By Michael Karlik | Colorado Politics
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 District of Morgan, Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Washington, Yuma and Kit Carson counties. He had been off the bench since the Colorado Supreme Court suspended him in November, pending a disciplinary investigation.
In an April 29 letter addressed to Chief Justice Monica M. Márquez, he announced his resignation effective on April 30. Also on April 29, Haenlein’s attorney submitted a filing to the three-member panel adjudicating his disciplinary case, informing them that his resignation triggered the end of the proceedings and they may not impose further sanctions.
Also, the adjudicative panel “is operating without any clearly articulated rules or procedures. The absence of rules and procedures may deny Judge Haenlein his constitutional right to due process of law,” wrote attorney David M. Beller.