judicial discipline
-
10th Circuit upholds finding of no misconduct against Colorado federal judge
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…
-
Judicial agencies appear for oversight hearings, judge warns government about rejected arguments | COURT CRAWL
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…
-
Colorado lawmakers hear about increased judicial discipline complaints, fallout from Missy Woods misconduct
Members of the Colorado legislature’s judiciary committees heard about a large increase in complaints against judges and additional forensic misconduct that has come to light, during three days of oversight hearings last week. Leaders of several judicial-related agencies appeared between Jan. 20-23 to address their priorities and field questions from legislators. On behalf of the…
-
San Miguel County judge intends to resign as discipline authorities seek alternate resolution
A San Miguel County judge and the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline informed a disciplinary panel last week that new information about the judge’s health has come to light suggesting further proceedings may not be appropriate, and the judge will instead resign from the bench. The Colorado Supreme Court suspended County Court Judge Sean K.…
-
Justice Hart’s absence continues, state Supreme Court hears oral arguments | COURT CRAWL
Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics’ roundup of news from the third branch of government. One member of the Colorado Supreme Court remains on an unusual leave of absence, plus the court heard oral arguments in eight more cases last month. Justice Hart’s absence continues • Previously, Colorado Politics reported that Justice Melissa Hart has been…
-
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…
-
Judicial discipline changes moving at a slow pace
Colorado’s judicial system is barely closer to fixing what some have called a broken process of disciplining judges a year after voters approved a new method of dealing with the issue and eight months after revelations the state fosters a private system of judges who fall outside of that oversight. The state’s Commission on Judicial…
-
San Miguel County judge suspended, discipline commission harbors ‘serious concerns’ about conduct
A San Miguel County judge who failed to respond for months to disciplinary authorities’ requests to explain himself is now facing allegations that his misconduct infected two dozen cases and forced some litigants to wait years for decisions. Documents filed in the matter of County Court Judge Sean K. Murphy also alleged several bizarre incidents,…
-
Federal courts prepare for lengthy shutdown, SCOTUS to hear Colorado case | COURT CRAWL
Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics’ roundup of news from the third branch of government. Colorado’s federal courts have announced their intentions if the lapse in congressional funding is prolonged, plus the nation’s highest court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in a First Amendment challenge out of Colorado. In federal news • Both the U.S.…
-
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…