During a recent interview with Colorado Matters Host Chandra Thomas Whitfield, newly appointed Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Monica Márquez shared some of her memorable “firsts” in a fun lightning round.
Here’s a glimpse of some of the personal moments that have shaped her life.
Editor’s note: This interview transcript has been edited for length and clarity.
Chandra Thomas Whitfield: What was your first car?
Justice Monica Márquez: A 1997 Honda Civic. It was forest green.
Thomas Whitfield: Your first pet?
Márquez: I had a goldfish that ultimately died. I was so sad! I don’t remember its name, but I did have two gerbils named Tiddly and Winks.
Thomas Whitfield: What’s the first book you remember reading?
Márquez: One of the most impactful books for me was “Ticky Ticky Timbo,” a children’s book my mom used to read to us at night.
Thomas Whitfield: First concert?
Márquez: I was 16 and an exchange student in Germany when I saw a local band called Zoff.
Thomas Whitfield: What was your first job?
Márquez: Aside from babysitting, my first job was driving tractors at an orchard in Palisade during high school.
Thomas Whitfield: What do you remember about your first plane trip?
Márquez: I really remember leaving at age 16 to start my exchange student experience in Germany. That was a big deal!
Thomas Whitfield: First international trip?
Márquez: Yep, that trip to Germany was definitely my first international trip.
Thomas Whitfield: What’s the first thing you do when you wake up each morning?
Márquez: I meditate to start my day.
Thomas Whitfield: What’s a quintessential Colorado experience you remember?
Márquez: Backpacking in the Durango Silverton area, especially in the Chicago Basin. It was beautiful!
Thomas Whitfield: What do you remember about your first full day as Chief Justice?
Márquez: How exhausted I was at the end of the day. And that feeling has definitely continued!
