misconduct
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Colorado Supreme Court finds judge mistakenly barred evidence over officer’s failure to unmute body cam
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A Fremont County judge incorrectly barred evidence from being used against a defendant based upon a Cañon City officer’s failure to unmute his body-worn camera, the Colorado Supreme Court decided on Monday. Under a comprehensive police accountability law enacted in 2020, law enforcement officers are generally required to wear and use body-worn cameras when interacting with…
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Appeals court revives child abuse prosecution despite ex-DA’s ‘inappropriate’ comments to media
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Colorado’s second-highest court reinstated the criminal charges in a Fremont County child abuse case on Thursday, acknowledging the elected district attorney’s public comments about the defendant were “inappropriate” but did not rise to the level of triggering dismissal. Last year, a judge dismissed the case against Brook N. Crawford after then-District Attorney Linda Stanley spoke…
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Montezuma County judge says ‘imperfect decisions’ do not justify disciplinary authorities’ ‘overreach’
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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…
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Appeals court overturns $850K+ in sanctions Douglas County judge imposed without explanation
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Colorado’s second-highest court on Thursday reversed a Douglas County judge’s decision to impose more than $850,000 in sanctions on a pair of plaintiffs and their lawyer without explaining why the amount was justified. A three-judge Court of Appeals panel noted there are multiple legal tools available for imposing sanctions for a lawyer or litigant’s conduct.…
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Colorado justices say access to Missy Woods data must be litigated in Jeffco
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The Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Monday that defense attorneys seeking access to withheld information about a former DNA scientist’s misconduct must pursue the data in Jefferson County, where the Colorado Bureau of Investigation is located. Yvonne “Missy” Woods stands accused of intentionally deleting data, manipulating procedures and compromising criminal evidence in her role as…
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Northeast Colorado judge resigns, admits to misconduct
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A judge from northeastern Colorado resigned at the end of Wednesday, and, in doing so, admitted to allegations that he used his position to aid a friend in her court case and did not disclose his personal connection in other cases involving that friend. District Court Judge Justin B. Haenlein presided in the 13th Judicial…
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Colorado judicial disciplinary officials describe what changed, remained constant with 2024 amendment
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Top state officials for attorney and judicial discipline spoke on Wednesday about the ways in which a 2024 constitutional amendment changed the process for disciplining state judges, the factors that stayed constant and the question marks that remain around specific rules. In November, voters overwhelmingly enacted Amendment H, which lawmakers referred to the ballot after a…
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Colorado’s federal judges give themselves increased disciplinary power over attorneys
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The judges of Colorado’s federal trial court have voted to give themselves the power to refer lawyers for discipline — potentially resulting in suspension or disbarment — simply for violating individual courtroom protocols. Without explanation, the U.S. District Court amended its local rules effective Dec. 1 to permit judges to impose “additional standards of professional conduct” beyond those contained…
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Allegations against ex-Arapahoe County judge encompassed sexual comments to staff, improper influence in case
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Documents provided by the Colorado Supreme Court revealed in detail the cascading allegations against former Arapahoe County District Court Judge John E. Scipione, who resigned last year and was censured earlier this month for misconduct towards staff and colleagues. The Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline initiated multiple investigations against Scipione, beginning after two 18th Judicial…
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Ex-Arapahoe County Judge John Scipione censured for misconduct
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The Colorado Supreme Court censured former Arapahoe County District Court Judge John E. Scipione on Monday for his misconduct, which resulted in a pair of sexual harassment settlements totaling $130,000. In a document originally filed with the court in January 2023, Scipione agreed he failed to disclose an intimate relationship with a staff member, inappropriately…
