judicial
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Colorado’s federal trial court rolls out ‘chief magistrate judge’ position
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Colorado’s federal trial court recently inaugurated a new leadership position, “chief magistrate judge,” in response to a request from the entire magistrate judge bench. Michael E. Hegarty, the most senior magistrate judge who joined the court in 2006, will be the first to hold the title of chief. “Judge Michael Hegarty is one of the…
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2 federal judges provide rare glimpse into lawyers’ reviews of their performance
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Two of Colorado’s federal judges on Thursday provided a rare behind-the-scenes look at the performance reviews attorneys have given them, including those that are less-than-flattering. “He looks embarrassing on the bench. Disheveled, disinterested and unprepared,” wrote one lawyer. “Disheveled?” said the target of the review, U.S. Magistrate Judge N. Reid Neureiter. “Sometimes I ride my…
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U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advances Gordon Gallagher nomination
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The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday voted 14-7 to advance the nomination of Gordon P. Gallagher to be a federal trial judge for Colorado, which would make him the Biden administration’s fourth appointee in two years to the U.S. District Court if confirmed. Gallagher, who is currently a part-time U.S. magistrate judge and defense attorney, would…
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Culture, discipline, access take center stage at judicial oversight hearings
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Members of the General Assembly’s judiciary committees pressed the chief justice and his top administrator on Wednesday about planned reforms to improve workplace culture and access to justice for litigants, with specific questioning about a forthcoming directive on virtual hearings. Representatives from the state’s commission on judicial discipline also spoke at length, alerting lawmakers to…
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‘Tap your network’: Judicial branch, gov’s office offer advice for aspiring judges
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The process of being appointed a judge in Colorado may not be political in a partisan sense, but it does push applicants to engage their networks into advocating on their behalf to those who have the power to shape the state’s judiciary. “You need the support of people around you to get through the process.…
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‘An American success story’: Nina Wang formally sworn in as history-making federal judge
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Colorado’s newest federal judge, Nina Y. Wang, has a quote taped on her courtroom bench from the memoir of American lawyer and social justice advocate Bryan Stevenson. “I’ve come to believe that the true measure of our commitment to justice, the character of our society, our commitment to the rule of law, fairness, and equality cannot…
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With Democrats’ continued control of U.S. Senate, Colorado judicial nominations appear on track
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With Democrats retaining at least 50 seats in the U.S. Senate heading into the new Congress, judicial nominations for the federal courts based in Colorado will likely continue to be filled in a timely fashion. “I have no reason to believe that there will be any hiccups with any of those vacancies,” said John P. Collins…
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State Supreme Court reduces passing score for bar exam
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Beginning in 2023, law school graduates seeking to practice in Colorado will benefit from a slightly lower minimum passing score on the bar exam. The Colorado Supreme Court on Friday announced it has adjusted the minimum score from the current 276 down to 270, which will begin with the February 2023 administration of the exam.…
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Judicial ethics panel clarifies when judges must recuse due to lawyer spouses
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Colorado judges who are married to other attorneys are only required to recuse themselves from a case if their spouse actually appears in the dispute, the state’s judicial ethics panel clarified last week. An unnamed judge, whose spouse practices law in the same district, posed a series of questions to the Colorado Judicial Ethics Advisory Board…
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Ethics committee gives judges green light to use LinkedIn
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State judges in Colorado may use LinkedIn and even have online connections with lawyers who might appear before them, an ethics panel has determined, albeit with significant caveats for judges who choose to do so. The Colorado Supreme Court’s Judicial Ethics Advisory Board noted that similar panels in other states have universally permitted judges to have…
