Tag: colorado commission on judicial discipline
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Colorado Supreme Court suspends Mesa County judge pending misconduct investigation
The Colorado Supreme Court suspended Mesa County Court Judge Michael J. Grattan on Thursday amid a misconduct investigation. The court’s Sept. 10 order gave Grattan 21 days to explain why his paid suspension should not continue through the end of his disciplinary proceedings. Chief Justice Monica M. Márquez did not participate in the order and…
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Misconduct complaints from ex-Colorado judicial discipline director dismissed against federal judges
The administrative body for the Denver-based federal appeals court upheld a finding last week that misconduct complaints against Colorado’s chief federal trial judge and the chief appeals judge warranted dismissal and appeared to be a “litigation tactic” by the complaining party. The Judicial Council of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit concluded…
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Montezuma County judge’s censure, suspension approved by discipline panel
A three-member disciplinary panel accepted, on Monday, an agreement between a Montezuma County judge and the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline that specifies he will receive a censure, a suspension, and additional education for his admitted instances of misconduct. Under constitutional Amendment H, which voters adopted in November 2024, County Court Judge Ian J. MacLaren…
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Judicial discipline commission reports increased transparency, increased submissions
The Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline received 473 misconduct complaints about judges in 2025, which was nearly 29% higher than in 2024 and substantially greater than any time in the past decade. However, only 31 complaints were referred to the commission for further action after an initial screening, the organization noted in its annual report released…
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San Miguel County judge intends to resign as discipline authorities seek alternate resolution
A San Miguel County judge and the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline informed a disciplinary panel last week that new information about the judge’s health has come to light suggesting further proceedings may not be appropriate, and the judge will instead resign from the bench. The Colorado Supreme Court suspended County Court Judge Sean K.…
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EDITORIAL: Judicial reform at a snail’s pace
There’s good news and bad news about protracted efforts to bring transparency and accountability to Colorado’s secretive and hidebound judiciary. The good news is that after years of investigative reporting by The Gazette and other media into allegations of top-level improprieties by those appointed to judge over us, Colorado voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure…
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Colorado Supreme Court censures ex-Denver juvenile Judge Brett Woods for alcohol use, retaliation
The Colorado Supreme Court censured former Denver Juvenile Court Presiding Judge D. Brett Woods on Monday for being intoxicated on the job and for firing an employee who first reported his problematic alcohol use five years ago. Woods was a judge on Denver’s freestanding juvenile court for 17 years before stepping down in February. His…
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Q&A with Anne Mangiardi | New judicial discipline director shares plans for change
In July, Anne Mangiardi took over as the new executive director of the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline. Mangiardi, who previously worked in the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, succeeds Christopher Gregory, who the commission placed on leave early this year. The commission features a mixture of judges, lawyers and non-attorneys whose role includes investigating allegations…
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Allegations against ex-Arapahoe County judge encompassed sexual comments to staff, improper influence in case
Documents provided by the Colorado Supreme Court revealed in detail the cascading allegations against former Arapahoe County District Court Judge John E. Scipione, who resigned last year and was censured earlier this month for misconduct towards staff and colleagues. The Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline initiated multiple investigations against Scipione, beginning after two 18th Judicial…
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Ex-Arapahoe County Judge John Scipione censured for misconduct
The Colorado Supreme Court censured former Arapahoe County District Court Judge John E. Scipione on Monday for his misconduct, which resulted in a pair of sexual harassment settlements totaling $130,000. In a document originally filed with the court in January 2023, Scipione agreed he failed to disclose an intimate relationship with a staff member, inappropriately…