Colorado Supreme Court

Marijuana: Paralyzed MMJ patient plans Supreme Court appeal over DISH sacking

Last year, Brandon Coats, a paralyzed medical marijuana patient fired by DISH for failing a drug test, filed a complaint over the issue in Arapahoe District Court. When he lost there, attorney Michael Evans brought the case to the Colorado Court of Appeals. Now, those jurists have also rejected Coa ... More >>

Fetuses-aren't-people lawsuit: Colorado Supreme Court declines to hear the case

The Colorado Supreme Court has declined to hear a case in which Englewood-based Catholic Health Initiatives argued that it couldn't be held liable for the deaths of two unborn babies at one of its hospitals because fetuses are not people. The case was the focus of our recent cover story "The Meaning ... More >>

Taxicab ruling: Mile High Cab wins Supreme Court case, gets another shot at licenses

The 2011 feature "Mean Streets" described allegations of discrimination and abuse at Yellow Cab, the city's oldest taxi company, as well as detailing taxi drivers' inability to find alternatives because the state's Public Utilities Commission made it nearly impossible to start new cab companies. But ... More >>

Playwrights at Work

Foster parents can fully participate in court hearings, state Supreme Court rules

Foster parents are allowed to fully participate in court hearings about whether to terminate biological parents' rights, the Colorado Supreme Court has ruled. The ruling comes out of a case involving a young boy in Montezuma County, who went into foster care after suffering repeated abuse while in t ... More >>

Ward Churchill case: Did he really only want $1 in lawsuit against CU?

Earlier this week, we wrote about the Colorado Supreme Court's ruling against Ward Churchill, despite an earlier verdict in which a jury agreed CU-Boulder had violated the controversial ex-professor's rights by firing him. Of course, the jury only awarded Churchill a dollar, but his lawyer said tha ... More >>

Ward Churchill's Colorado Supreme Court loss shows judges protect the powerful, lawyer says

In June, attorney David Lane appeared before the Colorado Supreme Court to argue that former CU-Boulder professor Ward Churchill should be reinstated, since a jury found his firing to be payback for a controversial 9/11 essay. But on the eve of the latest 9/11 anniversary, the court rejected this b ... More >>

Gun-free CU-Boulder dorms are target areas for criminals, student group says

While some professors are not happy with a policy change that allows students with concealed-carry permits at CU-Boulder to bring guns into their classes, one gun-rights organization has an opposite concern. The most unsafe place on campus, according to Students for Concealed Carry, is the one place ... More >>

CU Denver professor starts petition to ban concealed weapons on campus

Only weeks after the Aurora theater shooting, CU Denver philosophy professor Chad Kautzer has created a petition to stop concealed weapons from being allowed on state campuses. But the two ideas are not connected, he says: Kautzer has been contemplating the response since the Colorado Supreme Court ... More >>

Foreclosure: Initiative 84 passes latest hurdle with Supreme Court's okay

Opponents huffed and puffed, but the Colorado Supreme Court did not allow the Colorado Bankers Association and the Independent Bankers of Colorado to blow the house down on Initiative 84's official language. In a ruling made public yesterday, the court decided to allow the proposed foreclosure amend ... More >>

Foster parent rights: Abuse intervention focus in one of two cases before CO Supreme Court

Earlier this week, we told you the story of a little boy in Montezuma County who suffered horrible abuse in his parents' care and was placed with a foster family. That family eventually intervened in the court case to terminate the parents' rights, offering information and cross-examining witnesses. ... More >>

Ward Churchill's CU rehiring bid reaches Colorado Supreme Court

This afternoon, just over a year after the Colorado Supreme Court agreed to hear the Ward Churchill case, attorney David Lane will appear before the jurists to argue why the professor, who was fired by CU-Boulder for reasons he sees as payback for a controversial 911 essay, should get his old job ba ... More >>

Colorado Supreme Court to decide if foster parents can intervene in abuse hearings

When and how should foster parents intervene in court cases involving the children in their care? That's the question at the center of a case that the Colorado Supreme Court will hear tomorrow. It could be said the case started five years ago when the Montezuma County Department of Human Services go ... More >>

Medical marijuana: CO Supreme Court ruling leaves patients unprotected, plaintiffs say

Last year, marijuana activists asked the Colorado Supreme Court to hear the appeal of a precedent-setting case involving MMJ patient Jason Beinor, who was fired from his job for failing a drug test. Now, by a 3-2 vote, the Supremes have declined to take up the matter -- a decision the plaintiffs see ... More >>

Guess where I'm eating Mexican pizza?

If Gustavo Arellano thinks a Mexican hamburger is the best Mexican dish in the United States, we can't wait to hear what he thinks of a Mexican pizza, particularly this sense-searing pile of green chile, molten cheese and ground beef.

Reader: CU Boulder will probably try to outlaw Nerf guns until Supreme Court rules otherwise

In a post yesterday, we noted that the University of Colorado banned Nerf guns as well as the real kind. Now that the Colorado Supreme Court has deemed the latter rule unconstitutional, will foam find a home on campus, too? One of our readers has some ideas about that, and more.

CU must allow real guns on campus two years after banning Nerf guns

The Colorado Supreme Court ruling to allow people with concealed-carry permits to possess guns on University of Colorado campuses will necessitate a major philosophical shift among CU officials. Case in point: Just over two years ago, CU Boulder expanded its weapons ban to include Nerf guns.

Political ads: "Magic words" ruling that boosts 527s disappoints Colorado Ethics Watch

The Colorado Supreme Court has ruled that political organizations dubbed 527s can spend unlimited funds for state candidates as long as the ads they're financing don't include so-called "magic words" such as "vote for" or "defeat." The decision is a disappointment for Colorado Ethics Watch, which b ... More >>

Ernest House Jr. back at the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs

Ernest House Jr.​It turned out to be tempest in a teepee. Two months after Lieutenant Governor Joe Garcia removed Carol Harvey as executive secretary of the Colorado Commission or Indian Affairs, which his office oversees, Ernest House Jr. has been ratified as the new executive secretary. An ... More >>

Colorado Supreme Court: Neglected and abused kids shouldn't trust their lawyers

Flickr​One of the most basic principles of the American legal system is the guarantee that what you tell the attorney representing you is confidential and can't be disclosed without your permission. That's an absolute. Unless, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled this week, you happen to be a vuln ... More >>

Medical marijuana: CO Supreme Court asked to review Jason Beinor case about MMJ rights

At first, medical marijuana patient Jason Beinor thought losing a court fight over unemployment benefits withheld from him because he failed a drug test was no big deal. But it now looks as if his case could hold the key to cementing MMJ rights in Colorado -- or not. Which is why Beinor's lawyer is ... More >>

Despite challenge, Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act of 2012 keeps its name (for now)

Doug Bruce​As we mentioned earlier this week, Colorado Springs conservative Douglas Bruce had petitioned the Colorado Title Board to change the title of the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act of 2012 to include TABOR-related tax language. The hearing on that challenge was yesterday morning, b ... More >>

Reader: Ward Churchill's firing deserved even if he didn't compare 9/11 victims to a Nazi

Churchill.​Yesterday, attorney David Lane celebrated the Colorado Supreme Court's decision to consider three arguments in his bid to get ex-professor Ward Churchill reinstated at CU-Boulder. One less-than-sympathetic reader added a fourth.

ACLU objects to Ken Buck's comments after $295K Operations Numbers Game settlement

Ken Buck.​In 2008, the Weld County Sheriff's Office raided Amalia's Translation and Tax Service in Greeley as part of Operations Numbers Game, an effort to bust identity thieves who were also undocumented immigrants. The ACLU filed suit over the action -- and this week, Weld District Attorney/ ... More >>

Medical marijuana: Colorado Supreme Court rejects petition challenging MMJ laws

​That was fast. Last week, MMJ advocates represented by attorney Andrew Reid petitioned the Colorado Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of the state's medical marijuana laws. But the Supremes have already rejected this bid, forcing Reid and his clients to take a much slower path t ... More >>

Medical marijuana: Petition asks CO Supreme Court to rule state's MMJ laws unconstitutional

​Governor Bill Ritter signed Colorado's medical marijuana bills into law this past June -- and ever since then, advocacy organizations such as the Cannabis Therapy Institute have challenged many of the legislation's provisions and the regulations being written for them. Now, such arguments hav ... More >>

Colorado Ethics Watch case about political ads' "magic words" heads to state supreme court

Luis Toro.​Colorado Ethics Watch is on a roll. Back in September, the organization successfully argued that Clear the Bench Colorado, which wanted to throw the bums off the Colorado Supreme Court, should have registered as a political committee subject to donation limits rather than an issues ... More >>

Denver voter guide helps to clear the bench mystery: Kenny Be's Worst-Case Scenario

Jeering the judges to help cheer the bench.​ After the election-day stress of choosing the least objectionable candidate and making sense of the Amendments, voters are asked to decide upon the retention of a mysterious list of unknown State, District and County judges. In an effort to help edu ... More >>

Monica Marquez Supreme Court selection disappoints Clear the Bench's Matt Arnold

Monica Marquez.​Clear the Bench Colorado's Matt Arnold -- the man behind an effort to vote out three current Supreme Court justices for allegedly unconstitutional rulings -- was far less than thrilled by Governor Bill Ritter's appointment of Monica Marquez to the court. Indeed, he says that i ... More >>

Smoking ban on stage: The Supreme Court declines to hear Curious Theatre's case

A Flickr photoYou won't be seeing these on the Curious Theatre stage.​In December, we told you about the Colorado Supreme Court's ruling against the Curious Theatre, which had argued that extending the state's smoking ban to the stage improperly infringed on creative expression. Curious appea ... More >>

On-stage actors can't smoke 'em if they got 'em, says Colorado Supreme Court

A Flickr photoMaybe it'd be best if you thespians didn't inhale.​Update, 4:09 p.m.: Attorney Bruce Jones, who represented Curious Theatre in this case, has just shared his comments on the opinion. Look below to read his views. Since 2006, the Colorado Clear Indoor Air Act has extended to acto ... More >>

A creche course in why the Nativity gets to stay on the steps of Denver's City Hall

Kink in the System

Commerce City is taking the Enclave BDSM club all the way to the Supreme Court.

Beyond Contempt

The child-protection system wants to shut down family-rights activist Suzanne Shell. And vice versa.

Pop Quiz

Heard Words
December 4, 2003

The Waiting Game

Justice will be served in the 18th Judicial District -- eventually.

Best Decision by the Colorado Supreme Court

Jurors Can Ask Questions

Shrine On

You must remember this.

Follow That Story

Back at the Ranch

Divorced From Reality

A Colorado Supreme Court commission says this state's justice system could do more to help families -- starting with the parents.

Off Limits

Gas pains

Judge and Jury

With several controversial cases coming up, Colorado's death-penalty decision moves to a three-judge panel.

Murderers' Row

Until two years ago, Colorado juries weighed whether men deserved to die. Now judges decide their fate.

Good Grieve!

Overloaded with complaints about attorneys, the Colorado Supreme Court decides to change the rules.

A Lack of Supporting Evidence

Colorado gets tough on deadbeat parents--but what if they happen to be lawyers?

Adding Insult to Injury

Pulling the plug on attorney advertising could get somebody sued -- including the State of Colorado

Off Limits

GIVE ME A BREAK

OFF LIMITS

A MOUNTAIN OF TROUBLE

FOR YEARS THE LEGAL BATTLE OVER THE TAYLOR RANCH PITTED THE LOCALS AGAINST A WEALTHY OUTSIDER. NOW THEY'RE FIGHTING THE STATE--AND EACH OTHER.THIS LAND IS MY LAND FOR SALE: 77,000 ACRES. COLORFUL HISTORY. EASY ACCESS TO LOCAL RANGE WAR. INQUIRE WITHIN.