Q: Who handles complaints against judges in Colorado?
A: In Colorado, several different commissions handle complaints against judges depending on the jurisdiction:
- The Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline handles complaints about supreme court justices, court of appeals judges, district court judges, and county court judges in all counties except Denver.
- The Denver County Court Judicial Discipline Commission handles complaints about Denver County Court judges and magistrates.
- The Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel handles complaints about municipal judges, administrative law judges, and magistrates in all locations except Denver.
Q: What types of complaints can be filed against a judge?
A: A complaint can be filed against a judge for intentional misconduct, repeatedly failing to do their job, inappropriate behavior, or breaking the Code of Judicial Conduct.
Generally, complaints can’t be filed just because of disagreement with a judge's decisions in a court case. Instead, those decisions must be challenged by filing an appeal to a higher court, and that is a different process.
Q: Who can file a complaint against a judge?
A: Anyone can file a complaint against a judge.
Q: How are complaints filed and handled?
A: Complaints against a judge must be submitted to the commission in writing and clearly describe the alleged misconduct. The commission investigates credible allegations of misconduct, and typically dismisses those that are groundless, frivolous, or outside the commission’s jurisdiction (such as complaints about a judge's decisions in a court case).
If the commission finds that misconduct occurred, it can issue a private or public reprimand of the judge, or recommend to the supreme court that the judge be publicly censured, suspended, or removed. If the complaint involves criminal behavior, the commission can refer it to law enforcement.
A judge who faces discipline has the right to appeal the commission's decision.
Generally, these proceedings are kept confidential, but they become public if the commission recommends a public censure, suspension, or removal of the judge.
For more information about the judicial discipline commissions, or to volunteer to serve on one, visit these websites:
- Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline, https://ccjd.colorado.gov/. The commission's annual reports are located at https://ccjd.colorado.gov/annual-reports.
- Denver County Court Judicial Discipline Commission, https://www.denvercountycourt.org/judicial-discipline/.
- Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel, https://www.coloradosupremecourt.com/.
- Citizens Guide to Judicial Complaints, https://leg.colorado.gov/publications/citizens-guide-judicial-complaints-18-01.
- Application to volunteer for the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline, https://www.colorado.gov/governor/boards-commissions-application.
- Application to volunteer for the Denver County Court Judicial Discipline Commission, https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Mayors-Office/About/Boards-and-Commissions/Judicial-Discipline-Commission-Denver-County-Court.
