A scandal involving the Colorado judicial branch, including the Colorado Supreme Court, made headlines in 2019. It was revealed that then-Chief Justice Nathan Coats was prepared to offer a multi-million dollar consulting contract to Mindy Masias, who was facing disciplinary action, in exchange for her silence on certain irregularities. This scandal led to a bipartisan legislative committee being formed to investigate and address the issues.
The Supreme Court commissioned reports to investigate the scandal, costing taxpayers roughly $500,000. Chief Justice Brian Boatright was criticized for lack of transparency and compromising the judicial disciplinary process. Boatright’s handling of the situation, including hiring private counsel to investigate the allegations, raised concerns about impartiality and compliance with judicial rules.
A former judge, Dennis Maes, filed a Request for Evaluation with the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline (CCJD) alleging misconduct by Boatright. However, after a lengthy process, the allegations were dismissed by the CCJD, leaving Maes feeling marginalized and disappointed in the lack of transparency and accountability within the judicial system.
Maes highlights the need to remove the Colorado Supreme Court from oversight of judicial misconduct to prevent similar scandals in the future. The handling of the Pay for Silence scandal raises questions about the integrity and credibility of the judiciary and the need for reforms to ensure accountability and fairness.