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Resources

Speaking Out to Defend the Rule of Law

Professor of philosophy Gerald Postema notes that everyone talks today about the "rule of law" but few seem to know what it is.

He provides an engaging discussion of its meaning and importance.

Prof. Postema also presents a compelling case for the necessity of holding people in power, like judges and our institutions charged with upholding law, accountable to the rule of law--a responsibility that is "almost sacred."

Justitia Goddess
Typewriter

The Memo

View the "Memo" that started it all.

The "Memo" had been compiled by senior judicial department executives.

They laid out instances of judicial misconduct which they alleged had been covered up in Colorado's Judiciary.

The Judicial Department's Version

The Colorado Judiciary hired two law firms to investigate under its control.

They were Robert Troyer ("RCT") and the Investigative Law Group ("ILG").

Primary accusers were not available to them and some topics were placed off-limits.

Read their reports of the Judiciary's version of events:

Traditional Library
People in Library

Judicial coverups as documented in this report:

"Preparing for the Next Scandal: Valuable Insights from the 2019-2023 Judicial Corruption Scandal"

In January of 2024, the Colorado legislature held annual SMART Act hearings. At that time it heard a summary report on lessons from the Masias allegations and their handling.

Judicial Integrity Project Report

Colorado's longest-term advocate for reforming judicial accountability is the Judicial Integrity Project.

Read its report to the legislature here.

People in Library
Justitia Goddess

Judicial Department Cooperation?

Colorado's constitution vests the power to investigate judicial misconduct in the Judicial Discipline Commission.

Did the Judicial Department cooperate with the official investigation by the Judicial Discipline Commission?

Reports from the two entities highlight major controversies.

Designing Accountability
into the Judicial Discipline System

How can systems be designed to enhance judicial accountability?

A former member of Colorado's Judicial Discipline Commission examines this topic in an article published in the American Judges Court Review.

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Assembly Hall

Colorado Legislative Interim Committee on Judicial Discipline

In 2022, Colorado's Legislative Interim Committee on Judicial Discipline held hearings to examine the judicial ethics accountability system.

It considered legislative remedies.

The Committee received many informative reports and proposals available here.

Original Intent of
Colorado's Merit Selection

For the 40th anniversary, a justice of the Colorado Supreme Court wrote a history of the system and discussed its intent.

Consider whether today's system is achieving its goals.

Assembly Hall
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