By: Michael Karlik | Colorado Politics
A Montezuma County judge and the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline both agreed this month that a suspension and public censure are the appropriate consequences for his multiple instances of misconduct, including invoking his title when facing a citation from state officials and exhibiting bias against a criminal defendant.
Under constitutional Amendment H, which voters adopted in November 2024, a three-member panel will formally administer discipline to County Court Judge Ian J. MacLaren. The commission originally sought MacLaren’s removal from the bench for actions that allegedly included lying to disciplinary officials.
However, on July 11, the parties told the panel that a combination of a public censure, unpaid suspension and additional education were their preferred outcome.
The joint filing suggested that Montezuma County residents should be the ones to decide whether MacLaren’s conduct merits removal from office.
“Judge MacLaren will stand for voter retention in November of 2028. The Complaint, its exhibits and this stipulation will all be available to the voters to inform their choice about whether Judge MacLaren should be retained as a judge,” wrote attorneys for MacLaren and the commission.