racial discrimination
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Appeals court finds no discrimination in dismissals of jurors of color across 3 cases
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Colorado’s second-highest court recently agreed prosecutors did not unconstitutionally remove jurors of color in three criminal cases for racial reasons. The Court of Appeals encountered significant variation in how the trial judges approached the prosecution’s dismissal of each juror. One judge explained the circumstances at length, one judge gave virtually no explanation and the third…
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Federal judge finds no civil rights violation for Black family alleging discrimination at Chili’s
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A federal judge concluded last week that a Black family’s negative experience at a Denver Chili’s restaurant was not the product of intentional racial discrimination, but rather the staff’s belief that the customers previously walked out without paying for their meal. Markesha Futrell-Smith filed claims under state and federal civil rights law, alleging a Chili’s…
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Federal judge dismisses some claims in ex-RTD police chief’s discrimination lawsuit
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A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed some of the claims brought by the former police chief of the Regional Transportation District in his employment discrimination lawsuit. Joel Fitzgerald Sr. led RTD’s police department after his August 2022 hiring until his termination in September 2024. Fitzgerald alleged his successes in transforming the department were overshadowed by…
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Appeals court rejects allegations of racial discrimination in jury selection in 2 cases
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Colorado’s second-highest court ruled last month that prosecutors in two cases did not engage in intentional racial discrimination when they dismissed two women of color from the jury pool. Under longstanding U.S. Supreme Court precedent, purposeful race-based discrimination in jury selection is unconstitutional. Normally, parties may exercise “peremptory strikes” of jurors without citing a reason.…
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Colorado Supreme Court lays out frustration with current method of ID’ing racial bias in jury selection
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Colorado’s justices escalated their frustration on Monday with the existing framework for evaluating race-motivated dismissals of jurors in criminal trials, months after the state Supreme Court also invited lawmakers to do their part to fix the problem. Under longstanding U.S. Supreme Court precedent, intentional race-based discrimination in jury selection is unconstitutional. Normally, parties may exercise…
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Colorado Supreme Court to review cases on racial bias in jury selection, misbehaving attorneys, cold case
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The Colorado Supreme Court has recently announced it will review multiple cases, including criminal appeals, a dispute between federal judges over the meaning of state law and the ongoing saga of a disgraced lawyer weaponizing the legal system. At least three of the court’s seven members must consent to hear an appeal. Within the past…
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Colorado appeals court finds no discrimination in Jeffco prosecutors’ dismissal of nonwhite jurors
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A Jefferson County judge correctly found no racial discrimination was behind prosecutors’ dismissal of two apparently Hispanic jurors, the state’s second-highest court ruled on Thursday, even though some of the prosecution’s reasons did not match with reality and the judge seemed largely concerned about the “long day” when justifying the women’s removal. Under longstanding U.S.…
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Top Denver police supervisor files whistleblower complaint for sexual harassment, racial bias
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The Rodney King beating was a catalyst for a young security guard who was watching reruns of the Los Angeles incident during a work break in the late 90’s. “Someone should do something,” thought Carla Havard. Then she glanced at the breakroom refrigerator door and saw her own reflection in the stainless steel. Colorado…
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Corrections official may not sue supervisor for race-related hostile work environment, 10th Circuit says
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A corrections officer who was called the N-word and a “Black bitch” and received death threats from the inmate who attacked her may not sue her supervisor for a hostile work environment, the federal appeals court based in Denver determined on Thursday. People who work in jails or prisons regularly face a certain level of…
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Civil rights pioneer Marlon Green to be enshrined in Colorado aviation hall of fame
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Fans of the state’s history in flight can pay tribute to a pilot from Denver pilot who broke racial barriers, the late Marlon Green, at a banquet next month. Green won a landmark Supreme Court case that allowed African-Americans to be airline pilots. He died in 2009 at age 80. The Colorado Aviation Historical Society will posthumously…
