Littleton Presiding Municipal Judge Ethan Feldman was given a warm send-off by city council Sept. 20, nearly two months after announcing his plans to retire after a nine-year tenure.  Feldman is set to retire Sept. 30. 

“We just want to recognize you and just acknowledge what an honor it is, your amazing work here in Littleton," said Littleton Mayor Kyle Schlachter. "This is the community that you call home, the place where you raise a family and now will retire."

Feldman's career in Littleton began in 1973 when he served as an Arapahoe County prosecutor at Littleton's courthouse building, which belonged to the county at the time. Feldman moved to Littleton in 1977 and raised his family in the city, with his children attending Littleton Public Schools. 

From 1980 to 1991, Feldman served in private practice in Littleton and Greenwood Village while also serving as a part-time municipal judge in Glendale. He was appointed to the Arapahoe County Judiciary in 1991 and served for 20 years.

Feldman, a Democrat, lost his bid for district attorney for 18th Judicial District in 2012 to Republican George Brauchler, a race Feldman said he "knew it was an uphill battle" but one worth the effort to "make sure people had a choice,” according to a 2013 article in the Littleton Independent.

Schlachter praised Feldman for his equitable approach as a judge and for his efforts to create "access to justice when the doors were closed due to COVID" through technical innovation. 

“You have been the face of our municipal government to our residents," Schlachter said. 

Feldman said it is “really humbling when your own community trusts you as someone who is going to dispense justice," something he said "takes a lot of trust."