ethics
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Colorado Supreme Court overrides regulators, orders admission of attorney despite concerns
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The Colorado Supreme Court last month ordered an attorney be admitted to practice law over the recommendation of a regulatory board that concluded his “gamesmanship” during the admissions process continued to raise concerns about his character. Matthew Tobin Arnold sought to join the Colorado bar following his 2022 law school graduation. However, during multiple stages…
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Federal judge speaks about ‘concerning trends’ of threats against judges, weighs in on judicial ethics
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Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael E. Hegarty spoke about a wide range of topics to a Lakewood audience on Tuesday, from judicial ethics and threats against judges to the role of religion in the courtroom. “In my world, you don’t even want the appearance of impropriety. You want to be above reproach. And so, we…
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Ethics, family law and AI: Colorado’s justices, judges speak about appellate do’s and don’ts
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During a pair of events earlier this month, one for young lawyers and one for appellate attorneys more broadly, several of Colorado’s judges and justices provided commentary on subjects ranging from professionalism and artificial intelligence to key developments within the judiciary. Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright also disclosed he will swear in Justice Monica M. Márquez on July…
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10th Circuit finds no constitutional, antitrust violations by Calhan officials with RV ordinances
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Members of a prominent family who served in the town of Calhan’s government did not commit constitutional or antitrust violations by adopting a series of restrictions on recreational vehicle parks that did not apply to their family’s own facility, the federal appeals court based in Denver ruled this month. Although a trial judge previously suggested…
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Colorado Springs ethics commission dismisses complaint against mayoral candidate Wayne Williams
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The Colorado Springs Independent Ethics Commission has dismissed an ethics complaint against mayoral candidate Wayne Williams related to the City Council’s January approval of a controversial water rule. Colorado Springs mayoral candidate Longinos Gonzalez calls for independent ethics investigation into opponent Wayne Williams Deputy City Attorney Tracy Lessig notified El Paso County Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez…
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Appeals court finds Adams County judge not required to recuse based on prior employment
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Colorado’s second-highest court ruled on Thursday that an Adams County judge did not need to recuse himself from presiding over an eviction case solely because his former law firm once represented the landlord in an unrelated lawsuit. District Court Judge Kyle Seedorf denied on three occasions a request from Rebekah Panzlau to recuse himself from…
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Judicial ethics panel clarifies when judges must recuse due to lawyer spouses
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Colorado judges who are married to other attorneys are only required to recuse themselves from a case if their spouse actually appears in the dispute, the state’s judicial ethics panel clarified last week. An unnamed judge, whose spouse practices law in the same district, posed a series of questions to the Colorado Judicial Ethics Advisory Board…
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Ethics committee gives judges green light to use LinkedIn
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State judges in Colorado may use LinkedIn and even have online connections with lawyers who might appear before them, an ethics panel has determined, albeit with significant caveats for judges who choose to do so. The Colorado Supreme Court’s Judicial Ethics Advisory Board noted that similar panels in other states have universally permitted judges to have…
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Ethics panel says judge may assist former client with clemency petition without violating rules
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A recently-appointed, part-time judge may help his former client ask for clemency without running afoul of the rules of judicial conduct, the Colorado Supreme Court’s ethics panel has advised. In a June 29 opinion, the Judicial Ethics Advisory Board answered the inquiry of a county court judge who wished to know if he could assist…
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Supreme Court ethics panel to state judges: Resign to run for college trustee
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State judges who wish to serve in nonjudicial elective offices must resign if they plan to run for the position, the Colorado Supreme Court’s ethics panel has determined. The May 18 opinion from the court’s Judicial Ethics Advisory Board responded to a judge who asked about standing for election to one of the seven at-large…
