Colorado Supreme Court Decisions
The Colorado Supreme Court consists of seven justices, including a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices. All seven of the justices hear each case brought before the Supreme Court in a full panel, known as en banc review. These cases generally involve appeals from the Colorado Court of Appeals, but the Colorado Supreme Court also has direct jurisdiction over certain types of cases identified by Article VI of the Colorado Constitution. These include habeas corpus cases, criminal appeals, challenges to the constitutionality of statutes, Public Utilities Commission matters, and matters involving judicial misconduct, among others. The Colorado Supreme Court has the exclusive authority to set rules of practice and procedure that govern civil and criminal cases in courts throughout the state.
Justices on the Court are appointed by the Governor of Colorado, rather than being elected by voters. When a vacancy arises, the Colorado Supreme Court Nominating Commission must meet within 30 days to review candidates. To be eligible, a candidate must be under 72 years old, registered to vote in Colorado, and licensed to practice law in the state for the last five years. Once the Commission selects two or three finalists, the Governor will choose the new justice from that group. If the Governor does not make a selection, the current Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court will make the decision. Once a justice has been selected, they will serve for at least two years and then seek retention in the next general election. If they are retained, they will go through a retention election every 10 years thereafter.
The Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court serves as the chair of the Colorado Supreme Court Nominating Commission. The Chief Justice appoints chief judges in the Court of Appeals and district courts, and the Chief Justice has the authority to appoint other judges to serve on state courts. The other justices elect the Chief Justice.
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Recent Decisions From the Colorado Supreme Court
Date: May 6, 2024
Citation: 2024 CO 23
Docket Number: 22SA236
Date: May 6, 2024
Citation: 2024 CO 27
Docket Number: 22SC499
Justia Opinion Summary: John Doe sued the University of Denver (DU) after he was expelled for allegedly engaging in nonconsensual sexual contact with another student, Jane Roe. Doe claimed that DU breached its contract with him by failing to…
Date: May 6, 2024
Citation: 2024 CO 26
Docket Number: 22SC520
Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around Joseph Wayne Washington, who was charged with multiple crimes including murder, drug possession, witness tampering, violation of a protection order, and solicitation of murder. Washington argued…
Date: May 6, 2024
Citation: 2024 CO 25
Docket Number: 22SC673
Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around Taunia Marie Whiteaker, who was convicted of second degree burglary, first degree criminal trespass, third degree assault, and harassment following a physical altercation at her mother-in-law's…
Date: May 6, 2024
Citation: 2024 CO 28
Docket Number: 22SC805
Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around the ownership of mineral rights beneath a dedicated street in Greeley, Colorado. The dispute arose between Great Northern Properties, LLLP (GNP) and Extraction Oil and Gas, Inc., Richmark Energy…
Date: May 6, 2024
Citation: 2024 CO 24
Docket Number: 23SA167
Justia Opinion Summary: This case involves a dispute over the dissolution of a marriage between Barbara Henderson Green and Jeffry Howard Green. The couple was married in Connecticut in 1982 and lived in Nebraska for most of their marriage. In…
Date: April 22, 2024
Citation: 2024 CO 22
Docket Number: 22SC639
Justia Opinion Summary: In a medical malpractice case, the plaintiff, Susan Ann Scholle, acting as the personal representative for the Estate of Daniel B. Scholle, sued the defendants, Edward Ehrichs, M.D.; Michael Rauzzino, M.D.; and…
Date: April 22, 2024
Citation: 2024 CO 21
Docket Number: 23SA137
Date: April 15, 2024
Citation: 2024 CO 20
Docket Number: 22SC580
Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves Glen Gary Montoya, who was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI). After initially agreeing to a blood test, Montoya later refused. However, after the nurse left, he changed his mind…
Date: April 8, 2024
Citation: 2024 CO 19
Docket Number: 22SC787
Justia Opinion Summary: In November 2015, Mark Kinslow hit Daniala Mohammadi with his car while she was riding her bicycle. Mohammadi, who was a minor at the time of the accident, sued Kinslow in December 2019, more than two years but less than…
Date: April 8, 2024
Citation: 2024 CO 18
Docket Number: 23SA121
Justia Opinion Summary: Brandon Mason Bohler was charged with first-degree murder after stabbing his roommate to death. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. During his arrest, Bohler made statements to the police which were later…
Date: March 25, 2024
Citation: 2024 CO 6M
Docket Number: 22SC272
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court of the State of Colorado affirmed a lower court's restitution order, ruling that the defendant was the proximate cause of the victim's pecuniary loss. The defendant, Arnold Roman Martinez, had stolen a…
Date: March 25, 2024
Citation: 2024 CO 17
Docket Number: 22SC450
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court of the State of Colorado reviewed a case involving an insurance dispute over uninsured/underinsured motorist ("UM/UIM") benefits in a specialty antique/classic-car policy. The plaintiff, Beverly Hughes,…
Date: March 25, 2024
Citation: 2024 CO 16
Docket Number: 22SC549
Justia Opinion Summary: A high school student, identified as J.G., was required to undergo daily searches for weapons as part of a safety plan after committing firearm-related offenses. However, when J.G. returned to school for his tenth-grade…
Date: March 25, 2024
Citation: 2024 CO 15
Docket Number: 23SA273
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court of Colorado examined the case of Carlos Ray Maes, who was charged with six felony counts. A magistrate presided over the preliminary hearing and found that probable cause existed for each of the…
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
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