douglas county
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Appeals court overturns $850K+ in sanctions Douglas County judge imposed without explanation
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Colorado’s second-highest court on Thursday reversed a Douglas County judge’s decision to impose more than $850,000 in sanctions on a pair of plaintiffs and their lawyer without explaining why the amount was justified. A three-judge Court of Appeals panel noted there are multiple legal tools available for imposing sanctions for a lawyer or litigant’s conduct.…
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Colorado had no ability to prosecute New York woman for unauthorized credit card use, appeals court rules
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Douglas County prosecutors had no basis to pursue charges of identity theft and unauthorized use of a financial device against a woman in New York whose conduct occurred entirely outside of Colorado, the state’s second-highest court ruled on Thursday. Erin Brennan and her children lived in New York and her ex-husband moved to Colorado after…
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Colorado Supreme Court finds defendant deprived of chance to testify about lawyer’s advice
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The Colorado Supreme Court agreed on Monday that a man serving a lengthy prison sentence for securities fraud should receive a new trial after he was prohibited from testifying about what information his lawyer advised him to disclose to investors. Kelly James Schnorenberg contended he did not commit securities fraud because he consulted with an…
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Colorado justices say access to Missy Woods data must be litigated in Jeffco
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The Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Monday that defense attorneys seeking access to withheld information about a former DNA scientist’s misconduct must pursue the data in Jefferson County, where the Colorado Bureau of Investigation is located. Yvonne “Missy” Woods stands accused of intentionally deleting data, manipulating procedures and compromising criminal evidence in her role as…
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Colorado Supreme Court to hear case about relevance of consensual bondage activity
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The Colorado Supreme Court announced on Monday that it will review whether evidence of a defendant’s recent plans for BDSM activity with his alleged victim was relevant to his theory that he did not intend to cause serious bodily injury. At least three of the court’s seven members must agree to take up a case…
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Colorado justices weigh new trial for defendant barred from testifying about his lawyer’s advice
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Members of the Colorado Supreme Court considered last week whether a man serving a lengthy prison sentence for securities fraud should receive a new trial, after he was prohibited from testifying about what information his lawyer advised him to disclose to investors. Kelly James Schnorenberg contended he did not commit securities fraud because he consulted…
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Following 10th Circuit reversal, federal judge agrees man may sue Douglas County child caseworker
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After the Denver-based federal appeals court found she improperly dismissed the lawsuit, a federal judge last week agreed that a father’s claims may proceed against a Douglas County child welfare worker who allegedly violated his constitutional rights while investigating suspected child abuse. Originally, U.S. District Court Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney dismissed the due process and…
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Colorado Supreme Court weighs whether Douglas County judge has authority over Missy Woods records
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The state Supreme Court will decide whether a Douglas County judge has the authority to compel the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to release data related to the misconduct of a disgraced DNA analyst whose work affected numerous criminal cases. Yvonne “Missy” Woods was criminally charged in Jefferson County on Jan. 22 with 102 felony counts…
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Error-prone judge returns to bench after chief justice authorizes part-time service
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A retired Douglas County judge is now back on the bench, despite the state’s appellate court overturning convictions and sentences in numerous criminal cases she handled due to her errors. District Court Judge Patricia Herron stepped down from active service in December 2023. But in October, Chief Justice Monica M. Márquez signed a contract permitting…
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Appeals court overturns Douglas County judge’s unlawful $22k restitution order
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A Douglas County judge ordered a defendant to pay crime victim restitution eight months beyond the legal deadline and nearly two years after the Colorado Supreme Court warned trial judges to follow the law, the state’s second-highest court ruled on Thursday. The Court of Appeals also noted former District Court Judge Patricia Herron “recharacterized history”…