18th Judicial District Attorney race: Feldman points to leadership

Ethan Feldman is a resident of Littleton and has lived in the 18th Judicial District for 35 years. He has been married to Nancy Feldman for 35 years, and they have two adult children.

Feldman, the Democratic candidate for the 18th Judicial District Attorney's office, earned his bachelor's degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and his law degree from the University of Denver College of Law. His professional background includes six years as a deputy district attorney and chief deputy district attorney in the 18th Judicial District, 12 years in private practice in Littleton and Greenwood Village, nine years as a Glendale municipal judge and 20 years as an Arapahoe County Court judge.

Feldman's public service includes president of the Arapahoe Bar Association, Colorado Trial Judges Council and Colorado County Judges Association; service on the Colorado Bar Association Board of Governors and as chair of the executive council of the criminal section of the bar association. He was appointed by the chief justice to four Colorado Supreme Court standing committees, including present service as trustee of the attorney fund for client protection.

Colorado Community Media asked the following questions of the DA candidates. Below are Feldman's answers.

What makes you the best candidate for this office?

Experience, perspective and commitment to the 18th Judicial District. As a prosecutor I tried 11 murder cases plus a murder sanity trial. As an attorney in private practice I defended a death penalty case. As a judge I handled approximately 250 jury trials and 1,500 felony cases.

I was a leader as a judge and received high marks from independent commissions. I have been endorsed by over 100 former and current prosecutors, including Republican former district attorney Bob Gallagher.

What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the district and what would you do to meet that challenge?

There are many complex and intense cases among the thousands pending. In order to effectively handle all pending and future cases, the next district attorney must repair frayed relationships with law enforcement, the courts and the criminal justice community. The prosecution staff needs better training so that resources are used wisely and not wasted on needless delays.

What is your stance on the death penalty?

I will seek the death penalty in any appropriate case after consulting with the family of the victim and the law enforcement officers who investigated the case. Of course the ultimate decision on whether to seek the death penalty must be made by the elected district attorney alone and I will do so with a solemn understanding of the import of this decision for all involved. I will actively defend the death penalties imposed in the cases from the 18th Judicial District.