Montezuma County judge faces potential removal after allegations of abuse of power

By Savana Ksarck | Complete Colorado

CORTEZ–The Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline (CCJD) has announced formal proceedings to potentially remove Montezuma County Court Judge Ian McLaren for multiple instances of judicial misconduct, including lying while under investigation by the commission.

Montezuma County borders Utah, New Mexico and Arizona in the southwest corner of Colorado.

The 22nd Judicial District judge came under fire during a case involving then Montezuma-Cortez School District Superintendent Tom Burris in August 2024. Burris had been accused of failing to report sexual abuse of a student by a teacher.

After an investigation found no evidence of the alleged abuse, McLaren then scheduled a hearing where he berated Burris over the unsubstantiated charges, and criticized a diversion agreement that he undergo training as an inadequate punishment.

“I’m very disturbed that those reports weren’t made,” MacLaren said. “Looking at the diversion agreement, this looks to me to be a slap on the wrist.”

CCJD Special Council, Jeffery Walsh, filed a complaint against McLaren for presuming Burris guilty as well as inviting the press to promote his own self-image.

 “Judge McLaren didn’t stay the proceeding. Instead, he ordered the parties to his courtroom under the pretext of a hearing. He invited the press to attend. Then he used the ‘hearing’ to criticize and shame the parties and to generate publicity about the same,” the complaint reads in part.

READ THE COMPLETE STORY AT COMPLETE COLORADO