senate
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U.S. Senate confirms Nina Wang as Colorado’s newest federal judge
Nina Y. Wang is Colorado’s newest federal judge, following a U.S. Senate vote on Tuesday of 58-36 to confirm her to the state’s U.S. District Court. Wang will succeed Christine M. Arguello, a 2008 appointee of George W. Bush who took a form of semi-retirement known as senior status effective July 15. The federal trial…
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Colorado’s federal court narrowly misses having 3 female judges simultaneously — for now
When the U.S. Senate confirmed Charlotte N. Sweeney in late May to be a judge on Colorado’s federal trial court, it marked the first time three women would serve simultaneously as active judges since the court’s establishment at statehood. Or, at least, it was supposed to. Due to the “administrative hurdles” of a judicial confirmation,…
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U.S. Senate confirms Charlotte Sweeney as Colorado’s first openly gay federal judge
Charlotte N. Sweeney will be the next federal judge in Colorado, following a Wednesday U.S. Senate vote of 48-46 to confirm her. Sweeney, a workers’ rights attorney, will be the first openly gay federal judge in Colorado. Her confirmation also marks the first time that three women will simultaneously serve as trial judges on the…
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Bennet’s bill seeks to help communities devastated by job losses in coal mining industry
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, a Colorado Democrat, introduced a bill on Wednesday that would augment at the federal level Colorado’s Just Transition Plan, which tries to lessen the economic and social effects of the closure of coal power plants and mines across the state. “This bill was carefully written to reflect the needs of Colorado’s rural…
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As families recount stories of heartbreak, legislators mull contours of response to fentanyl crisis
There were few constants through Keith’s short life. His family – his parents Trisha and Jason Davidson, and sister Shaelynn – was one. His curiosity – constantly tinkering with electronics, fascination with space, admiration for Elon Musk – was another. But so, too, was the failure of institutions that were in a position to help him as…
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Weiser joins AGs calling for Senate to confirm Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser is among two dozen state attorneys general who endorsed President Biden’s nominee to serve on the Supreme Court, calling Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson “a highly qualified legal mind, who has been at the forefront of the legal field for decades” and will be the first Black woman to sit on…
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Capitol M: Departing Senate President edition | Week of Feb. 26, 2022
The lighter side of the state Capitol, usually. The state Senate was a wistful place on Tuesday, when Senate President Leroy Garcia banged the gavel for the last time, as he departs for a job with the Biden administration. (Please don’t ask me to repeat the unbelievably LONG job title again.) After senators unanimously elected…
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‘Be Like Pat’: Colorado House and Senate pay tribute to Pat Teegarden
Hearts inside and outside the state Capitol are broken this week over the death of Pat Teegarden, legislative liaison for the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, who died Feb. 5 after a brief illness. Both the state House and Senate paid tribute to Teegarden Monday, with a moment of silence in the House and…
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Former US Attorney Jason Dunn backs Bennet challenger Joe O’Dea
Former U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn, Colorado’s top federal prosecutor during the Trump administration, on Friday endorsed construction company owner Joe O’Dea’s U.S. Senate campaign. O’Dea is one of eight Republicans challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, who is seeking a third term this year. “I’m proud to endorse Joe O’Dea,” Dunn said in a statement…
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CAPITOL M: Week of Jan. 15, 2022 — Welcome Back to Gold Dome High
The lighter side of the Capitol, unless it isn’t. The 2022 session is off to a bang (of the gavel) and the return of lawmakers during a pandemic that does.not.ever.want.to.end. The big question this week: how long the legislature will be able to operate before having to adjourn because of a massive outbreak of COVID.…