Judge Alfred C. Harrell received a B.A. from the University of Colorado in 1966. He commenced the study of law at the University of Denver in 1968. Judge Harrell worked for the United States Veteran’s Administration, IBM and Honeywell Information Systems while in law school. He graduated from the school’s night division in 1971 and promptly joined his father, Irving P. Andrews Esq. in the practice of law. He was appointed Judge to the Denver County Court in 1985. He served 31 years, principally as a trial judge, and retired June 30, 2016. Presently he serves as a Senior Judge for Denver County Court.

Judge Harrell’s commitment to excellence includes seeking the broadest possible view of the legal profession. Since 1994, Judge Harrell has helped to promote the American Inns of Court system in Colorado. He has served two terms on the Board of Trustees of the American Inns of Court and is past president of the William Doyle Inn of Court.

His community activities are devoted to the betterment of society. His commitment received public recognition by the Denver Bar Association’s Judicial Excellence Award in 1993 and the Award of Merit in 1999; the Colorado Bar Association’s Professionalism Award in 1995; the Colorado Women’s Bar Association’s Judicial Excellence Award in 2000; the Asian American Bar Association’s Minoru Yasui Community Service Award in 1998; the University of Colorado’s George Norlin Award (Lifetime Achievement) in 1997; the American Board of Trial Advocates Judicial Excellence Award in 2003; the Colorado Judicial Institute’s Judicial Excellence Award in 2008; in 2015, the Sam Cary King Trimble Lifetime Achievement award; in 2016, the University of Denver Sturm College of Law Professionalism award. In 2018, Judge Harrell received the Professionalism Award for the Tenth Circuit from the American Inns of Court. In 2020, the Colorado Bar Association awarded Judge Harrell its highest honor, The Award of Merit.