jefferson county
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SCOTUS decision on ‘3 strikes’ sentences does not benefit defendants with older convictions, appeals court says
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A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision affecting how defendants are sentenced under Colorado’s “three strikes” law does not benefit people whose convictions have long been final, the state’s second-highest court ruled on Thursday. For many years, Colorado’s Habitual Criminal Act required judges to impose three or four times the maximum sentence if a defendant was convicted of…
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Colorado justices recognize limited right to evidence in postconviction challenges
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The Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Monday that defendants challenging their convictions may, in certain circumstances, be entitled to receive the information the prosecution already handed over for trial at no cost. The justices rejected the argument that defendants seeking postconviction relief must use the open records law specific to criminal justice records, which prosecutors’…
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Lifetime sex offender registration not ‘punishment,’ Colorado justices say
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The Colorado Supreme Court concluded on Monday that lifetime sex offender registration is not cruel and unusual punishment because it is not “punishment.” At the same time, two members urged lawmakers to heed the advice of the Sex Offender Management Board and adopt a new, more accurate system of measuring a person’s risk of recidivism.…
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Jeffco adopts updates to wildfire resiliency code
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Jefferson County is one of the most at-risk counties for wildfires in the country, and the board of commissioners is attempting to lessen the danger. The Jefferson County commissioners approved updates to the Wildfire Resiliency Code on March 10, including creating buffering areas around structures and tougher building requirements. The changes will go into effect…
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Appeals court finds no illegal sentence when defendants forfeit time-served credit
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Colorado’s second-highest court ruled on Thursday that criminal defendants may agree to relinquish the credits they earned while incarcerated pending trial, despite a state law guaranteeing that such time “shall be deducted” from a person’s sentence. Kerry Ellis Endsley pleaded guilty in Jefferson County to attempted murder and attempt to disarm a peace officer. His…
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Save your pines: Jeffco launches pine beetle assistance program
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Mountain pine beetles may be small, but the potential danger to Colorado forests is massive. Jefferson County announced a new pilot program on March 16 to help combat green pine trees infested with pine beetles before the beetles can spread or the removal of infested trees altogether, according to a news release from Commissioner Lesley Dahlkemper.…
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Former Jeffco teacher claims district wrongfully terminated her
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Courtney Capek claims her career was completely altered by the actions of another. The Lakewood native returned to the school she graduated from, Green Mountain High School, in 2023 to begin her career teaching and establishing a new era for the school’s theater program. Her dream job didn’t last long. The district did not renew…
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Colorado lawmakers seek faster warrant response from social media firms
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Proponents argue legislation would prevent school shootings Colorado officials on Monday claimed that the Evergreen High School shooting could have been prevented if social media companies had been required to respond faster to warrants — and they are pushing legislation at the state and federal levels to speed up that process. Current laws allow social…
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Evergreen High School shooting motive still unknown; parents won’t be charged
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The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office completed the investigation into the Evergreen High School shooting that shocked the county — and country — five months ago. Following the investigation, the parents of the shooter, 16-year-old Desmond Holly, won’t face charges regarding the gun Holly used, according to a Wednesday news release. The sheriff’s office is still…
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Christopher Zenisek, trial judge experienced with high-profile cases | SUPREME COURT FINALISTS
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After the Marshall fire burned through Boulder County in the final days of 2021 and wound up destroying more than 1,000 homes, the sprawling 4,000-plaintiff litigation was assigned to District Court Judge Christopher Zenisek of Jefferson County. Zenisek would go on to issue more than 100 orders, hold dozens of hearings and, ultimately, much of…