He moved to Colorado in 1877 and settled in Leadville. He was appointed by Governor Frederick Walker Pitkin as judge of the fifth judicial district of Colorado and served from March 5, 1881, to January 3, 1882, declining to be a candidate for election to the same office. He moved to Denver, and resumed the practice of law.
He made the move to Colorado in 1877 and made Leadville his home. Governor Frederick Walker Pitkin appointed him as judge of the fifth judicial district of Colorado, a role he held from March 5, 1881, to January 3, 1882. He declined re-election and later moved to Denver, returning to law practice.