justice melissa hart
-
In rare move, evenly divided Colorado Supreme Court issues no opinion on child welfare case
—
by
The Colorado Supreme Court, in an extraordinary move, could not reach agreement on Monday about whether a child’s legal representative has the authority to file a motion to terminate parental rights in a child welfare proceeding. The 3-3 vote was a product of Justice Melissa Hart’s announced departure from the court in mid-December. She cited…
-
State Supreme Court vacancy opens, year in review | COURT CRAWL
—
by
Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics’ roundup of news from the third branch of government. The application period is now open for the first state Supreme Court vacancy in five years, plus Colorado Politics looked back on the significant judicial developments from 2025. At the Supreme Court • The Colorado Supreme Court halted the practice of…
-
2025 Unfiltered: Colorado Supreme Court vacancy, surge in federal filings and more
—
by
This year was awash in legal news nationally, with federal courts taking an outsize role in responding to executive branch actions. In Colorado, that effect was evident, but it was not the only factor at play. Here are the top developments in 2025 from the state and federal judiciaries. Unexpected vacancy There was an unusual,…
-
Justice Hart to leave Supreme Court, new recs from Access to Justice Commission | COURT CRAWL
—
by
Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics’ roundup of news from the third branch of government. A member of the Colorado Supreme Court unexpectedly announced her retirement from the bench, plus the state’s Access to Justice Commission has made recommendations following a renewed listening tour. Justice Hart exits • Justice Melissa Hart, a member of the Colorado…
-
Justice Melissa Hart to step down from Colorado Supreme Court
—
by
Justice Melissa Hart will step down from the Colorado Supreme Court effective Jan. 5, the Judicial Department announced unexpectedly on Friday. Hart has been on an unexplained and unusual leave of absence from the court since Oct. 28. She told Colorado Politics in November that the leave was for “family and personal health reasons” but provided no…
-
Colorado Supreme Court may address ‘new form of representation’ in criminal case
—
by
The Colorado Supreme Court signaled last week that it may get involved in an ongoing Denver criminal proceeding in which the prosecution alleges a trial judge sidestepped the clear rules for appointing defense counsel. At least four of the court’s seven members must agree to intervene in a case outside the typical appellate process. Clemente…
-
Justices debate what to do when governments withhold key info from plaintiffs
—
by
Members of the Colorado Supreme Court seemed to be on different pages when they considered on Tuesday whether a woman injured by a sidewalk defect in Manitou Springs was forever barred from suing the actual entity responsible because she did not learn until it was too late that Colorado Springs was the proper defendant. The…
-
Colorado justices splinter over approach to sentencing review
—
by
Members of the Colorado Supreme Court were divided on Monday about whether vehicular homicide stemming from intoxicated driving is “grave and serious” in every possible scenario, with two justices suggesting the court reconfigure its approach for determining the proportionality of criminal sentences. The Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment means sentences cannot be…
-
Colorado commission makes new access-to-justice recommendations after renewed listening tour
—
by
Adding judges to handle caseloads. Expanding authority for paraprofessionals in civil cases. Allowing self-represented litigants to file electronically. Making the judiciary’s website user-friendly. Those were among the recommendations advanced by the Colorado Access to Justice Commission in a report released Friday, following 22 listening sessions earlier this year. The report was a follow-up to a similar…
-
Colorado Supreme Court’s opinion output drops by two-thirds amid justice’s absence
—
by
The Colorado Supreme Court has released significantly fewer new opinions in recent months compared to the previous two years, even as the judicial branch insisted that a member’s open-ended absence is not causing delays. Justice Melissa Hart has been on an unusual leave of absence since Oct. 28, although she also was gone for the…
