Defense expenses paid for by taxpayers used by DA

Former 11th Judicial District Attorney Linda Stanley has been disbarred by a branch of the Colorado Supreme Court, leading to questions about using taxpayer money to pay her legal defense fees. Stanley paid over $50,000 in legal bills using funds from her office budget. Fremont County commissioners are seeking repayment of the misappropriated funds. The investigation is ongoing, with commissioners determining the exact amount to be recovered. Stanley’s lawyer has advised her not to speak with the media after her disbarment, but stated that she will appeal the ruling. The lawyer argues that it was legally appropriate for Stanley to use office budget funds for her legal defense, as the ethics complaints arose from her role as District Attorney. Despite the disbarment, the lawyer believes that Stanley is entitled to reimbursement for legal fees related to matters successfully found in her favor. The complex legal issue surrounding the payment of legal fees from the office budget is still being examined by county commissioners. The County intends to recover all misappropriated funds from Stanley. The case continues to evolve, and updates can be found on 9NEWS.com.

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