judge gregory phillips
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Colorado Supreme Court to say whether self-defense in workplace is grounds for termination
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The Colorado Supreme Court will decide whether employers may terminate workers for using self-defense in the workplace. Last week, the justices agreed to answer the question posed by a federal judge who is deciding whether a former convenience store clerk’s wrongful discharge lawsuit should proceed to a jury trial. Although U.S. District Court Judge Nina…
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Federal, state judges give the do’s and don’ts of criminal appeals | APPELLATE UPDATE
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Members of the state and federal appeals courts based in Denver spoke to attorneys on Friday about strategies for properly litigating criminal appeals, including how to make arguments based on body-worn camera footage. Justice Brian D. Boatright, Judge Karl L. Schock of the Court of Appeals and Judge Gregory A. Phillips of the U.S. Court…
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10th Circuit says parents failed to show school policies on gender identity violated their rights
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Two sets of parents failed to show how a Larimer County school district’s policies, which addressed how staff should treat students’ gender identities, were responsible for their “strained” family relationship, the Denver-based federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday. At the same time, one judge suggested a policy enabling staff to keep parents “in the dark” about…
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10th Circuit opens door for class-action challenge to Colorado’s unclaimed property program
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The Denver-based federal appeals court reinstated constitutional rights claims on Friday against Colorado’s treasurer, potentially opening the door to a class-action lawsuit over how the state has set up its process for reuniting people with their unclaimed property. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit ruled that two plaintiffs…
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10th Circuit dismisses man’s lawsuit against Arvada detective, accuser for rape accusation
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The Denver-based federal appeals court agreed last week that a man had not credibly alleged he was prosecuted for rape without probable cause because, in part, he apologized for raping the alleged victim on a recorded phone call. Gary Weidner III sued Detective Kristin Ames and his former romantic partner, identified as “Jane Doe,” after…
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10th Circuit says Lakewood sergeant has immunity for fatally shooting man in burning basement
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The Denver-based federal appeals court agreed on Thursday that a Lakewood police sergeant did not violate a man’s constitutional rights by shooting and killing him while trying to evacuate him from a burning basement. Jason Waterhouse was behaving erratically when he barricaded himself in the basement of his sister’s home, then started a fire while…
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10th Circuit grants immunity to Elbert County sergeant for shooting unarmed man
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The federal appeals court based in Denver ruled on Thursday that an Elbert County sheriff’s employee cannot be held liable for shooting an unarmed man who startled him. Joel Hernandez sued Sgt. Mike Skalisky for excessive force for shooting him at the Kiowa Industrial Park in March 2021. In response, Skalisky invoked qualified immunity, which…
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10th Circuit directs judge to redo ruling in case of gas station clerk fired for confronting knife-wielding robber
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The federal appeals court based in Denver told a trial judge on Tuesday to reconsider her ruling that Circle K lawfully fired a 72-year-old convenience store cashier who attempted to stop a knife-wielding robber from stealing cigarettes. Mary Ann Moreno, a 16-year employee of the company, was behind the register at a Westminster Circle K…
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4 federal judges in Colorado advocate for Congress to create new judgeships
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Four federal judges from Colorado were among the hundreds of signatories this month to a letter urging Congress to pass legislation creating 66 new judgeships in trial courts across multiple presidential administrations — starting next year with President-elect Donald Trump. This summer, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the JUDGES Act, which would increase the size of…
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How a Harris or Trump presidency might shape Colorado’s federal courts
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In the past four years, President Joe Biden has made seven appointments to the federal trial and appeals courts headquartered in Colorado, with his appointees now constituting a majority of active judges on the state’s U.S. District Court. The next president will similarly have a chance to make his or her mark on the district…