from Experts, Colorado Bar Association Monthly Family Law Luncheon, Denver, Colorado (November 2010)
- Restrictions on Political Activity Under the Colorado Judicial Code, 18th Judicial District Judicial Conference, Douglas County Courthouse (September 2010)
- Judicial Performance Standards in the United States, international symposium sponsored by the British and United States Embassies, Kizilcahamam, Turkey (July 2010)
- Ethics Issues in Pro Bono Representation, Colorado Access to Justice Conference, Sturm College of Law, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado (panel member) (April 2010)
- Attorney Fees and Post-Trial Motions, Colorado Judicial Institute, Denver, Colorado (panel member). (February 2010)
- Annual Judges Panel, Metropolitan Denver Interdisciplinary Committee (mental health professionals, lawyers, and mediators), Denver (panel member). (December 2009)
- Ethics and Professionalism, Colorado Bar Association Peer Professionalism Assistance Panel, Denver, Colorado (November 2009)
- Attorney Liens and Security Interests Under the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct, Lawyers Public Information Foundation, Villa La Estancia Resort, Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico (October 2009)
- Judicial Recusal and Ex Parte Communications with Court Staff, 18th Judicial District Judicial Conference, Douglas County Courthouse (September 2009)
- Appointments to Governmental Commissions and Judicial Ethics, Colorado Summit on Children, Keystone Resort Conference Center, Keystone, Colorado (June 2009)
- Informed Consent Under the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct, Lawyers Public Information Foundation, Marriott Hotel && Resort, Barbados, West Indies (October 2008); also, Adams-Broomfield Counties Bar Association (April 2009)., Early Neutral Assessment, Lawyers Public Information Foundation (with Diana Powell Esq.), Marriott Hotel && Resort, Barbados, West Indies
- Annual Judges Panel, Metropolitan Denver Interdisciplinary Committee (mental health professionals, lawyers, and mediators), Denver, Colorado (December 2008)
- Ex Parte Contacts with Government Officials, Rule 4.2 of the Code of Professional Conduct, Government Counsel Section, Ethics for Governmental Counsel Seminar), Colorado Bar Association Government Counsel Section, Denver, Colorado (December 2008)
- Informed Consent Under the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct (update), Colorado Family Law Institute, Beaver Run Resort, Breckenridge, Colorado (October 2008)
- Ethics in Family Law Cases, Colorado Alternate Dispute Resolution Conference, Colorado Bar Association, Denver, Colorado (October 2008), (panel member)
- Ethics in Family Law Mediation (panel), Colorado Judicial Department Office of Dispute Resolution, Denver, Colorado (October 2008)
- Maintenance Update, Colorado Bar Association Family Law Section, Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado (October 2008)
- Warning Signs of Judicial Burnout, Denver Bar Association, Warwick Hotel, Denver, Colorado (panel member). (September 2008)
- Judicial and Legal Ethics for Judicial Law Clerks and Interns, Colorado Supreme Court (presented annually since June 2008, primarily in the Colorado Supreme Court Courtroom, Denver, Colorado
- Candor to the Tribunal Under Rule 3.3 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, N.E.P.A. January 2007); also, Denver Bar Association, March 2008
- A Divorce Lawyer’s Guide to the Amended Rules of Professional Conduct, Lawyers Public Information Foundation, Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis (October 2007); also, Adams-Broomfield Counties Bar Association (October 2007)
- Ex Parte Contacts with Government Officials: Rule 4.2 of the Code of Professional Conduct, 85th Annual Colorado Municipal League Conference, Colorado Municipal League, Snowmass Village, Colorado (June 2007); also, Adams-Broomfield Counties Bar Association (September 2007)
- Ethics in Negotiation and Mediation, Alternate Dispute Resolution Section, Colorado Bar Association, Denver, Colorado (February 2007)
- Collaborative Law is Unethical (or maybe it isn’t), Lawyers Public Information Foundation, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico (October 2006); also, for the Adams-Broomfield Counties Bar Association, (November 2006)
- Colorado’s Constitutional Merit Selection System for Judges, Colorado Bar Association Family Law Section (panel member) (October 2006)
- Ethics Issues Related to Colorado Rule of Civil Procedure 16.1, Lawyers Public Information Foundation, Estepona, Spain (October 2005); also, for the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Denver, Colorado, (October 2005)
- Legal Issues for Judges, New Judge Orientation, Family Law, Colorado State Court Administrators Office, Lakewood, Colorado (September 2005)
Honors and Awards
- Volunteer Lawyer of the Year, Metro Denver Volunteer Lawyers, 2004
- Valley District Chairman’s Award, Denver Regional Council, Boy Scouts of America, 2004
- Judge of the Year, 17th Judicial District Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Colorado Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Hearing Board, Member 2024
- American Arbitration Association Panel Member, 2021– Present
- Colorado Supreme Court Multidistrict Litigation Panel, 2008 – 2020
- Colorado Bar Association, Ethics Committee, Chair, 2016 – 2017
- National College on Judicial Conduct and Ethics, Chicago, Illinois, faculty, 2013; keynote speaker, 2015
- American Judicature Society, Center for Judicial Ethics National Advisory Council, 2006 – 2014
- Colorado Bar Association, Ethics Committee, Member, 1980 – Present
- Colorado Bar Association, Litigation, Business, and Family Law Sections, Member, 1976 – Present
- State Bar of California
- State Bar Colorado
- Mediation Association of Colorado
Past Employment
- Ciancio Ciancio Brown, P.C., Mediation, Arbitration, and Private Judge, 2020 – Present
- Colorado 17th Judicial District, District Court Judge, 2004 – 2020
- Westminster, Colorado, Mayor, 2002 – 2004
- Westminster, Colorado, Mayor Pro Tem, 2001 – 2002
- Westminster, Colorado, City Council Member, 1999
- Moss, Morris & O’Dell, Englewood and Denver, Colorado, Senior Partner, Attorney, 1994 – 2004
- Shaw, Spangler & Roth, Denver, Colorado, Partner, Attorney, 1983 – 1994
- Shaw, Spangler & Roth, Denver, Colorado, Associate Attorney, 1978 – 1983
- United States District Court, Honorable Sherman Finesilver, Denver, Colorado, Law Clerk, 1976 – 1978
- United States Supreme Court, Judicial Intern, 1975 – 1976
- Southwestern University School of Law, Professor Norman Karlin, Research Assistant, 1975
- United States Army, Armor, Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer, 1970 – 1972
- International Hotels, Advertising and Public Relations Department, Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida; and Birmingham, Alabama, Production Assistant, 1968 – 1970