January 29, 2025 — CJI board member Hon. Cynthia Mares (ret.) testified in front of the Colorado Senate Judiciary Committee in favor of Senate Bill 25-024, bipartisan legislation that calls for an increase to the number of state court judges. The bill, if passed, would create 29 new judgeships across the state over the next two years to address short staffing and heavy dockets.
Speaking on behalf of CJI, Mares shared the organization's perspective that more judges will help Colorado maintain the excellence of its courts in providing justice and the prompt resolution of disputes for Colorado's citizens. "Even in the face of a formidable budget deficit, CJI trusts the legislature will find a way to determine financial priorities, including this one, that best serve the citizens of Colorado," Mares said.
Mares also shared her own professional and personal experiences as a judge, now retired, who has endured the heavy workload, isolation, burnout, missed family time, and more that have made that job more and more difficult.
Other witnesses at the Judiciary Committee hearing included Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Monica Marquez, several other sitting judges, representatives from the Colorado Bar Association's family law and juvenile law sections, the directors of Colorado Legal Services, the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline, and the Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation, and George Brauchler, the district attorney in the new 23rd Judicial District. All testified in favor of the bill.
The Judiciary Committee voted 6-1 in favor of advancing the bill to the Senate Appropriations Committee. CJI will continue to monitor the bill's progress and advocate for its enactment into law.
