Judge Bakke was appointed to the Boulder District Court Bench in January of 2011.  Prior to her appointment she was in private practice at Kennedy & Bakke focusing on criminal defense and dependency and neglect work.  Before entering into private practice she was a prosecutor for 6 years in Boulder County and 11 years in Jefferson County.  During this time she  served as the Chair of the Sex Offender Management Board.  She has taught nationally and internationally on trial skills and the prosecution of sexual offenses.  She graduated from the University of Denver College of Law and was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 1990.