U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche appointed David W. Illingworth as an immigration judge last month, a move that has drawn sharp reactions from Woodland Park residents who recall his contentious tenure on the local school board.
According to the Colorado Times Recorder, Illingworth served on the Woodland Park School District (WPSD) board between 2021 and 2023. During that period, board members, including Illingworth, pushed a charter for Merit Academy—where his wife sat on the board—and pursued disciplinary actions against teachers, labeling them “the enemy.” The board’s actions led to a lawsuit alleging violations of Colorado’s Open Meetings Law, which the district ultimately lost after a case taken to the Colorado Supreme Court by parent Erin O’Connell.
The Recorder notes that the district’s legal expenses rose by more than 900% and that staff turnover reached 40% as a result of the board’s policies. Illingworth also advocated for the adoption of the American Birthright social studies curriculum, making WPSD the only district nationwide to implement the program.
Local parents who organized a recall effort against Illingworth and his colleagues voiced alarm at his new judicial role. Former district parent Samantha Peck told the Recorder, “My heart breaks for the American people… God have mercy on the souls of those who will encounter the consequences of his wrath.” Erin O’Connell added that Illingworth is “intensely unqualified to make decisions that affect vulnerable populations,” citing his history of “violating the law, ignoring policy as a board member, creating intentional division with the people he is supposed to represent, and publicly shaming citizens who oppose him.”
District Attorney Michael Allen, who was Illingworth’s former boss, was quoted in September 2023 saying, “It is important to note that this office does not tolerate any employee misusing their authority.” Allen, now the Republican nominee for Colorado attorney general, made the comment shortly before Illingworth’s departure from the deputy district attorney position.
The appointment places Illingworth in a position to decide cases involving migrant families, a role that many local observers find troubling given his past conduct. The Executive Office of Immigration Review has not responded to multiple requests for comment on the allegations against Illingworth.
What’s next: Illingworth’s first immigration hearings are expected to begin later this year, though exact dates have not been released. Community members say they will continue to monitor his rulings and plan to voice concerns at any public hearings where his decisions are reviewed.
Sources: coloradotimesrecorder.com
