Tag: jury trial
-
El Paso County man’s concerns of bias did not entitle him to forgo jury trial, appeals court rules
Colorado’s second-highest court ruled earlier this month that a defendant in El Paso County did not have the right to unilaterally choose a trial by judge, rather than trial by jury, amid concerns that jurors would not treat him fairly. Jonathan Yamar Best is serving 20 years to life in prison after a jury convicted…
-
Appeals court declares automatic reversal not required after Jeffco judge forgot to swear in jurors
For the first time on Thursday, Colorado’s second-highest court determined a criminal defendant’s convictions are not subject to automatic reversal if a trial judge neglects to swear in the jury. A three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals noted the U.S. Supreme Court has never explicitly recognized the constitutional right to a sworn jury. Although…
-
Appeals court says trial judges may retroactively justify excluding public from courtrooms
In a move that potentially tees up the question for the state Supreme Court to resolve, Colorado’s second-highest court on Thursday ruled that judges who exclude members of the public from trial on questionable grounds may have the opportunity to justify their actions on appeal. The Sixth Amendment guarantees criminal defendants the right to a…
-
Federal judge balks at idea of swapping plaintiff, defendant days before C-470 express lanes trial
A federal judge on Thursday refused a bizarre request to let the defendant become the plaintiff in a trial over who breached what contract in the construction of the C-470 express toll lanes south of Denver. Originally, AECOM Technical Services, Inc. filed suit for breach of contract, claiming it was owed over $5 million from…