Judicial Reform Efforts in Colorado May Lead to an Ombuds Program

An ad hoc, bi-partisan committee of Colorado legislators is working on several recommendations to reform the state's judicial discipline system. The reform efforts have been prompted by conflict between the Colorado Commission on Judicial Disclosure and the Colorado Supreme Court arising out of widespread allegations of judicial misconduct. In addition to two bills heading to the Colorado General Assembly, the committee is also working on a proposal to create an Organizational Ombuds program for the judicial branch. 

In an editorial for The Denver Post, the committee's co-chairs said that both political parties had committed to work on the issue in the 2023 session. 

The Colorado Springs Gazette reported: 

A third measure of proposed changes would have created an independent ombudsman’s office to walk complainants through the process and keep them updated. Members of the interim committee instead said the measure needed more work at the statehouse. The Judicial Department on Friday confirmed it has plans to create such an office for nonjudicial complaints by its employees. An investigation earlier this year determined the department suffered from employee fears of retaliation for reporting misconduct and insufficient avenues for safe reporting. 

“The department is in the planning stages of an organizational ombudsman office or function to provide a safe landing place, support, and resources for employees involved in conflicts with other employees,” spokesman Jon Sarche said in an email. “An ombudsman office or function regarding a judge’s conduct should be outside and independent of the Judicial Department. The department has not proposed and is not discussing an internal ombudsman function for issues related to the conduct of judges.”

(Denver Post; CP Gazette.)