U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary

Rape prosecution story: Denver DA, 7News trade inaccuracy charges

Yesterday, we reported about 7News' story on the rate of sex-assault prosecutions under Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey, whose on-camera ripping of reporter Keli Rabon was included online; see our original coverage below. Since then, the tensions between the DA's office and the station hav ... More >>

Videos: 7News shares Mitch Morrissey's criticism of station for rape story

Reporter Keli Rabon's 7News story about the rate at which Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey declines to prosecute sex assault cases would attract attention under any circumstances. But at least as interesting are several videos featuring Morrissey, including an uncut, nine-minutes-plus clip i ... More >>

Jacqueline Gallegos's son wants death penalty for killer of his mom

In recent days, members of Colorado's general assembly have been battling over legislation intended to outlaw the death penalty in Colorado. Yesterday, however, the proposal failed in the House Judiciary Committee. This development distressed the Colorado ACLU; see the group's statement below. But ... More >>

Death penalty battle heats up at the State Capitol

In more than eight hours of emotional testimony that stretched well into the evening, activists and faith groups seeking to abolish the death penalty in Colorado squared off against prosecutors and other backers of the ultimate punishment yesterday -- with family members of homicide victims speaking ... More >>

Child and Family Investigators clause in reform bill draws fire from legal lobby

Figuring some modest improvement is better than none, the Colorado House Judiciary Committee passed along a bill yesterday that's intended to make child and family investigators (CFI) and other professionals operating in family court more accountable -- after first amending and watering down its mos ... More >>

The problems with SOPA and its sweeping side effects

Remember that mixtape you made for your high-school sweetheart? Or that time you taped a movie off cable? Turns out you were breaking the law, pirating copyrighted materials without permission. While the statute of limitations has probably long passed on your crimes of teenage passion, entertainme ... More >>

Civil unions: One Colorado director Brad Clark glad for GOP group in favor of them

one-colorado.org​ The defeat of a bill to legalize civil unions in the last legislative session was a heart-breaker for those in favor of marriage equality. After passing in the Senate, the bill was defeated in a House committee by one vote -- with all six of the panel's Republicans voting aga ... More >>

Stop Online Piracy Act headed for the House

​The Protect IP Bill (S. 968), which was introduced back in May, was delayed after Sen. Ron Wyden argued it might infringe on free speech. While it appears that bill has been halted for the moment, it has been replaced with a similar one, The Stop Online Piracy Act (aka E-Parasites Act) , whic ... More >>

Medical marijuana: Rob Corry wouldn't sign MMJ clean-up bill if he were John Hickenlooper

Rob Corry.​Last October, attorney Rob Corry wrote to John Hickenlooper to ask the then-Denver mayor to stop prosecuting Lacy Lee, a woman busted for smoking pot at a pro-cannabis rally; the case was later dropped. Now, Corry's written to Hick again, this time to offer expert analysis on HB 104 ... More >>

Adultery and fornication: Can Coloradans tell the difference?

​Before there was an Internet, there were people with long memories -- and two of them, former lawmakers John Bermingham and Jerry Kopel, have amazing stories of the last time Colorado grappled with the issues of adultery and fornication -- if there is any difference between the two.

Midwifery: Bill to expand midwives' scope of practice passes House committee unanimously

​ A bill to expand midwives' scope of practice in Colorado that's seen its fair share of compromises may have had its easiest day in the spotlight yesterday. After several hours of testimony and questions about infant death rates and medical liability insurance, the House Judiciary Committee ... More >>

B.J. Nikkel: Facebook page claims blood will be on her hands for helping kill Civil Union Act

B.J. Nikkel.​After the Colorado Civil Union Act was approved by the Senate, sponsor Pat Steadman predicted that it would pass the House if not blocked by "extremists." However, the measure died in the judiciary committee, with B.J. Nikkel and other Republican members voting against it. The ang ... More >>

The GOP members of the House Judiciary Committee will go down in history -- as shmucks

Bob Gardner​It was a foregone conclusion from the beginning. Earlier this year, state representative Mark Ferrandino and state senator Pat Steadman introduced a bill that would have allowed civil unions in Colorado and given gay couples the same right to make a legal commitment as heterosexu ... More >>

Medical marijuana advocates line up to oppose HB 1261, THC driving limits bill (PHOTOS)

Big pics below.​Earlier today, we shared attorney Rob Corry's objections to HB 1261, a bill to set THC driving limits. The measure passed out of committee 6-2. Now, here's a look inside the hearing, with photos and captions courtesy of the Cannabis Therapy Institute.

Marijuana advocates to argue against Claire Levy bill setting THC driving-impairment limits

Claire Levy.​HB 1261, Representative Claire Levy's bill to establish THC driving limits, comes up for public comment on Thursday afternoon, and marijuana advocates affiliated with the Cannabis Therapy Institute are likely to show up in force to oppose it. Why? Among other reasons, the organiza ... More >>

Medical marijuana: HB 1250 edibles bill hearing stars Cap'n Chronic, Pot Tarts (PHOTOS)

Pot Tarts.​In a Monday interview about HB 1250, co-sponsoring Representative Cindy Acree said the bill would outlaw the medical marijuana edibles business. But between her Westword interview and yesterday's hearing, the focus switched from a total ban to marketing and labeling -- and according ... More >>

Medical marijuana: Rep. Cindy Acree says MMJ edibles ban needed to protect children, patients

Cindy Acree.​We recently told you about HB 1250, a bill that appeared to ban the medical marijuana edibles industry in Colorado. Since then, there's been debate among MMJ community members -- fueled in part by articles like this -- about whether or not that was true. But in advance of today's ... More >>

Medical marijuana: Rep. Claire Levy talks about HB 1261, which sets driving limits for THC

Claire Levy.​Last December, Representative Claire Levy floated the idea of a bill setting a marijuana-impairment standard for Colorado drivers. This notion has coalesced into HB 1261, which establishes an impairment limit of 5 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood; read it below. Levy's al ... More >>

Medical marijuana: Advocates differ about MMJ cleanup bill HB 1043 hearing (PHOTOS)

Big pics below.​Some very different takes on yesterday's judiciary committee hearing on HB 1043, a medical marijuana bill co-sponsored by Representative Tom Massey and Senator Pat Steadman. Jill Lamoureux, who also weighed in on a contentious health department advisory meeting, doesn't think t ... More >>

Medical Marijuana Assistance Program of the Rockies outlines legislative strategy

Vincent Palazzotto.​Update below: Last week, Medical Marijuana Assistance Program of the Rockies co-founder Vincent Palazzotto shared his relief that a health department advisory committee struck draft language that might have outlawed mobile MMJ clinics like one his organization uses. Now, h ... More >>

Return to Sender

What would comprehensive immigration reform look like if the Feds got off their duffs?

Jared Polis questions attorney general Eric Holder about Jeff Sweetin, medical marijuana

When Congressman Jared Polis got his chance to quiz Attorney General Eric Holder during his first appearance on the U.S. House judiciary committee yesterday, he hit on two topics of particular interest to his Boulder area constituency -- medical marijuana and immigration. He began by noting his Feb ... More >>

Medical marijuana fight: Health department lobbies against MMJ use in treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder

Photo by John J. Kruzel, courtesy of the U.S. Defense DepartmentThe use of the lifelike simulator shown here has been approved for PTSD treatment.​Update, 4:00 p.m.: Representative Sal Pace's amendment relating to medical marijuana and post-traumatic stress disorder has been defeated, and the ... More >>

"Rocky Mountain High" deserves to be our official state song -- with these lyrics

Rob Corry says Chris Bartkowicz medical marijuana bust proof the DEA has gone rogue

Rob Corry doesn't want the DEA to go rogue anymore.​You didn't think attorney Rob Corry would remain silent after the Drug Enforcement Administration raid on the home of Chris Bartkowicz, did you? After all, Corry's among the most vocal of all Colorado's medical marijuana advocates, and if he ... More >>

Can a veterans court help former GIs find justice here at home?

Best Scandal

University of Colorado's Rapecruitment Program

Paying the Price

Major gas companies are driving away independent operators, all in the name of greed.

Letters to the Editor

From the week of October 5.

Off Limits

Women's Work

Colorado activists struck first on domestic violence.

The Marlboro Woman

The AG's campaign fund is nicotine-stained--and critics say she's dragging her feet on tobacco suits.

HOME AGAIN, HOME AGAIN

HOW THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTEMPTS TO "REUNIFY" CHILDREN WITH THEIR PARENTS HURT KIDS AS MUCH AS THEY HELP THEM.

THE SNIT HITS THE FAN

WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THOSE CALLS BY PAT SCHROEDER FOR INVESTIGATIONS? NOT A WHOLE LOT.

WHO'S THE BOSS?

THE BATTLE LINES ARE FORMING IN THE BREWING POLITICAL SKIRMISH OVER PARENTS' RIGHTS.

DEAD BALL ERA

A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN

JAIL BREAK

A FRUSTRATED CRITIC MAKES HIS ESCAPE FROM THE STATE'S PRISON PANEL.