domestic violence
-
El Paso County domestic violence conviction reversed because of biased juror
Colorado’s second-highest court has ordered a new trial for a man convicted of domestic violence-related offenses after acknowledging an unusual scenario in which the trial judge, prosecutor and defense attorney confused one juror for another, and neglected to dismiss the juror they all agreed was biased. An El Paso County jury convicted Cory James Wooldridge in…
-
El Paso County domestic violence conviction reversed because of biased juror
Colorado’s second-highest court has ordered a new trial for a man convicted of domestic violence-related offenses after acknowledging an unusual scenario in which the trial judge, prosecutor and defense attorney confused one juror for another, and neglected to dismiss the juror they all agreed was biased. An El Paso County jury convicted Cory James Wooldridge in…
-
Arapahoe County domestic violence conviction reversed for constitutional violation
An Arapahoe County judge improperly limited a defendant’s constitutional right to confront her victim, prompting Colorado’s second-highest court to reverse her conviction last month. Jurors found Richel Lee Gurule guilty in 2022 of assaulting her romantic partner at the time. Each woman said the other was the aggressor. Before trial, the judge permitted the defense…
-
Arapahoe County domestic violence conviction reversed for constitutional violation
An Arapahoe County judge improperly limited a defendant’s constitutional right to confront her victim, prompting Colorado’s second-highest court to reverse her conviction last month. Jurors found Richel Lee Gurule guilty in 2022 of assaulting her romantic partner at the time. Each woman said the other was the aggressor. Before trial, the judge permitted the defense…
-
Arapahoe County domestic violence conviction reversed for constitutional violation
An Arapahoe County judge improperly limited a defendant’s constitutional right to confront her victim, prompting Colorado’s second-highest court to reverse her conviction last month. Jurors found Richel Lee Gurule guilty in 2022 of assaulting her romantic partner at the time. Each woman said the other was the aggressor. Before trial, the judge permitted the defense…
-
In house or privatize: Comparing indigent legal defense in Aurora, Denver and Colorado Springs
As Aurora’s policymakers debate the future of its Public Defender’s Office, an analysis of Colorado’s two other biggest cities shows major differences in structure and costs, largely driven by the types of cases their indigent legal teams handle. Both Denver and Aurora have in-house public defender’s offices, while Colorado Springs contracts out for indigent client…
-
Appeals court clarifies standards for no-contact orders involving children
Colorado’s second-highest court clarified last month that judges need to account for certain factors when deciding whether to loosen a defendant’s no-contact order against a child, and an El Paso County judge did not consider the proper criteria when refusing to modify the restrictions. Under state law, judges impose protection orders, also known as restraining…
-
Colorado Supreme Court to hear criminal appeals on racial bias, ‘Make My Day’ defense
The Colorado Supreme Court announced earlier this month that it will review multiple criminal cases, with issues ranging from racial bias in jury selection and the meaning of a parent-child relationship to the law justifying deadly force against home intruders. At least three of the court’s seven members must agree to hear a case on…
-
Weld County attempted murder conviction overturned due to faulty jury instruction
Colorado’s second-highest court overturned a man’s attempted murder conviction and 32-year prison sentence because a Weld County jury actually convicted him of a non-existent crime. To be guilty of attempted murder, a defendant’s conduct must amount to a substantial step toward committing murder. However, for reasons that were unclear, Wade Michael Egloff’s jury was asked…
-
Colorado Supreme Court rules domestic violence treatment is not ‘punishment’
Domestic violence treatment imposed after a criminal conviction is not “punishment,” the Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Monday, meaning that judges alone can determine whether a crime amounts to domestic violence. Justice Richard L. Gabriel explained in the June 12 opinion that while state lawmakers have not specified whether a finding of domestic violence is…