Tag: Justice Susan Blanco
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Colorado justices acknowledge judge’s misunderstanding of law in eminent domain case
Members of the Colorado Supreme Court appeared to agree on Tuesday that a Douglas County judge incorrectly believed he lacked the authority to allow a property owner to pursue evidence challenging a government entity’s legal right to take the property through eminent domain. But during oral arguments, multiple justices bristled when an attorney for the…
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Colorado justices, lawyers speak with rural students through outreach program
Members of the Colorado Supreme Court appeared before students from eight rural schools on April 16 to hear a pair of cases, field questions, and mark the first time the state’s newest justice participated in the long-running program. “I had such a unique opportunity to get to work with so many people in my career.…
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Colorado justices skeptical of snowboarder’s bid to revive injury lawsuit after signing new waiver
The Colorado Supreme Court seemed to agree on Thursday that a plaintiff is not entitled to continue his snowboarding injury lawsuit because he purchased another pass in the middle of litigation that released all past legal claims. “It says you’re releasing anything which has happened up to now. It seems pretty plain language what it…
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Colorado Supreme Court appears OK with revised ‘reasonable doubt’ instruction
The Colorado Supreme Court appeared largely comfortable on Thursday with the recently revised definition of “reasonable doubt” that is now part of the template jury instructions for criminal cases. To date, multiple Court of Appeals decisions have endorsed the constitutionality of the new phrasing, which resembles the instruction given in Colorado’s federal trial court. U.S.…
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Colorado Supreme Court concerned about police overreach in interrogations
Some members of the Colorado Supreme Court appeared hesitant on Tuesday to endorse the ability of police to interrogate a suspect after they have obtained a court order authorizing only the collection of physical evidence. Under Colorado’s criminal rules, law enforcement may obtain an order for “nontestimonial identification,” allowing them to pursue a person’s fingerprints, blood specimen,…
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Colorado Supreme Court weighs transgender services case involving Children’s Hospital and federal threats
Some members of the Colorado Supreme Court expressed discomfort on April 14 with having to decide whether to order Children’s Hospital Colorado to resume providing certain services to transgender children, which could trigger a “death sentence” if the federal government imposes consequences. “I’m assuming there’s no middle ground here with the federal administration, in terms…
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Colorado justices weigh constitutionality of unique disclosure requirement for ballot measures
Members of the Colorado Supreme Court considered on Tuesday whether a unique feature of the state’s campaign finance system categorically violates the First Amendment by requiring the disclosure of a ballot measure committee’s legal representative on advertisements. No on EE — A Bad Deal for Colorado was an issue committee in 2020 that opposed Proposition EE,…
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SCOTUS decides Colorado case, state’s newest justice authors first opinion | COURT CRAWL
Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics’ roundup of news from the third branch of government. The nation’s highest court decided a First Amendment case out of Colorado, plus the state’s newest justice issued her first opinion since joining the Colorado Supreme Court last month. Heard on appeal • The state Supreme Court decided that news organizations…
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Susan Blanco signals views on role of appellate courts in first opinion as Colorado justice
Justice Susan Blanco’s first solo opinion as a new member of the Colorado Supreme Court made clear her view of the guardrails that keep the state’s highest court tethered to the issues it is asked to decide. On Monday, the court issued a 4-3 decision in a criminal appeal. Blanco, while part of the majority,…
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Colorado Supreme Court lifts curtain on decision-making at legal event
Members of the Colorado Supreme Court sat down with lawyers on Wednesday to answer questions about behind-the-scenes topics, including what happens immediately after an appeal is argued, why they might intervene in an ongoing case, and the consequence of a majority flipping from one side to the other. “This is what happens when the court…