colorado supreme court
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Arapahoe County law enforcement improperly obtained confidential medical records, justices find
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Law enforcement in Arapahoe County improperly obtained a criminal defendant’s confidential medical records and cannot use them in her child abuse prosecution, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Monday. The justices also declined to say whether the body-worn camera footage of a police officer who was present during the defendant’s treatment was similarly protected by…
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Colorado justices rule Larimer County judge wrongly denied competency second opinion to defendant
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The Colorado Supreme Court determined on Monday that a Larimer County judge had no choice but to permit a doctor to give their second opinion on a criminal defendant’s competency to proceed, even though he had received numerous such evaluations in the past. Justice Carlos A. Samour Jr., in the Jan. 12 decision, noted that…
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Colorado justices clarify procedure for defendants to access DNA analyst’s criminal file
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The Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Monday that trial judges may order Jefferson County prosecutors to disclose information related to the criminal prosecution of a DNA analyst accused of misconduct, but defendants seeking those files cannot rely on the order alone to gain access. Yvonne “Missy” Woods is a former Colorado Bureau of Investigation DNA…
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In rare move, evenly divided Colorado Supreme Court issues no opinion on child welfare case
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The Colorado Supreme Court, in an extraordinary move, could not reach agreement on Monday about whether a child’s legal representative has the authority to file a motion to terminate parental rights in a child welfare proceeding. The 3-3 vote was a product of Justice Melissa Hart’s announced departure from the court in mid-December. She cited…
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State Supreme Court oral arguments, discipline case resolved | COURT CRAWL
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Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics’ roundup of news from the third branch of government. The state Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this week, plus disciplinary authorities resolved the misconduct case against a San Miguel County judge. At the Supreme Court • The Colorado Supreme Court has four cases on its docket this Wednesday. They…
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Appeals judge urges restraint in labeling new offenses serious across board
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A member of the state’s second-highest court urged his colleagues on Thursday to pump the brakes before declaring new offenses “grave or serious” in every possible scenario. The Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment means sentences cannot be grossly disproportionate to the crime. Consequently, when judges in Colorado examine the constitutionality of a…
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Colorado lawmakers hear from chief justice about security needs, new judges
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Chief Justice Monica M. Márquez asked members of the legislature’s Joint Budget Committee on Tuesday to stay the course and fund the 10 new trial judgeships that Colorado lawmakers approved last year, and also explained her vision for enhancing judicial branch security. Responding to questions generated by committee members after a hearing last month on…
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San Miguel County judge intends to resign as discipline authorities seek alternate resolution
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A San Miguel County judge and the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline informed a disciplinary panel last week that new information about the judge’s health has come to light suggesting further proceedings may not be appropriate, and the judge will instead resign from the bench. The Colorado Supreme Court suspended County Court Judge Sean K.…
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Colorado Supreme Court reverses Jeffco judge’s order for fender-bender plaintiff to undergo mental evaluation
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The Colorado Supreme Court concluded on Monday that a Jefferson County judge improperly ordered a plaintiff in a personal injury case to sit for a mental health examination after the defendant’s experts suggested her injuries were actually psychological. The justices sided with plaintiff Spring Charlson, whose attorneys warned against allowing defense attorneys to delve into…
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State Supreme Court vacancy opens, year in review | COURT CRAWL
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Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics’ roundup of news from the third branch of government. The application period is now open for the first state Supreme Court vacancy in five years, plus Colorado Politics looked back on the significant judicial developments from 2025. At the Supreme Court • The Colorado Supreme Court halted the practice of…
