Author: Michael Karlik
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Judicial agencies appear for oversight hearings, judge warns government about rejected arguments | COURT CRAWL
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Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics’ roundup of news from the third branch of government. Leaders of various judicial-related agencies appeared for oversight hearings in front of state lawmakers, plus a federal judge is cautioning the government about repeatedly raising arguments she has rejected in immigration detention cases. Heard on appeal • The Colorado Supreme Court…
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Colorado justices reject defendant’s claim of race-based murder prosecution
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The Colorado Supreme Court rejected a convicted defendant’s argument on Monday that Arapahoe County prosecutors unconstitutionally singled out him and another Black teenager for murder prosecutions as adults, while offering lenient plea deals to their two non-Black co-defendants. Lloyd Chavez IV, a student at Cherokee Trail High School, died in May 2019 after four teenagers…
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Colorado justices reject defendant’s claim of race-based murder prosecution
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The Colorado Supreme Court rejected a convicted defendant’s argument on Monday that Arapahoe County prosecutors unconstitutionally singled out him and another Black teenager for murder prosecutions as adults, while offering lenient plea deals to their two non-Black co-defendants. Lloyd Chavez IV, a student at Cherokee Trail High School, died in May 2019 after four teenagers…
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Colorado justices find portion of anti-SLAPP law unconstitutional
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The Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Monday that a 2019 law designed to protect the exercise of First Amendment rights conflicts with the state constitution in certain scenarios involving appeals from county courts. Known as the “anti-SLAPP” law, which stands for “strategic lawsuits against public participation,” the legislature provided a mechanism for quickly disposing of litigation…
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Federal judge green-lights excessive force trial against Fort Collins officers
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A federal judge concluded last week that a jury will need to resolve whether two Fort Collins police officers violated a man’s constitutional rights by using excessive force after he refused to accept a citation. In a Jan. 21 order, U.S. District Court Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney analyzed the severity of plaintiff Andru Kulas’ alleged…
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Federal judge declines to dismiss strike-breaking nurses’ lawsuit over wage violations
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A federal judge last week declined to dismiss 39 nursing employees’ claims for compensation against a Greenwood Village-based company for its alleged violations of state and federal law. U.S. Nursing Corporation employs health care professionals to cross the picket lines during strikes. During a three-day strike in October 2023 at Kaiser Permanente facilities, USN sent…
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Appeals judge argues prior decision on defendant’s ‘3-strikes’ sentence was wrong
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A member of Colorado’s second-highest court argued on Thursday that a defendant stands wrongfully sentenced under the state’s “three-strikes” law, and an earlier appellate decision saying otherwise was incorrect. A three-judge Court of Appeals panel agreed that Kiki Lamount Douglas’ 96-year prison sentence was likely excessive. Originally, Douglas’ trial judge multiplied the maximum sentence as…
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Appeals court overturns convictions after Douglas County judge let biased juror serve
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Colorado’s second-highest court reversed a defendant’s robbery-related convictions and 18-year prison sentence on Thursday because a Douglas County judge allowed a biased juror to serve. During Ahmarion Kaliel Shead’s trial in January 2023, one juror, identified as “J.H.,” indicated on his questionnaire that he was “pro-law enforcement.” J.H. also disclosed that a relative worked for…
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Federal judge blocks USDA ‘pilot project’ affecting Colorado food assistance
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A federal judge blocked the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday from proceeding further with a “pilot project” that would require five Colorado counties to rapidly recertify more than 100,000 households for food assistance. In a brief ruling from the bench, U.S. District Court Senior Judge R. Brooke Jackson found Colorado would face imminent and…
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Colorado lawmakers hear about increased judicial discipline complaints, fallout from Missy Woods misconduct
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Members of the Colorado legislature’s judiciary committees heard about a large increase in complaints against judges and additional forensic misconduct that has come to light, during three days of oversight hearings last week. Leaders of several judicial-related agencies appeared between Jan. 20-23 to address their priorities and field questions from legislators. On behalf of the…
