By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice
A district judge in El Paso County has rejected an attempt by the Colorado Republican Party’s Investigative Committee—an entity formed under former chair Dave Williams—to intervene in a lawsuit that the party’s current leadership has moved to dismiss.
In a ruling filed April 23, District Court Judge Amanda J. Philipps found that the Investigative Committee lacks standing and legal authority to join or intervene in the ongoing civil case, saying the group was assigned “limited tasks” and does not possess independent power to act on behalf of the Colorado Republican State Central Committee (CRC).
“Absent an express statutory right, a subordinate state agency lacks standing or any other legal authority to obtain judicial review of an action of a superior state agency,” the court stated, citing precedent from Ad Hoc Exec. Comm. v. Runyan.
The judge applied the same logic to the Investigative Committee, describing it as a subordinate body that was never granted authority to file or maintain litigation independently.
The lawsuit at issue was filed during Williams’ tenure and accused multiple party members, including current chair Brita Horn, of holding an unauthorized meeting aimed at removing Williams from leadership.
However, following Horn’s election as chair on March 29, the CRC voted to dismiss the case on April 3.
The Investigative Committee then attempted to keep the case alive by intervening, arguing that it had been empowered to pursue legal accountability.
The court rejected that claim outright, noting that the committee was formed simply to assist with investigations and coordinate with party attorneys—not to initiate or sustain lawsuits.
“Controversy No. 24-006 does not endow the Investigative Committee with the authority to bring its own legal action,” the order stated in a footnote, emphasizing the narrow mandate originally given to the committee.
This ruling represents a significant legal validation for the Horn-led CRC, signaling the court’s recognition of its governing authority and the limits of committees formed under previous leadership.
It may also foreshadow what lies ahead for the broader lawsuit itself.
The court’s ruling not only denied the Investigative Committee’s request to intervene, it also dismantled its legal basis for continuing the broader case—citing lack of standing, limited authority and structural subordination.
With the CRC having already moved to dismiss the case, the court’s logic here strongly suggests the broader lawsuit may soon meet the same fate.
Although former Chair Dave Williams disputes claims that he has remained involved in the ongoing litigation, records show he provided documents to the committee attempting to continue the lawsuit. In a call with Rocky Mountain Voice, Williams acknowledged sharing those materials at the committee’s request as it prepared its April 2 motion to intervene.
The court, however, found that the committee lacked any authority to do so without the CRC’s backing—authority now held by Chair Brita Horn.