Municipal Court Staff

The Greeley Municipal Judge presides over traffic and minor criminal cases as well as serving as the administrative hearing officer for cases involving liquor licenses, animal and zoning issues, code violations.

Judge Gonzales grew up in Greeley and graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 1994 and the University of Denver, College of Law in 2000.  After law school, Judge Gonzales served at the Weld County District Attorney’s Office, the Greeley City Attorney’s Office, as well as private and corporate attorney work.  Prior to being selected as Greeley’s Presiding Judge, he was a District Court Magistrate for the 19^th Judicial District in Weld County for over 9 years.

Judge Gonzales has served on numerous boards and commissions including the 19^th Judicial Nominating Commission, Colorado Hispanic Bar Association, University Schools Board of Governors, Youth and Family Connections, and Juvenile Community Review Board.  He presently serves on the boards for the Weld County Bar Association, the Colorado Youth Detention Continuum (formally SB94), as well as mediating for Small Claims Court in Weld County Courts.

Judge Diane Knutson serves as one of the City of Greeley’s Assistant Municipal Court Judges and hearing officers for the City of Greeley Liquor Licensing Authority.

Judge Knutson attended the University of Northern Colorado for her undergraduate studies and earned a Juris Doctor in 1978 from Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles, CA.

She has spent most of her career in southwestern Colorado as an attorney in private practice and Assistant Municipal Judge for the City of Durango until her appointment as Presiding Municipal Judge. Additionally, in 1996, Judge Knutson was appointed Municipal Judge for the Town of Ignacio and later, as Assistant Municipal Judge for the Town of Pagosa Springs.

Judge Knutson is a long time member of the Colorado Municipal Judges Association. She has served as a board member, office and President of the organization.

Having lived in Greeley previously, Judge Knutson considers it a privilege to be back and in a position to make a positive impact on the community as Assistant Municipal Judge for the City of Greeley. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, playing the flute, attending the symphony and local theater productions, traveling and sports.

Judge J William (Bill) Sierra serves as one of the City of Greeley’s Assistant Municipal Court Judges and Hearing Officers for cases involving traffic and minor criminal matters, liquor licensing, animal and zoning issues and other municipal code violations.

Judge Sierra is a graduate of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and the University of Iowa in Iowa City and earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1990 from the University of Iowa College of Law. After moving to Colorado with his wife in

1991, Judge Sierra spent several years as a law clerk in the Denver Juvenile Court. Since then, he has enjoyed a career as an attorney in private practice. Judge Sierra has also served as a contract attorney for the state of Colorado in the role of Guardian ad Litem, Respondent Parent Counsel and Alternate Defense Counsel (juvenile defense).   

Judge Sierra was an early member of one of the nation’s first problem solving courts: Drug Court (later changed to Family Treatment Court) in the 17th Judicial District. Judge Sierra was named Respondent Parent Counsel of the year for the 17th Judicial District and is a past member of the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association, the Colorado Bar Association and the Asian Pacific Bar Association.  

Judge Sierra and his wife, daughter and dogs enjoy living in and being a part of the community in Greeley. He spends his spare time biking, running, walking the family dogs, reading and listening to music of all genres.

Judge Jerry Manzer serves as one of the City of Greeley’s Assistant Municipal Court Judges and hearing officers for the City of Greeley Liquor Licensing Authority.

Judge Manzer attended the University of Nebraska for his undergraduate studies and earned a Juris Doctor in 2003 from the University of Denver School of Law. Judge Manzer served as a Deputy Colorado State Public Defender for two years prior to entering private practice. 

Keith C. Coleman is Colorado native and longtime resident of Greeley. He attended high school in at Central Catholic High School, Denver, has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Menlo College in Atherton, California and a Juris Doctor from the University of Denver, College of Law.

Judge Coleman became licensed to practice in 1994 and spent six years as a State Public Defender in Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas, Kiowa and Lincoln Counties. He began private practice in 2000; managing a small law practice in Weld County. He regularly appears in the Colorado State Courts and has handled hundreds of cases across the front range. Judge Coleman is also an Adjunct Professor with Aims Community College and has previously served as an Assistant Municipal Court Judge for the City of Greeley.

Judge Coleman has been a served on several boards and commissions. He is a member of the 19th Judicial District Criminal Advisory Committee, and the Office of Respondent Parent Counsel Commission. He recently completed two terms as a member and chair of the Colorado Judicial Performance Commission for the 19th Judicial District. In the past he has served on several other volunteer boards and commissions related to the Judicial System and various charitable causes.