Judge Chad Miller
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Defense lawyer’s sarcasm did not indicate ineffective assistance, appeals court says
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Colorado’s second-highest court last month rejected a defendant’s argument that his trial lawyer had essentially told jurors he was guilty, when it instead appeared the lawyer was speaking sarcastically. El Paso County prosecutors charged David Donis in 2007 with numerous criminal offenses, including kidnapping, burglary and assault. Jurors convicted him and Donis is serving life…
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Appeals court to trial judges: the buck stops with you to make a decision on magistrates’ work
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Colorado’s second-highest court on Thursday reminded trial judges their role in reviewing the decisions of magistrates requires them to take the final action, not to send an issue back to a magistrate for further work. Magistrates are judicial employees who are not judges but who handle aspects of cases in the trial courts. Litigants may consent…