Colorado Commission on Judicial Qualifications: 1981 Annual Report
| Publication year | 1982 |
| Pages | 1837 |
| Citation | Vol. 11 No. 7 Pg. 1837 |
1982, July, Pg. 1837. Colorado Commission on Judicial Qualifications: 1981 Annual Report
The Commission on Judicial Qualifications has been in existence since 1967. It derives its authority from Article VI, § 23(3) of the Constitution of the state of Colorado.
Its purpose is to investigate complaints against judges, hold informal or formal hearings as a fact-finding body, and take informal action or present recommendations to the Colorado Supreme Court for formal action.
While the Commission operates independently, it is officed within the judicial branch. Its operating budget is provided through the Judicial Department and its rules are promulgated by the Colorado Supreme Court.
The Commission consists of nine members. Three district court judges and two county court judges are appointed by the Supreme Court. Two lawyers, each having practiced for at least ten years in Colorado, are appointed by majority action of the Governor, the Chief Justice and the Attorney General. The other two members, who must be citizens but not judges or attorneys, are appointed by the Governor. All members are appointed for four-year terms.
Present Commission members are:
Commission members serve without salary, but receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses. Biographical sketches of the members are available at the Commission office: Room 215, State Judicial Bldg., 2E. 14th Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80203.
The Commission's staff consists of a half-time executive director and a full-time adminstrative secretary. Assistance is provided as needed by the Judicial Department's legal officer. The Commission also employs investigators and examiners for formal hearings as needed.
The Commission has constitutional jurisdiction to investigate allegations of, and act upon, a judge's:
---Willful misconduct in office
---Willful or persistent failure to perform judicial duties
---Intemperance
---Disability which interferes with the performance of official duties which is or is likely to become permanent.
The concept of willful misconduct includes, but is not limited to, the following acts:
---Conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice
---Conduct which brings the judicial office into disrepute
---Conduct which violates the Colorado Code of Judicial Conduct.
The Commission's jurisdiction includes misconduct stemming from the violation of criminal laws. In addition, the Supreme Court may take action under the companion section of the constitutional amendment adopted in 1966 by which it can suspend and remove a justice or judge of any state court who is convicted of a felony or offense involving moral...
To continue reading
Request your trial