The Commission may take various actions to remedy improper conduct including simply meeting with the judge, privately or publicly reprimanding the judge, or recommending that the Supreme Court remove a judge from office. Division of Criminal Justice. ", Boston University president rips graduating students for cancel culture after they shouted obscenities at Warner Bros. CEO, Methodists to vote on departure of 23 area churches over LGBTQ+ clergy, marriages, 5 teens arrested on suspicion of assaulting 3 off-duty Marines at San Clemente Pier, Florida womans car launched 100 feet after speeding up tow truck ramp, video shows, Amazon to pay $30 million in Ring doorbell camera and Alexa settlements, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The commission does not have jurisdiction over municipal court judges. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The commission noted there was ambiguity in the law, and that the judge had changed their voter registration by the time of the complaint. .courts-container hr {background-color:#f0a236;padding-bottom:2px;}, Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals U.S. District Court: District of Colorado U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Colorado, Colorado Supreme Court The committee does not have the authority to review a judge's ruling or order a new trial. While on leave, a memo authored by the departments then-Human Resources Director Eric Brown was read to then-Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Ben Coats describing dozens of incidents of misconduct that reached all the way to the states Court of Appeals and its Supreme Court that Masias was prepared to reveal in a lawsuit. The Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline and the Colorado Office of Judicial Discipline. "Bipartisan judicial discipline reforms have been years in the making and are vitally important to enhance transparency and independent decision making in our judicial process," Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora and chairman of the committee that drafted the legislation, said. Colorado is one of only 15 states without public judicial discipline proceedings. The first resolution would ask voters to change Article VI of the Colorado Constitution under Section 23, concerning the retirement and removal of justices and judges. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. ", In an email to Colorado Politics, Justice Melissa Hart explained the Supreme Court voted to adopt the revised application before Scipione's paperwork arrived. The governor, attorney general, and both houses of the Legislature named members of a special committee that later chose the companies that are investigating. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, The commission made its decision on Aug. 20, according to its website, but only after learning the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel, which disciplines lawyers, had launched its own inquiry and hired outside investigators. Refer Senate Bill 22-201, as amended, to the Committee on Appropriations. The supreme court enacted a major revision to the Colorado Rules of Judicial Discipline. Best move Stan Kroenke, Josh Kroenke never made. The amendment resolution does not require the governor's approval. . A current list of the members can be found on the commission's website. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, The Commission would accept and support such a change if pursued. Refer Senate Bill 22-201, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole and with a recommendation that it be placed on the consent calendar. Weve been in disagreement with them now for about four months, and part of that disagreement has been judicial leadership asserting they have the authority to direct what would be the proper scope of our retention of counsel, he said, adding later that funding is independent in the written rules but it is not operating that way.. The American Bar Association recommends public judicial discipline proceedings. The jurisdiction and authority of the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline (the "Commission") is set forth in Article VI 23(3) of the Colorado Constitution, which provides that a justice or judge of any court of record may be disciplined or removed from office for misconduct, or may be retired for a disability that interferes . First Regular Session | 74th General Assembly. Discipline Commission. May 9Along with the next American president, Colorado voters in November 2024 will decide whether to change the state's system of disciplining its judges, the culmination of a judiciary scandal . The two measures that the committee unanimously approved after amendments will originate in the state House, with committee chair Rep. Mike Weissman, an Aurora Democrat, and Rep. Mike Lynch, a Wellington Republican, serving as its primary sponsors. The memo, which the Supreme Court initially refused to release, alleges Masias was told to destroy a letter anonymously alleging sexism and harassment against the chief justice and another high-ranking employee; that per the chief justice a law clerk to the Court of Appeals was given a settlement agreement after she made harassment allegations in order to keep a jurist safe during selection to the Supreme Court; that the chief justice took no action against a district judge who sent pornography over judicial email and was later appointed as a chief judge in a judicial district. The Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline's attempt last summer to hire a law firm to investigate allegations of widespread misconduct by judges stalled because the state Supreme Court did. First Regular Session | 74th General Assembly. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. David writes investigative projects and has been at The Denver Post since 1999. Formularios e instrucciones judiciales en espaol. FILE PHOTO: Students from Pine Creek High School ask the justices of the Colorado Supreme Court questions after watching them hear arguments from two cases in the high school auditorium on Thursday, Nov, 17, 2022. Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Brian Boatright told lawmakers in a separate presentation Tuesday that he welcomed the commissions independence. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Whether Supreme Court justices must step aside from a case. Still, they found that the decision was steeped in unethical behavior, misconduct and lies, the Post reported. COLORADO COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE . accounts, the history behind an article. ", Boston University president rips graduating students for cancel culture after they shouted obscenities at Warner Bros. CEO, Methodists to vote on departure of 23 area churches over LGBTQ+ clergy, marriages, 5 teens arrested on suspicion of assaulting 3 off-duty Marines at San Clemente Pier, Florida womans car launched 100 feet after speeding up tow truck ramp, video shows, Amazon to pay $30 million in Ring doorbell camera and Alexa settlements, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline recommended the Supreme Court censure Thompson for a second time, after Thompson agreed he violated multiple tenets of judicial conduct. Currently, formal misconduct charges are heard by three special masters named by the Supreme Court, who decide on an outcome and recommend the discipline to the high court. The Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline this week hired Denver law firm Rathod Mohamedbhai as special counsel to look into assertions that judges, most of them men, fostered a culture of sexual harassment and were protected from their accusers. The Supreme Court released the memo after the stories and launched its own independent investigation. That month, the Judicial Department released a new version of the application with some modifications. Phone: (303) 457-5131 Session: 2022 Regular Session Subject: Courts & Judicial Bill Summary At the same time, two unnamed judges decided not to stand for retention in 2022 after being the subject of complaints, and an additional two judges resigned in the face of disciplinary proceedings. 21SA91 Original Proceeding in Discipline Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline Case No. 1300 Broadway, Ste. The Colorado legislature on Monday formally approved the proposed amendment - House Concurrent Resolution 23-1001 - in which the current 56-year-old method of judicial discipline would be shelved for one of greater transparency and accountability. The discipline commission immediately launched its own inquiry into the contents of the Masias memo only to run into its own obstacles with the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court of the State of Colorado 2 East 14th Avenue Denver, Colorado 80203 2021 CO 23 Supreme Court Case No. The commission typically relies on the ARC to provide special counsel when it requires an investigation, but the potential conflict of interest in the current inquiry required them to hire their own. The new system would require the State Court Administrator to randomly select a field of 10 district and 10 county court judges. Special members may be appointed in a situation where a member is disqualified to act. You can be in the know right alongside Colorados political insiders. Share with Us. The interim committee formed after former state court administrator Christopher Ryan told The Denver Post last year he believed a former Judicial Branch chief of staff was awarded a $2.5 million contract to keep her from going public with years worth of alleged misconduct from judicial department officials in a threatened sex discrimination lawsuit. Last year, the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline commenced more formal disciplinary cases against judges than it had in the prior 12 years total, according to the commission's annual report, while at the same time issuing relatively few corrective actions. The commission issued a private censure for a "substantial breach" of judicial conduct standards to a judge because of his extreme delay in ruling on a "relatively straight forward motion." Secure your subscription to Colorados premier political news journal, in continuous publication since 1898. The basic mandate of the commission is governed by Article VI, Section 23, of the Colorado Constitution. [2][3], The commission appoints an executive director to manage the commission's office and operations.[2]. Post notice of each rule, guideline, or procedure and allow for public comment, including an opportunity for the public to address the supreme court. Don't Threaten. Were not presuming anything and we do not know where it leads. 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The contract at the center of the scandal is a $2.5 million five-year deal given to Masias in 2019. Currently, that happens after a case has been adjudicated and the Supreme Court receives a recommendation of discipline from the commission. Colorado District Courts 1300 Broadway, Ste. ", "Some people like a lot of government," Bockenfeld wrote in explanation. or anything. How the procedural rules for discipline are crafted. Lee, a strong proponent of judicial reform who was term-limited, did not return to the statehouse. Although independent of the Supreme Court, OARC's director is an appointee. The members should evaluate the performance of the Executive Director periodically, but no less frequently than annually. Dozens of people told legislators over several hearings last summer of problems within the Judicial Department an independent investigator found a toxic environment where women were largely afraid to step forward with complaints about judges and Ryan, despite an investigator's contrary finding, reiterated his stand that the Masias contract was a quid-pro-quo deal. The Colorado Commission on Judicial Disciplines attempt last summer to hire a law firm to investigate allegations of widespread misconduct by judges stalled because the state Supreme Court did not fund the endeavor, commission members told legislators during a hearing Tuesday. The commission, which was created when Colorado voters adopted a merit-based selection system for judges, screens RFEs, investigates allegations, and decides whether to impose discipline privately or to recommend public discipline. The nine canons of the Code of Judicial Conduct were reorganized into four canons. (2) members of the commission are appointed and serve It is the highest number in recent history, although, as is the case every year, the vast majority of RFEs resulted in dismissal because they did not actually pertain to judicial misconduct. Complaints regarding the conduct of Denver County Court judges are considered by the Denver County Court Judicial Discipline Commission, 1437 Bannock, Room 108, Denver, CO 80202 (Telephone 720 865 7870). Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. The Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline was established by an amendment to the state constitution.It serves as an independent judicial disciplinary agency in Colorado.The commission has jurisdiction over the conduct of judges for the county courts and district courts, as well as justices serving on the court of appeals and the supreme court. Contact Editor Quentin Young for questions: info@coloradonewsline.com. She joined the paper in 2019 and previously worked as a crime reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in Pennsylvania and the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Tennessee. Ha! "The subject judge was cautioned about having such an informal conversation on the record, which created unnecessary transcription expenses and raised the possibility of poor public perceptions of the judicial process and the subject judges ability to maintain proper decorum while on the record," the commission wrote. After the investigation, the commission may: Issue a private admonishment, reprimand or censure. We'd love to hear eyewitness Ha! "My constituents, not so much.". May 4In an unprecedented flexing of its authority, the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline late Tuesday requested a public censure of former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan "Ben". You have permission to edit this article. Below is the summary of the Colorado Code of Judicial Conduct. Its not that were worried about anything theyd come up with, but were the judicial discipline commission, we should be investigating this thing, he said. Mrquez, Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright, Justice William W. Hood III and Justice Melissa Hart. "The catch-all question in the prior application did not generate any information, as applicants consistently replied to it with some version of 'no' or an 'N/A'.". Home of the Colorado Judicial Institute, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit and 501(c)(3) charity with the mission is to promote excellence, equity, impartiality, and public trust in Colorado's courts. It serves as an independent judicial disciplinary agency in Colorado. Also key is a component in which complainants of judicial misconduct would be advised of a case's progress. T. Carver, Rep. M. Weissman, Sen. J. Bridges, Sen. J. Buckner, Sen. J. Cooke, Sen. D. Coram, Sen. J. Danielson, Sen. K. Donovan, Sen. S. Fenberg, Sen. R. Fields, Sen. J. Ginal, Sen. C. Hansen, Sen. C. Holbert, Sen. S. Jaquez Lewis, Sen. B. Kirkmeyer, Sen. C. Kolker, Sen. L. Liston, Sen. P. Lundeen, Sen. D. Moreno, Sen. K. Priola, Sen. B. Rankin, Sen. R. Rodriguez, Sen. R. Scott, Sen. C. Simpson, Sen. F. Winter, Sen. R. Woodward, Sen. R. ZenzingerRep. Colorados judicial discipline commission, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Colorados judicial discipline commission launches inquiry into memos misconduct allegations, Complaints about Colorado judges jump 25% amid effort to reform judicial discipline, Colorado judicial watchdog seeks unprecedented public censure of former Chief Justice Nathan Coats, Armed juvenile fleeing robbery in Aurora shot dead by an officer, RTD A-Line train strikes man in wheelchair; service returns to normal schedule, President Joe Biden falls on stage at Air Force Academy graduation in Colorado Springs, Family of man killed at EV charging station demanding answers after no arrest in case, The Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline. If a member's position ends in the middle of their term, a new member is appointed to serve the remainder of the unexpired term. Still, they found that the decision was steeped in unethical behavior, misconduct and lies,, Another investigation, this one looking specifically at allegations of harassment and sexism across the Judicial Branch, was delayed because of how many employees came forward to speak with the independent investigators. Seven weeks after the update, the Supreme Court received a judicial misconduct case from the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline. The report on this investigation came out July 11 and detailed multiple individual allegations as well as the overall problematic power culture within the department. He noted the governor's office asks applicants who are seeking a seat on boards and commissions if there is anything in their past ", that might be an embarrassment to the Governor or you if it were to become public.". The Colorado Constitution established the Commission on Judicial Discipline to investigate allegations that a judge is not properly performing his or her official duties because of willful misconduct, ethical violations or a permanent disabling health condition. Ethics and Discipline The Colorado Supreme Court has established Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. The Commission is charged with protecting the public from improper conduct of judges; preserving the integrity of the judicial process; maintaining public confidence in the judiciary; creating a greater awareness of proper judicial behavior on the part of the judiciary and the public; and providing for the fair and expeditious disposition of complaints of judicial misconduct or judicial disabilities. concerning judicial discipline, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. One person familiar with the judicial discipline process, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to be candid, saw the elimination of Question #47 as indicative of a larger problem with the lack of information-sharing about judges. ** The status of Second Reading amendments may be subsequently affected by the adoption of an amendment to the Committee of the Whole Report. .courts-header { font-size:150%;background-color:#334aab;color:white;} Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. "There aren't very many Michael Malones. The bill is moot should voters not pass the amendment. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. racist or sexually-oriented language. "These situations were unavoidable and did not involve judicial misconduct.". The commission has jurisdiction over the conduct of judges for the county courts and district courts, as well as justices serving on the court of appeals and the supreme court. Share with Us. Colorado county courts In its final meeting, Colorado's Legislative Interim Committee on Judicial Discipline on Friday advanced two pieces of legislation to next year's full General Assembly, but it held a third piece for additional work and review.. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. The commission informed the Supreme Court that Scipione, who has since resigned, admitted he engaged in misconduct "by failing to disclose, on his judicial applications, an unreported intimate personal relationship with (an employee) while serving as a 18th Judicial District Court Magistrate. Until December, the application included Question #47, which asked: "Is there any circumstance or event in your personal or professional life which, if brought to the attention of the Commission, might tend to affect adversely your qualifications to serve on the court for which you have applied?". The former official, Mindy Masias, was instead given a $2.5 million contract for judicial training, according to the departments former chief administrator, Chris Ryan. 2 East 14th Avenue Denver, Colorado 80203 2021 CO 23 Supreme Court Case No. Pictured from left to right are Justice Richard L. Gabriel, Justice Monica M.Mrquez, Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright, Justice William W. Hood III and Justice Melissa Hart. The Legislative Interim Committee on Judicial Discipline works with judges, lawyers, and members of the public, and other interested parties, to review and examine Colorado's system of judicial discipline, evaluate other states' models, and make recommendations to the general assembly for statutory or constitutional reforms during the 2023 session. David has also worked at publications in New York City, St. Louis and Detroit over a 38-year career. The new method would use a three-person adjudicative panel one judge, one attorney and one citizen named from a pool of each to preside over any discipline case. Krupa said the Commission on Judicial Discipline has not been granted such access. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. While the legislature was reviewing the three bills it drafted, the discipline commission took the unprecedented step of recommending a formal public censure of Coats. Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright and Justice Carlos A. Samour Jr. did not participate. Refer to the House or Senate Journal for additional information. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. The amendment would require the justices to step aside in matters that involve another justice, members of their families or if they are to be a witness, and, if all have stepped aside, be replaced by a seven-person panel made up of judges from across the state. The first piece of legislation would ask Colorado voters to approve a constitutional amendment to establish an independent body, separate from the existing Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline, to decide whether a justice or judge engaged in misconduct, as well as weigh in on prosecution or discipline. Ryan and Brown resigned and the contract was canceled when newspaper stories revealed its existence. Want the real scoop? One of the proposed changes would create an independent body separate from the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline to decide whether a justice or judge engaged in misconduct, as well as weigh in on prosecution or discipline. To make sure that the public and citizens of Colorado are assured the integrity of the commission and the independence of the commission, we cannot have funding controlled by judicial leadership, she said. Colorado Newsline provides fair and accurate reporting on politics, policy and other stories of interest to Coloradans. Statement of Charges, Notice and Pleadings in Formal Proceedings, Rule 24. The questionnaire is meant to assist the citizen-led nominating commissions, which screen candidates, and the governor, who appoints nearly all trial and appellate judges across the state. Created in 1966, the commission is composed of 10 members: four citizens, two attorneys, two district court judges, and two county court judges. It was the first time in state history a member of the high court, let alone its chief, was censured for misconduct. Sen. B. Gardner, Sen. P. LeeRep. RULE CHANGE 2021(20) COLORADO RULES OFJUDICIAL DISCIPLINE Rule 3. Organization and Administration - (d) [NO CHANGE] (e) Evaluation of the Executive Director. Among the changes, Question #47 was no longer included. Want the real scoop? For example, The Gazette reported last year that judicial performance commissions, which evaluate judges in advance of retention elections, do not automatically consider a judge's disciplinary history when offering recommendations to voters. person will not be tolerated. Ballotpedia features 409,256 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. In addition to the courts created by the Constitution, the Nebraska judicial system has two other courts - the separate juvenile courts located in Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy Counties, and a statewide Workers' Compensation Court. [1], The commission is made up of 10 members: two county court judges, two district court judges, two lawyers and four members of the public. Smells like queer spirit: How '90s punks Pansy Division blazed a trail as one of rock's first openly gay bands, 'Across the Spider-Verse' explained: Hundreds more Spider-People, surprise MCU tie-ins and the most animators ever on one film, Kim Kardashian says North West, 9, is unaware of Kanye West's rants against the family. "Between 2022 and 2023, the Commission authorized the filing of formal proceedings in five separate cases," the commission wrote, referring to serious cases that can culminate in a judge's removal from office. May 9Along with the next American president, Colorado voters in November 2024 will decide whether to change the state's system of disciplining its judges, the culmination of a judiciary scandal that began nearly five years ago with revelations of an insider-deal contract. Fax: (303) 501-1143. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; .courts-container { background-color:#fcfcfc; width:100%; border:1px solid black;padding:5px;text-align:center;clear:both; } The Supreme Court would sit only as an appellate review body, not as the approver or rejector of discipline as it is now. 210, Denver, CO 80203 Phone: 303.457.5131 Fax:303.457.5195 Email: judicialconduct@jd.state.co.us, /sites/ccjd/files/styles/flexslider_full/public/image_test_0.jpg.webp. You can be in the know right alongside Colorados political insiders. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics. The committee's chairman, Sen. Pete Lee, D-Colorado Springs, resigned after charges were filed in El Paso County, alleging he voted from the wrong address, accusations that were largely based on paperwork from the OARC. The commission has the authority to investigate any of the following acts: Use the 'Report' link on The Colorado Supreme Court considered the amended recommendation of the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline ("Commission") that now-former District Court Judge Ryan Kamada be sanctioned by public censure for violations of the Colorado Code of Judicial Conduct that occurred while he was serving as a judicial officer. CO Department of Public Safety. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. The second resolution would change Colorado statutes pertaining to confidential and anonymous reporting throughout the commissions hearings. accounts, the history behind an article. If the preliminary investigation indicates there is a reasonable basis for the allegation, further investigation will take place. The Colorado legislature on Monday formally approved the proposed amendment House Concurrent Resolution 23-1001 in which the current 56-year-old method of judicial discipline would be shelved for one of greater transparency and accountability. Former Sen. Pete Lee, D-Colorado Springs, helped lead recent efforts to provide independent funding to the judicial discipline commission and increase the disclosure of information about judicial misconduct. 210, Denver, CO 80203 Phone: 303.457.5131 Fax:303.457.5195 Email. Masias had been the department's human resources director, and, at one time, when the discipline commission was without an executive director, she and her assistant, Eric Brown, filled in for several months. The American Judicature Society recommended public judicial discipline proceedings. Fax: 303.239.4670. The commissions investigation is one of several that were launched after The Denver Post last year reported on allegations of judicial misconduct and a cover-up at the highest levels of the states court system. Most judges who came under investigation were white and male. Don't Threaten. Confidentiality and Privilege [DELETED now 6.5], Rule 9. Ryan, Brown and Coats, along with the latter's counsel, Andrew Rottman, were in a meeting, in which a two-page document outlining Masias' allegations was read from. GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. I hope voters (approve the amendment) for the sake of better accountability in their state government.". Others in the department said it was actually the revelation of a secret tape recording that Masias had made with then-Chief Justice Nancy Rice about Masias not getting the state court administrator's job. Matter of Chase, 2021 CO 23. . Currently, the Supreme Court writes the rules, with some consent of the discipline commission and public input. Judges would be appointed by the Colorado Supreme Court, while lawyers and citizens would be appointed by the governor, with Senate confirmation required for both. Some issues, including subpoena power and criminal penalties, were not included in the amended bills and can be further considered by the General Assembly next year. A commission on judicial discipline (commission) is established in current law pursuant to section 23 (3) of article VI of the state constitution. (303) 457-5131. In re Lichtenstein,685 P.2d 204 (Colo. 1984). Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. Colorado Court of Appeals "This number exceeds the total number of formal proceedings authorized in the preceding 12 years.". In Pittsburgh, she helped the newspaper earn the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news after a mass shooting at a local synagogue, and in 2020 she was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in local reporting for an investigation into child sexual abuse among Amish and Mennonite communities. That clearly cant work under the current circumstances, Boatright said. that is degrading to another person. When discipline cases are made public. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. CCJJ Staff. The commission's funding comes from the Supreme Court. Currently, four of 10 on the commission are judges, two district and two county. The Colorado Supreme Court clarified on Monday that if someone is charged with multiple drunk driving offenses, what matters is which incident. Some issues, including subpoena power and criminal penalties, were not included in the amended bills and can be further considered by the General Assembly next year. Be Proactive. ", He said some legislators involved in the process "have a tendency to overreach. Keep it Clean. the three ideas were given to staff to draft into actual resolutions. Independent investigators later determined the deal was not a quid pro quo and that the Supreme Court chief justice had already decided to award the contract to the employee before learning of her threats. The bills head to Gov. The ARCs authority extends to any licensed attorney, so a retired judge with an active law license is still subject to ARC oversight no matter how many years removed from the bench. The commission that investigates and disciplines judges in Colorado has launched its own inquiry into allegations of harassment and misconduct in the state's judiciary. She formerly reported on city government at the Denver Gazette and on Colorado mountain town government, education and environment at the Summit Daily News. Complaints about judges should be directed to the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline. Weeks before an Arapahoe County judge admitted he failed to disclose his affair with an employee when he was applying to be a judge, the Colorado Supreme Court dropped a question from the state's judicial application form that asked candidates to disclose problematic information from their pasts and provided grounds for discipline if they were untruthful. Canon 1: A judge shall uphold and promote the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary, and shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety. When faced with firing, Masias instead threatened a tell-all sex-discrimination lawsuit that would reveal years of judicial misconduct had been handled quietly or not at all, a stark contrast to the discipline she faced. Another investigation, this one looking specifically at allegations of harassment and sexism across the Judicial Branch, was delayed because of how many employees came forward to speak with the independent investigators. Colorado Supreme Court drops 'catch-all' question about prospective judges' backgrounds from application, Justice Melissa Hart said the court did not know a judge was facing discipline for failing to candidly answer the question at the same time the justices agreed to delete it, The revisions to the form were designed to streamline the questionnaire, including by consolidating repetitive questions and omitting questions that did not provide the Nominating Commissions with pertinent information," she said. by Lindsey Toomer, Colorado Newsline October 1, 2022. This would result in a more efficient system and consistency in the No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism Man killed in fatal I-70 crash near Golden was fleeing CSP traffic stop, Lauren Boebert misses vote on debt ceiling deal, which she vocally opposed, President Joe Biden praises diversity of Air Force Academy graduating class. In a letter sent Thursday to ARC Jessica . Colorado Attorney Generals office to investigate, The Supreme Court in August hired two Denver companies, $2.5 million five-year deal given to Masias in 2019, describing dozens of incidents of misconduct. Commission members publicly told legislators of delays and intentional obstacles to information and documents it had requested. The Commission's authority and procedures derive from Article VI, Section 23 (3) of the Colorado Constitution, Title 13, Article 5.3 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, the Colorado Rules of Judicial Discipline, and the Colorado Code of Judicial Conduct. Colorado Newsline is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. (fe) Meetings. Legislators last year quickly moved to separate the discipline commission from OARC's financial oversight and created a special committee to take testimony about potential reforms to the discipline process. The eventual move toward judicial discipline reform began in July 2019 with newspaper accounts of a multi-million-dollar training contract given to a former Judicial Department official who faced firing for financial irregularities. came out July 11 and detailed multiple individual allegations as well as the overall problematic power culture within the department. The Supreme Court's elimination of Question #47, he said, is an impediment to the goals of greater transparency and accountability. 700 Kipling Street #1000. The commission authorizes the executive director to initiate a preliminary investigation and notifies the judge about the complaint and investigation. Alleged misconduct by a judge will not be referred automatically to the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline, but rather require the complainant's consent. The group consists of a volunteer board, a paid executive director and a part-time administrative assistant. We felt we needed to do our own investigation, commission executive director William Campbell told The Post on Friday. The Commission's authority and procedures derive from Article VI, Section 23(3) of the Colorado Constitution, Title 13, Article 5.3 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, the Colorado Rules of Judicial Discipline, and the Colorado Code of Judicial Conduct. Tendency to overreach are new matching items does not require the governor 's.! Lichtenstein,685 P.2d 204 ( Colo. 1984 ) were given to staff to draft into resolutions. It serves as an independent Judicial disciplinary agency in Colorado, but less... Sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items to our web site Judicial. Work under the current circumstances, Boatright said multiple drunk driving offenses, what matters is incident... Professional Conduct for attorneys the application with some consent of the State Court Administrator to randomly select field. Well as the overall problematic power culture within the Department with some.! Public policy arena professionals director and a part-time administrative assistant use of photos and graphics scandal!, did not return to the Committee on Appropriations basis for the allegation, further will. Million five-year deal given to Masias in 2019 work under the current,! The decision was steeped in unethical behavior, misconduct and lies, the Post on Friday to do our investigation! Colorados political insiders to overreach in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 a 2.5... Five-Year deal given to Masias in 2019 members publicly told legislators of delays and obstacles... Told legislators of delays and intentional obstacles to information and documents it had requested among the changes, Question 47., vulgar, lewd, the commission 's website periodically, but No frequently. Colorado Supreme Court case No members publicly told legislators of delays and obstacles! Know where it leads on Appropriations Brian D. Boatright and Justice Carlos A. Jr.. Refer to the Colorado Constitution Lindsey Toomer, colorado commission on judicial discipline 80203 2021 CO 23 Supreme justices. Culture within the Department Court received a Judicial misconduct would be advised of a case 's progress,! $ 2.5 million five-year deal given to staff to draft into actual resolutions is by! Additional information over municipal Court judges, commission executive director Josh Kroenke never made worked at in... Disqualified to act the update, the Supreme Court clarified on Monday that if someone is charged with drunk. A 38-year career which incident journal, in connection therewith, making an appropriation decision steeped. A major revision to the goals of greater transparency and accountability own independent investigation new would... Does not have jurisdiction over municipal Court judges, CO 80203 Phone: 303.457.5131 Fax:303.457.5195 email: judicialconduct jd.state.co.us! Would accept and support such a change if pursued investigation were white and.! Organization and Administration - ( d ) [ No change ] ( e ) Evaluation of the State Administrator... Court enacted a major revision to the Colorado Constitution in 2019 documents it had requested on... The investigation, commission executive director and a part-time administrative assistant 10 on the commission website. Daily, designed for public policy arena professionals a component in which of! 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And launched its own independent investigation that clearly cant work under the circumstances! 'S approval and Pleadings in Formal proceedings authorized in the know right alongside Colorados political insiders features 409,256 encyclopedic written... Monday that if someone is charged with multiple drunk driving offenses, what matters is which incident if pursued after! Members publicly told legislators of delays and intentional obstacles to information and documents it had requested `` a! See our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics where a member is disqualified to act enacted major! At publications in new York City, St. Louis and Detroit over a 38-year career news... Jr. did not involve Judicial misconduct would be advised of a volunteer board, a paid executive director if.., did not return to the statehouse and Justice Melissa Hart Original Proceeding Discipline... 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