judicial discipline
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First ever disciplinary trial of a Colorado judge scheduled under new system
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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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Colorado Supreme Court oral arguments, chief appeals judge to retire | COURT CRAWL
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Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics’ roundup of news from the third branch of government. The state Supreme Court held oral arguments in multiple cases and traveled to the Eastern Plains to visit with students, plus the chief judge of the Court of Appeals is retiring. Supreme Court news • The Colorado Supreme Court decided a…
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Out-of-state judges address ex-discipline director’s lawsuit, Colorado justices accept federal invitation | COURT CRAWL
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Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics’ roundup of news from the third branch of government. A pair of out-of-state judges got down to business in a lawsuit brought by Colorado’s former judicial discipline director, plus the state Supreme Court has accepted a federal judge’s invitation to answer a question about Colorado law. Heard on appeal…
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Federal judges rebuke ex-Colorado judicial discipline director for conduct in lawsuit
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A pair of federal judges expressed a desire on Thursday to break the logjam on a lawsuit by Colorado’s former judicial discipline director against the state Supreme Court and related entities, while simultaneously showing little tolerance for the plaintiff’s scorched-earth tactics against the defendants and the judges themselves. “I will not be impressed or influenced…
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Federal judge considers second round of sanctions against ex-Colorado judicial discipline director
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A federal judge ordered Colorado’s former judicial discipline director on Tuesday to explain why she should not sanction him a second time for filing documents for improper purposes, such as harassment or delay. U.S. District Court Senior Judge Kathryn H. Vratil is already scheduled to hear arguments and evidence on Thursday about potential misrepresentations made…
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Appeals court decides free speech cases, error-prone judge reversed again | COURT CRAWL
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Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics’ roundup of news from the third branch of government. The state’s Court of Appeals decided multiple cases implicating free speech rights, plus Colorado’s most error-prone judge was reversed on appeal yet again. Heard on appeal • The Colorado Supreme Court agreed a defendant couldn’t be faulted for failing to cooperate…
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Federal judge to consider sanctioning ex-Colorado judicial discipline director
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A federal judge ordered Colorado’s former head of judicial discipline on Wednesday to explain why she should not sanction him for making inaccurate statements about the defendants in his lawsuit against the Colorado Supreme Court and related entities. U.S. District Court Senior Judge Kathryn H. Vratil indicated she will hear arguments and evidence next Thursday…
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Judicial discipline commission reports increased transparency, increased submissions
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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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10th Circuit upholds finding of no misconduct against Colorado federal judge
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A judicial committee for the Denver-based federal appeals court upheld the chief judge’s finding last week that a federal judge in Colorado did not engage in misconduct by handling a civil case involving other attorneys and judges in the state. Ordinarily, misconduct proceedings against federal judges provide anonymity to the complaining party and the subject…
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Judicial agencies appear for oversight hearings, judge warns government about rejected arguments | COURT CRAWL
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Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics’ roundup of news from the third branch of government. Leaders of various judicial-related agencies appeared for oversight hearings in front of state lawmakers, plus a federal judge is cautioning the government about repeatedly raising arguments she has rejected in immigration detention cases. Heard on appeal • The Colorado Supreme Court…