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Tag: Amendment H

Northeast Colorado judge resigns after allegations of undisclosed ties to former client
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Approved, Colorado Politics, Local

Northeast Colorado judge resigns after allegations of undisclosed ties to former client

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...
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Gregory: Colorado’s highest court has lost credibility
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Approved, Colorado Politics, State

Gregory: Colorado’s highest court has lost credibility

By  Christopher Gregory | Colorado Politics, Commentary Colorado is haunted by the ghosts of Watergate. Through his preemptive pardon of Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford blunted the rule of law by preventing our country from ever directly addressing the wrongfulness of Nixon's conduct and having public discourse as to what accountability was appropriate. The evolution of Colorado's judicial scandal has been very similar to the chronology of Watergate. In it I have found my own spiritual camaraderie with Justice Melissa Hart's grandfather, Archibald Cox. Like me, Cox was retaliated against and fired just as his investigation of Nixon discovered critical evidence. The greatest danger to the American republic is not who voters choose to represent them but rather the selective enforcement or n...
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Amendment H is on the ballot in Colorado as a result of a scandal involving the state’s highest court
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Approved, CBS Colorado, State

Amendment H is on the ballot in Colorado as a result of a scandal involving the state’s highest court

By Shaun Boyd | CBS Colorado Among the ballot measures Colorado voters are considering on Election Day is one that may seem like it's a no-brainer. It is Amendment H, which deals with judicial discipline. Supporters say it will pull back the veil of secrecy in the judiciary. Amendment H is on the ballot as a result of a scandal that exposed a lack of transparency and accountability in Colorado's judicial disciplinary system. Beginning in 2019, Denver Post reporter David Migoya about the state supreme court's involvement in a widespread scheme to cover up judicial misconduct. Former Chief Justice Nathan Coats was censured and resigned. Investigators accused other justices of obstruction, retaliation and intimidation. In the wake of the scandal, the legislature referred Amendment H ...
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Support Amendment H: Judicial discipline procedures and confidentiality
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Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Support Amendment H: Judicial discipline procedures and confidentiality

By Editorial Board | Editorial, Rocky Mountain Voice Ballot language: Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado Constitution concerning judicial discipline, and, in connection therewith, establishing an independent judicial discipline adjudicative board, setting standards for judicial review of a discipline case, and clarifying when discipline proceedings become public? How it reached the ballot: House Continuing Resolution 23-1001, supported by a 60-3 vote of the House and 35-0 vote of the Senate. An overwhelming bipartisan majority of both legislative chambers sponsored the measure. Three Republicans in the House opposed the measure. Background: The measure amends Section 23 of the Colorado Constitution, pertaining to judicial discipline. Under existing law, proceedings of the...
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Amendment H ensures accountability in Colorado’s judiciary, retired Chief Judge Maes says
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Amendment H ensures accountability in Colorado’s judiciary, retired Chief Judge Maes says

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice Even though retired Colorado 10th Judicial District Chief Judge Dennis Maes has plenty to do as a board member for Pueblo School District, he writes monthly articles on the need for judicial reform.  And behind the scenes, he acts when he observes actions that throw the question of judicial transparency and accountability into question. He’s also gone to multiple news media outlets to air his concerns. Maes believes that the work of investigative journalists around the state, including the Denver Gazette's David Migoya, led to Amendment H appearing on the ballot.  “Migoya was key in exposing judicial scandals, including the Mindy Masias case and other judicial misconduct issues," Maes shared. In November of 2022, Maes submi...
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