criminal justice
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Nicolais: Death sentence gone awry
Every law school student loves to argue. Most see reflections of Gregory Peck or Spencer Tracy in their mirrors. And, in my law school experience, nothing brought about an argument as fast and as fierce as the death penalty. Stakes cannot be greater or an outcome more final. I even remember former Illinois Gov. George…
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Denver sheriff reviews 2016
Avoiding the use of force by Denver sheriff’s deputies, recognizing and knowing how to treat mental problems among people deputies contact, and handling a growing jail inmate population are among issues Sheriff Patrick Firman highlighted in an end-of-year letter to Denver City Council. Dated Monday, Dec. 12, the letter also noted the hiring of 200…
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Hickenlooper appointments announced
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper announced appointments to three state boards and commissions Monday, Dec. 12. The Justice Assistance Grant Board advises the Division of Criminal Justice on issues related to federal block grant monies designated to improve the criminal justice system and cut drug abuse and violent crimes. Hickenlooper appointed Canon City Police Chief Paul…
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Nicolais: Colorado bail reform leading the way
Years ago I defended a pro bono client against battery and disorderly conduct charges. He worked a blue-collar construction job, tried hard to take care of his children, and had a lengthy, but distant criminal record. When we went in for his arraignment, the prosecutor offered to drop the battery charge in exchange for a…
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Nicolais: Sexual assault all over again
“His words are weightless to me. You cannot bargain or barter the truth.” It has only been a few months since I last wrote about a sexual assault case from Boulder, but yet another tragedy is under the spotlight. The quote above is taken from a letter the victim wrote and read aloud in court,…
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? Nicolais: Supreme Court reviews pulling back the jury curtain for racial bias
The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees “an impartial jury” to all defendants. But what seems to be a clear and concise rule becomes much less so in practice. Most dramatically, whatever is said among deliberating jurors cannot be used to prove bias. No matter how far from impartial such statements may remove a…
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Hullinghorst: Without fanfare, divided chambers achieved a great deal
Some have argued this was a do-nothing legislative session. While some of the bigger, flashier items did not get through both chambers, with less fanfare, we did in fact achieve a great deal. Our bipartisan workforce development package included a paradigm-shifting program to get industries more involved in classroom education, a program to incentivize school…
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YESTERYEAR: Andrews rips Dems, ‘shadow senator’ for playing coyote to roadrunner Owens
Fifteen Years Ago this week in The Colorado Statesman … Senate Minority Leader John Andrews, R-Centennial, excoriated Senate President Stan Matsunaka, D-Loveland, for “doom[ing] compromise on the year’s toughest issue” in the just-concluded special session on growth with his “belligerent, partisan and profane” words. In a stinging guest commentary, Andrews criticized the Democrats at the…
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Nicolais: Race and justice
The 7-1 Supreme Court decision in Foster v. Chatman shed light on underlying and pervasive racial tensions that plague our justice system. Nearly 20 years after Timothy Foster’s conviction and death sentence, prosecutors’ recently released notes reveal race played a part in his jury selection. Foster is African-American, and prosecutors systematically challenged potential voters who…
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Nicolais: Does ‘Making a Murderer’ bring injustice to light or just boost ratings?
I admit it. I got hooked on the podcast Serial last year and binge-listened to all 12 episodes in one weekend. Really, if you aren’t one of the 68 million people who downloaded the podcast already, go do it now. When you’re done, just remember to write a letter of appreciation to my editor. Given…