1976, August, Pg. 1097. Legislative Action Report.

• Author: by Gordon G. Geuss

5 Colo.Law. 1097

Colorado Lawyer

1976.

1976, August, Pg. 1097.

Legislative Action Report

1097Vol. 5, No. 8, Pg. 1097Legislative Action Reportby Gordon G. GeussCBA public reletions and legislattive counselA third attempt to alter Colorado's merit system of judicial selection and tenure at the 1976 election has collapsed.

It ended abruptly when a constitutional amendment to substitute nonpartisan judicial elections failed to attract enough signatures to petitions to win a place on the ballot.

During the waning days of the legislative session last spring two other proposals were killed. One was the seventimes-offered measure by Rep. Forrest Bums, D-Lamar, to restore election of judges. The other, sponsored by House Majority Leader Bob Leon Kirscht, D-Pueblo, would have made changes in the process for nominating judicial candidates.

Leading the drive for signatures to place the non-partisan amendmerit, on the ballot by petition was Elias J. Candell, Lakewood lawyer. At the time of the July 2 filing deadline for petitions, he was quoted as saying he plans another effort next year.

Meanwhile, a major study of the judicial selection and tenure system is being launched by an interim committee of the Colorado General Assembly, working through its Legislative Council. The committee is known as Judiciary I and any changes it recommends will go before the legislature next year for possible inclusion into a constitutional amendment to be placed before voters in 1978.

The Colorado Bar Associafion's board of governors opposed the Bums, Kirscht and Candell amendments but endorsed the legislative study. This study was the outgrowth of a resolution introduced originally by Rep. Charles B. Howe, D-Boulder, a lawyer.

Six of the 14 niembensf Judiciary I arc lawyen, including the chairman and vice chairman, Sen. Ralph A. Cole, R-Littleton, and Rep. Gerald H. Kopel, D-Denver. The two rn chairmen of the Senate and House Judiciary committees, respectively.

Other lawyers on the committee are Rep. Howe; Rep. Robert L. Eckelbeny, R-Littleton; Rep. Larry Hobbs, R-Momson; and Rep. Edward (Ted) Bendelow, D-Denver. Hobbs and Bendelow are not seeking reelection this year.

The non-lawyer members of the study committee are the Democratic leader of the Senate, Ray Kogovsek of Pueblo: Sen. Fay DeBerard, R-Kremmling; Sen. Hmld L. McCormick, R-Canon City...