Clear The Bench Colorado Director Matt Arnold appeared before the House Veterans & Military Affairs Committee on Tuesday to testify in opposition to the “Mary-mandering” bill (HB10-1408 Repeal Congressional Districting Criteria) that would remove from state law several factors designed to ensure fair and impartial review by courts concerning legislative district boundaries.

Committee Chair Nancy Todd (HD-41) appeared pre-disposed to disallow citizen testimony (beyond the two individuals who had signed up to testify the previous week), but when she left the room to pursue other business, Vice-Chair Jeanne Labuda announced that citizens who had signed up to testify would be allowed to make brief (3-minute) statements. (An interesting - and somewhat amusing - interplay occurred earlier when Rep. Labuda (HD-1) erroneously stated that the Colorado Bar Association vetted candidates for judicial office, and was later corrected by another witness [El Paso County Commissioner Wayne Williams] who educated her on the actual process, which is conducted by a bipartisan (by statute) nominating commission jointly appointed by the Governor, Attorney General, and Chief Justice).

The presence of citizens and alternative-media organizations equipped with cameras and recording equipment apparently was a deciding factor in allowing additional citizen testimony - a victory for transparency and representative government.

Another citizen present at the hearing captured this video recording of Clear The Bench Colorado Director Matt Arnold’s testimony before the committee.

Don’t let the courts “Mary-mander” away your rights to fair representation - exercise your right to vote “NO” this November on the 4 ‘unjust justices’ of the Colorado Supreme Court’s “Mullarkey Majority” (Justices Michael Bender, Alex Martinez, Nancy Rice, and Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey) who need YOUR approval to continue taking away your constitutional rights: your right to vote on tax increases, your right to defend your home or business from against eminent domain abuse, your right to fair representation in government, and your right to enjoy the benefits of the rule of law, instead of suffering under rule by activist, agenda-driven “justices.”  Support Clear The Bench Colorado with your comments (Sound Off!) and your contributions - and vote “NO” on retaining these unjust justices on the bench for another 10-year term!

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