Judge Ian Maclaren
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Judicial performance evaluations released, Montezuma County judge disciplined | COURT CRAWL
Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics’ roundup of news from the third branch of government. Colorado’s citizen-led judicial performance commissions released their voter narratives for the judges standing for retention in November, plus a disciplinary panel imposed consequences on a Montezuma County judge for his misconduct. Judicial retention • There are 123 state judges standing…
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Divided disciplinary panel censures Montezuma County judge after agreement reached
A disciplinary panel formally imposed a public censure, suspension, and further training on Montezuma County Court Judge Ian J. MacLaren on Tuesday by a 2-1 vote. Under constitutional Amendment H, which voters adopted in November 2024, MacLaren was set to be the first judge to face an adjudicative trial this month under the revamped framework…
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Senate advances judicial nominee, Montezuma County judge agrees to discipline | COURT CRAWL
Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics’ roundup of news from the third branch of government. A U.S. Senate committee advanced a judicial nominee from Colorado, plus a Montezuma County judge agreed to receive discipline for his misconduct that stops short of removal from the bench. Senate advances Domenico • The Senate Judiciary Committee voted along…
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Montezuma County judge’s censure, suspension approved by discipline panel
A three-member disciplinary panel accepted, on Monday, an agreement between a Montezuma County judge and the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline that specifies he will receive a censure, a suspension, and additional education for his admitted instances of misconduct. Under constitutional Amendment H, which voters adopted in November 2024, County Court Judge Ian J. MacLaren…
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Montezuma County judge, discipline officials agree upon suspension for numerous misconduct admissions
A Montezuma County judge and the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline both agreed this month that a suspension and public censure are the appropriate consequences for his multiple instances of misconduct, including invoking his title when facing a citation from state officials and exhibiting bias against a criminal defendant. Under constitutional Amendment H, which voters…
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First ever disciplinary trial of a Colorado judge scheduled under new system
A disciplinary panel on Thursday scheduled a mid-August hearing to adjudicate the alleged misconduct of Montezuma County Court Judge Ian J. MacLaren. Following voters’ passage of constitutional Amendment H in November 2024, adjudication of serious judicial misconduct allegations is open to public scrutiny earlier in the process. The amendment also created a system in which three-member panels…
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Judicial discipline commission reports increased transparency, increased submissions
The Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline received 473 misconduct complaints about judges in 2025, which was nearly 29% higher than in 2024 and substantially greater than any time in the past decade. However, only 31 complaints were referred to the commission for further action after an initial screening, the organization noted in its annual report released…
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Panel member ejected from one judge’s discipline case, as second judge challenges protocols in his proceeding
One member of a panel adjudicating the misconduct allegations against a county court judge has been replaced due to her alleged non-responsiveness, at the same time a different county court judge is objecting to the intended protocols in his own disciplinary case. Following voters’ passage of constitutional Amendment H in November 2024, adjudication of serious…
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Montezuma County judge says ‘imperfect decisions’ do not justify disciplinary authorities’ ‘overreach’
A Montezuma County judge responded on Monday to the allegations of misconduct against him, arguing any poor decisions he may have made did not justify his removal from office and further insisting he did not lie to disciplinary officials. In early September, the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline accused County Court Judge Ian J. MacLaren…
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Montezuma County judge faces disciplinary proceedings for ‘lying,’ handling of criminal case
Judicial discipline authorities are seeking the censure and removal of Montezuma County Court Judge Ian J. MacLaren, who allegedly committed misconduct in his handling of a criminal case, made false statements to investigators about his actions, and attempted to use his status to get favorable treatment for his own civil infraction. The Colorado Commission on…