Colorado Commission on Judicial Qualifications 1982 Annual Report
| Publication year | 1983 |
| Pages | 1421 |
| Citation | Vol. 12 No. 9 Pg. 1421 |
1983, September, Pg. 1421. Colorado Commission on Judicial Qualifications 1982 Annual Report
The following is an excerpt of the 1982 Annual Report of the Commission on Judicial Qualifications. As of July 1, 1983, significant changes have been made on the structure and various other aspects of Commission organization. For the full 1982 Report or more information on the newly instituted changes, contact the Commission office, Colorado Judicial Bldg., 2 E. 14th Ave., Room 215, Denver, CO 80203.
The Commission on Judicial Qualifications was created in 1966 when Colorado voters approved an amendment to the state constitution that replaced the political process of electing judges with a system based on merit selection, appointment and retention. The Commission's purpose is to investigate and act upon allegations of improper conduct by judges. At the time it was created, only five other states had disciplinary commissions to supplement impeachment as the traditional method of removing judges. Now, all of the states and the District of Columbia have judicial disciplinary commissions.
The Commission presently consists of nine members: three district court judges and two county court judges appointed by the Supreme court; two lawyers, each having practiced for at least ten years in Colorado, appointed by majority action of the Governor, the Chief Justice and the Attorney General; and two citizen members, who cannot be judges or attorneys, appointed by the Governor. All members are appointed for four-year terms.
The voters again amended the Constitution in November, 1982, causing substantial changes in the commission's procedures and membership that will become effective on July 1, 1983. At that time, the name of the commission will be changed to the Commission on Judicial Discipline, and its membership will be expanded from nine to ten members. The new commission will be comprised of two county judges, two district judges, two attorneys and four citizens.
Commission members serve without salary, but receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses.
The Commission's staff consists of a part-time executive director and a full-time administrative secretary. The Commission also employs investigators and examiners for formal hearings as needed. While the Commission...
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