magistrate judge michael hegarty
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Colorado’s newest federal judge speaks about techniques for advancing cases
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U.S. Magistrate Judge Cyrus Y. Chung described on Wednesday the various tactics he employs to resolve court cases, summing up his role with a laxative-based metaphor. “Someone told a group of us federal magistrate judges that magistrate judges are the Metamucil of the federal system. Our job is to move things through,” he quipped. Chung…
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Daniel Domenico to take over as Colorado’s chief federal judge
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Daniel D. Domenico will become the new chief judge of Colorado’s federal trial court next week, a role that encompasses the administration of the court as well as a judicial caseload. Under federal law, the chief judge of a U.S. District Court generally serves for a seven-year term. The person next in line is the…
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‘Beware!’ 10th Circuit judge calls for full-court review of precedent on police searches without arrest
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The Colorado-based federal appeals court green-lit an unreasonable search claim against a Denver police officer on Tuesday, while one judge called for full-court reconsideration of a 44-year-old precedent limiting law enforcement’s ability to search suspects even when probable cause exists to arrest them. William Montgomery’s lawsuit against Officer Armando Cruz featured several unusual developments, but…
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Report: Colorado’s federal trial court sees time to trial tick up, magistrate judge consent remain low
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Colorado’s federal trial court saw a slight uptick in the number of civil cases filed in 2024 and also a slight increase in the average time for a case to reach trial, according to a statistical report compiled by U.S. Magistrate Judge N. Reid Neureiter. Neureiter also noted the percentage of cases handled exclusively by…
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‘Jury of one’: Federal judge speaks about how to handle non-jury trials
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In 2023 and 2024, Colorado’s federal district court saw a total of approximately 100 cases end in a trial. Most of the civil and criminal cases were resolved through a jury trial, but a smaller number took place through bench trials, meaning a judge rendered the ultimate decision. “What are the judges looking for? They’re…
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Colorado’s federal judges recused 200+ times in 4 years for variety of reasons
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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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Federal judge permits human trafficking claims to proceed in lawsuit over 2022 World Cup construction
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A federal judge agreed last week that companies operating out of Colorado may be sued for allegedly participating in a human trafficking venture involving Filipino laborers who constructed facilities for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Fifty-three plaintiffs sued CH2M Hill Companies, Jacobs Engineering Group and related organizations that worked with the Qatari government to…
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‘Reality testing’ cases: Federal judge speaks about lessons learned in first year on the job
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Following her first 15 months on the job, U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathryn A. Starnella spoke on Tuesday about her evolving approach on the bench, including her expectations of attorneys who want her assistance in facilitating settlements of civil cases. Of the more than 3,000 cases filed in Colorado’s federal trial court annually, only a small…
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‘On the verge of a renaissance’: Colorado’s chief magistrate judge encourages use of settlement conferences
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Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael E. Hegarty told an audience of lawyers on Wednesday that despite his status as the most prolific settler of cases on Colorado’s federal trial court, his upcoming retirement should not be cause for concern that settlements will diminish. “I fully believe there are many cases that should be tried to…