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Kirwan sworn in as chief deputy DA for the Fifth Judicial District

EAGLE — Joe Kirwan was appointed and sworn in as the chief deputy district attorney for Colorado’s Fifth Judicial District.

The event was presided over by Judge Frederick Gannett, and attended by more than a dozen local law enforcement officers.

Kirwan becomes the first attorney to hold the chief deputy title, which is the third highest prosecuting position within the District Attorney’s Office.



“Joe exemplifies all of the qualities of a top prosecutor,” said District Attorney Bruce Brown. “His tremendous work ethic, sound judgment and wealth of legal knowledge throughout his tenure are heavily relied upon. Joe’s leadership makes this appointment as chief deputy a true honor, and I look forward to working with him every day.”

He joined the staff of the Office of the District Attorney in 2013, and was assigned to Eagle County as a deputy district attorney.

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Kirwan has been lead counsel on several landmark cases, most recently Lossie Thomas, who was sentenced recently on a charge of child abuse causing death. He is the lead prosecutor in the Williams Amaya case, the first double homicide in the Fifth Judicial District in 40 years. That trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 8 in Eagle County District Court.

About Kirwan

Kirwan earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Louisville and then his law degree from the University of Louisville, Brandeis School of Law in 1978. He was first licensed as an attorney in 1979 by the Commonwealth of Kentucky and has practiced in Colorado continuously since 2006. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves Judge Advocate General’s Corps from 1982-1991, earning the rank of captain.

He is married to Nita, an Eagle County middle school guidance counselor. They make their home in Eagle County. During the winter, Joe works with mountain safety at Vail.

The Fifth Judicial District is comprised of Eagle, Summit, Lake and Clear Creek counties.

Staff Writer Randy Wyrick can be reached at 970-748-2935 and rwyrick@vaildaily.com.


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