The Colorado Judicial Department has begun accepting applications for the Supreme Court seat of Chief Justice Nathan B. Coats, who will leave the bench in January upon reaching mandatory retirement age of 72.

Coats, who has served on the state’s highest court for 20 years, announced retirement plans in August. As chief justice, Coats oversees the state’s judicial branch, including appellate and district courts.

A successor for the chief’s post, Justice Brian Boatright, has been named. That means applicants for the vacancy would serve as associate justices on the high court.

A 15-member Supreme Court Nominating Commission will accept materials from interested candidates until 4 p.m. on Oct. 19. The application for the position, which pays $188,151 annually, includes extensive questions about an applicant’s professional and personal lives.

Only residents eligible to vote who have been licensed to practice law in Colorado for the preceding five years may apply. The commission will meet on Nov. 5-6 to screen applications and interview candidates. They will select three finalists for Gov. Jared Polis, who is expected to appoint the justice within 15 days.

The appointee will serve a provisional two-year term and undergo an evaluation by a citizen-led performance commission. Voters will have the opportunity to retain the justice for a 10-year term in 2022.

Simultaneously, the Judicial Department is taking applications for an open Arapahoe County judgeship after Polis appointed Don J. Tousaint to a district court seat. Following a similar selection process, the nominating commission has set a deadline of Oct. 16 to receive applications, and will meet on Oct. 30 to begin the process of selecting three candidates.