attended public high school in rye, colorado, a small town in the san isabel foothills, where he was the only african american male in his entire school. he earned a b.a. from university ofthern colorado, then a j.d. from the university of arizona where he served on the law review, where he made the dean's list, and offered pro bono services tore survivors of -- to survivors of domestic violence. after law school, judge crews returned to colorado to serve as attorney for the national labor relations board, where he investigated and prosecuted charges of unfair labor practices, and he spent the next 17 years after that in private practice. first at a large firm in denver, where he made partner, later at a smaller firm he founded with colleagues. in private practice, judge crews focused on civil litigation and employment law, representing both workers and employers. he tried approximately 18 cases before federal courts, state courts, and administrative agencies, serving as chief or sole counsel in jury trial, bench trials, and administrative proceedings, and for the last five years he's served as a magistrate judge for the federal district of colorado. in this role, he per