Author: David Migoya
-
Colorado’s former top Judicial Department official stands by assertions that agency is protecting ‘the robes’
In his first public comments since alleging the Colorado Supreme Court three years ago approved a contract-for-silence with a former Judicial Department executive, Christopher Ryan stood firmly behind his assertions that wide-ranging efforts ensued to “protect the actions of those who wear the robes.” Testifying Wednesday before a temporary legislative committee exploring changes to the…
-
State court administrator admits he ‘missed’ discipline advisory and allowed ‘hairy chest’ jurist into senior judge program
Colorado State Court Administrator Steven Vasconcellos on Tuesday said he overlooked the discipline record of a retiring district court judge when he approved the jurist’s application for the senior judge program in 2018, then recently admonished the state’s judicial discipline commission for not telling the Judicial Branch about it. That judge — former Adams County District…
-
Discipline commission says state court administrator falsely accused it of withholding information
Colorado’s state court administrator – the highest civilian position in the Judicial Department – last year falsely claimed judicial discipline officials failed to reveal they had admonished a district court judge of misbehavior before the judge was admitted to a senior judge program, the state’s discipline commission said in a letter filed Monday with legislators.…
-
Judicial Discipline Commission says Supreme Court lied, misled, misinformed public during probe
On July 29, 2021, the chief justice of Colorado’s Supreme Court quietly met in a Denver parking garage with the executive director of the state’s Commission on Judicial Discipline to discuss the latter’s press for information in its inquiry into misconduct allegations tied to an alleged contract-for-silence scheme at the Judicial Department. During the rendezvous,…
-
Discipline commission says Judicial Department continues to stall investigation
Colorado’s Judicial Department for months has continued to drag its feet over an investigation by the state commission that disciplines judges despite public assurances otherwise, according to a document filed with state lawmakers this week. The Commission on Judicial Discipline said in a filing it made Wednesday to a legislative committee considering changes to the…
-
Lawsuit: Engineer fudged figures so metro district developer could profit even more
Developers behind the Amber Creek Metro District in 2017 allegedly misled Thornton city officials when they saddled district homeowners with a substantial amount of extra construction debt in order to pocket millions of dollars in illicit profits, according to a new court filing. An engineer hired by homebuilder Lennar Colorado and developer Stratus Amber Creek…
-
Colorado judicial discipline system should be scrapped and rebuilt: Testimony
Colorado’s current method of investigating and disciplining judges should be scrapped for a more independent and transparent process that the public would have a hand in controlling, advocates for reform on Tuesday told a legislative committee studying the process. Additionally, Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Brian Boatright might have violated several rules of judicial conduct…
-
Report: No cover up or evidence of systemic gender bias, but Judicial Department culture needs work
The Colorado Judicial Department did not cover up or systemically ignore allegations of misconduct by judges, according to a sweeping report by an independent investigator released Monday. Nevertheless, the department suffers from a number of workplace issues, including “broadly stated fears of retaliation and concerns nothing is done in response to complaints of misconduct,” as…
-
Judicial Department to legislators: Discipline Commission “inaccurate”
The commission that investigates and disciplines Colorado judges was “inaccurate” several times last month when characterizing to legislators difficulties it was having with the Judicial Department, according to a letter the department sent Monday to lawmakers. In a 10-page letter to the legislature’s interim committee studying potential changes to how judicial discipline happens, State Court…
-
Investigators of Judicial Department contract to appear before legislative committee on discipline
The two main investigators behind a recent report that said no contract-for-silence deal existed in the Colorado Judicial Department are expected to testify Tuesday before a legislative committee on judicial discipline. Former U.S. Attorney in Colorado Robert Troyer and former Denver Independent Monitor Nicholas Mitchell are scheduled to appear before the special committee to discuss…