free speech
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Federal judge allows inmate to challenge prison’s confiscation of allegedly dangerous book
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A federal judge has permitted an incarcerated man to challenge prison officials’ decision to withhold a book that allegedly depicted or encouraged disruption. Rodney C. Hamrick is incarcerated at the Administrative Maximum Facility in Florence, also known as “supermax” or “ADX.” In 2022, the warden rejected two books Hamrick received, both of which were written…
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Federal judge green-lights trial over arrest of protester at Denver mayor’s 2019 inauguration
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A federal judge indicated on Monday that it is a jury’s role to decide whether Denver police officers violated a woman’s rights by arresting her for disrupting the inauguration ceremony of then-Mayor Michael Hancock in 2019. U.S. District Court Senior Judge William J. Martínez found the officers had not performed a clearly unconstitutional seizure of Caryn…
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Colorado Supreme Court dodges constitutional question, dismisses latest Masterpiece Cakeshop case on procedural grounds
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The Colorado Supreme Court, by 4-3, declined on Tuesday to address the high-profile issue of a Christian baker’s refusal to make a cake for a customer celebrating a gender transition, instead concluding the case was not properly filed in the first place. Previously, a trial judge and the state’s Court of Appeals found Masterpiece Cakeshop, owned…
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By 2-1, 10th Circuit rejects request to block Colorado’s conversion therapy ban
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Colorado’s 2019 ban on the provision of “conversion therapy” for LGBTQ children will remain in effect after the federal appeals court based in Denver declined on Thursday to block the law on constitutional grounds. Kaley Chiles, a licensed counselor in Colorado Springs, alleged the law violated her First Amendment rights and sought a preliminary injunction.…
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10th Circuit partially reinstates religious discrimination lawsuit of ex-Douglas County schools administrator
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A former high school administrator may pursue his claims of religious discrimination against the Douglas County School District, the federal appeals court based in Denver ruled on Tuesday. Corey McNellis worked at Ponderosa High School for 14 years and was the athletic director and assistant principal at the time of his termination in October 2020. According…
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Appeals court rules Colorado free speech law applies in eviction cases, urges legislature to reconsider
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Colorado’s second-highest court ruled for the first time last week that a 2019 law intended to protect First Amendment activity from litigation does apply to eviction proceedings and to claims across the board, not simply to defamation lawsuits. However, in an unusual move, a three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals explicitly called on lawmakers…
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10th Circuit upholds injunction removing access restrictions on DPS critic
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The federal appeals court based in Colorado agreed on Tuesday that Denver Public Schools could not restrict a man’s access to district property or bar him from his volunteer football coaching position, despite the district’s concern about harassment and bullying directed toward employees. DPS sent a letter to Brandon Pryor in October 2022 outlining his…