<\/p>\n
After three years of working as an assistant district attorney for the 22nd Judicial District, Sean Murray left the office in October.<\/p>\n
Murray starts work Jan. 11 as a deputy district attorney for the 6th Judicial District serving La Plata, Archuleta and San Juan counties, he said.<\/p>\n
Murray lives in Durango along with his family, and he made the commute to Cortez each day when he was working here. It made sense for him to work where he lived, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really loved serving Montezuma and Dolores counties,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was a difficult decision but was one I had to make.\u201d<\/p>\n
Originally from Virginia, Murray started working in 2011 as a public defender in Southwest Colorado. He came to 22nd Judicial District Attorney Will Furse\u2019s office in September 2013, he said.<\/p>\n
Earlier this fall, Murray was a finalist to become a judge for the 6th Judicial District, but former federal prosecutor Todd Norvell was selected instead.<\/p>\n
Murray said there were no specific cases he worked in Montezuma County that stand out. Instead, he enjoyed getting to know people in the community and working to improve it by seeking justice.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me it\u2019s less about the cases and more about helping victims of crime,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He thanked Furse for the opportunity to work in Cortez, as well as law enforcement and the Four Corners Child Advocacy Center for their work. He also thanked Renew, an organization that provides support to victims of domestic and sexual abuse in Cortez, and the public defender\u2019s office in Durango.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir public service is a great inspiration,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In the absence of Murray, Furse is looking to keep his office fully staffed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t filled that position yet, but I certainly intend to in the short term,\u201d Furse said.<\/p>\n
Though Murray left, the office has no vacant positions. Attorneys James Tilton and Jeremy Reed joined the office this fall. Tilton started in August, and Reed started around Thanksgiving, Furse said.<\/p>\n
He said he will likely look in-house to fill Murray\u2019s position.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re quite happy with the folks that we have,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have the full amount of lawyers we need.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tilton\u2019s position is funded through a fellowship from the state of Colorado. The yearlong program ends in August, so Furse will need to find another funding source at that time, he said. He hopes that county commissioners will consider that when passing a budget, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m hopeful that our county budget will accommodate the true need that we have for prosecutors that are dedicated to the position,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n