Colorado Legislature Defunds Unfilled Courts Ombuds

Last week, the Colorado State House of Representatives cut the funding for the Office of Judicial Ombudsman. The program, which was approved in 2023, had a $400,000 budget, but had never been opened. Legislators, working to cover a $1.2 billion state shortfall were happy to reclaim the money. It's unclear why the Judicial Ombudsman was never appointed. According to the Colorado Sun, three of the four bill sponsors — two of whom were supposedly appointed to the board — are no longer in the General Assembly. (Colorado Sun; Joint Budget Cmte Memo.)

Related post: Judicial Reform Efforts in Colorado May Lead to an Ombuds Program; Colorado's Chief Justice Says Reforms to Include Ombuds.