judge philip brimmer
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Federal judge finds fire chief violated due process rights of ex-employee in Boulder-Weld district
A federal judge concluded last week that the chief of a fire protection district spanning Boulder and Weld counties violated the constitutional rights of an employee by terminating him through a process that lacked sufficient procedural protections. However, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer also determined plaintiff Benjamin Carter could not prevail on…
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Federal judge advances religious freedom claims of incarcerated amputee
A federal judge concluded last month that a Muslim man serving a life sentence at Colorado’s “supermax” prison may proceed with his claims that the government is violating his right to religious exercise by failing to install a water stream he can use to clean himself before praying. Mostafa Kamel Mostafa, also known as Abu…
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Federal judge sides with Denver in Lisa Calderón’s retaliation lawsuit
A federal judge last week concluded a critic of then-Denver Mayor Michael Hancock had not shown that the termination of her city contract amounted to retaliation for her speech. Lisa Calderón was a mayoral candidate and, for a time, the executive director of the Community Reentry Program. The initiative, designed to provide services for people…
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Federal judge narrows industry challenge to Denver natural gas restrictions
A federal judge on Tuesday narrowed the challenge to Denver’s recent restrictions on certain natural gas appliances from a collection of industry groups, noting some of the complained-about regulations were not in effect. Last summer, trade associations representing homebuilders, restaurants, apartment buildings, hotels, manufacturers and fuel suppliers sued the city. They took aim at a…
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Colorado’s federal judges recused 200+ times in 4 years for variety of reasons
Colorado’s federal judges issued orders recusing themselves from cases at least 203 times in four years, with reasons ranging from unspecified appearances of partiality to potential conflicts created by their prior employment and family connections. One judge also noted in recusing himself that if he ruled against an attorney who was his personal friend, “it…
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10th Circuit says judge erred in denying immunity to Denver officers who arrested man for recording
The Colorado-based federal appeals court sided with two Denver police officers on Tuesday, finding they were entitled to immunity outright or to a second look at their arguments in a lawsuit over a man’s arrest for video recording at a police station. There was no dispute that a sign was posted on the window of…
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Federal judge upholds Colorado law increasing gun purchasing age
A federal judge on Thursday upheld a 2023 Colorado law generally increasing the age to purchase firearms, after the challengers acknowledged a recent federal appeals court decision dictated the outcome. Senate Bill 169 created a misdemeanor offense for those who sell guns to people younger than 21. Similarly, it became a misdemeanor for someone under 21…
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Federal judge allows human trafficking lawsuit to proceed against Colorado Springs hotel operator
A federal judge agreed last week that a lawsuit could proceed against the operator of a Colorado Springs hotel for allegedly violating a 20-year-old human trafficking law. The plaintiff, a woman identified as C.J., alleged she was the victim of sex trafficking at the Days Inn by Wyndham Colorado Springs/Garden of the Gods, located at 4610…
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Federal judge green-lights some claims for trial in death of Montezuma County jail detainee
A federal judge on Friday ended some claims and permitted others to proceed to a jury trial over the 2021 death of a severely intoxicated man in the Montezuma County jail. Surviving family members of Kelroy Newman filed suit against the county, its elected sheriff, a deputy, the hospital where Newman was seen and his…
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Federal judge dismisses National Guard member’s First Amendment lawsuit
A federal judge on Friday dismissed a lawsuit from a member of the Colorado National Guard who alleged leadership unconstitutionally punished him for derogatory remarks made on a podcast. In a March 14 order, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer expressed some confusion about how plaintiff David Morrill was alleging his First Amendment…