Judge Manley was appointed as Otero County Judge in the Sixteenth Judicial District on July 2, 2004. He is classified as a 90% judge and continues to maintain a limited private practice.

Judge Manley received his legal education at the University of Colorado. He was employed by the District Attorney's Office in the Sixteenth Judicial District from 1978 - 1982. Afterwards, he had a private practice in La Junta and has been part-time municipal judge in several communities.

Among his community and professional activities, Judge Manley is a member of Colorado and Sixteenth Judicial District Bar Associations, the Colorado Municipal Judge's Association, the Sixteenth Judicial District Community Corrections Board, the hospital ethics committee, and the La Junta Rotary Club.