Clear The Bench Colorado Director Matt Arnold discusses the impact of Colorado Supreme Court rulings leading to a massive expansion of government power (at the expense of YOUR constitutional rights) and vastly increased taxation (such as the “Mill Levy Tax Freeze” property tax increase, the “Dirty Dozen” tax increases and of course the Colorado Car Tax (er, “vehicle registration fee”) increase, along with the dominant role of the Colorado Supreme Court in determining the boundaries of our legislative districts (at both the State and Federal level) - deciding how YOU will be represented in Congress and in the Colorado Legislature - at the Republican Women of District 2 luncheon Saturday starting at 11:30.

The Colorado Supreme Court - and particularly, the Chief Justice - exercises enormous power (”clout”) over the lives of Colorado citizens.  The current majority has repeatedly demonstrated that it does not exercise this power with restraint or consideration for your constitutional rights - ruling consistently against individual protections and in favor of expanded government power.  Upholding tax increases (such as the “Mill Levy Tax Freeze” property tax increase, or the “Dirty Dozen” new tax laws) imposed without the required vote of the people, enabling taxes to be collected under the guise of “fees” (such as the Colorado Car Tax), expanding eminent domain abuse to seize people’s property, and grabbing the (legislative) power to draw up voting districts (aided by the recent “Mary-mandering” bill) - this court is acting like rulers, with you as the subjects; re-writing the laws, instead of upholding them.

Be a citizen, not a subject - exercise your right to vote “NO” this November on the four ‘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 against seizure via eminent domain abuse, your right to be fairly represented in the legislature and Congress, 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 giving these unjust justices another 10-year term!

An appropriate group and venue, considering that a year ago, only the wildest of optimists would have given ANY chance for Clear The Bench Colorado to have much impact at all, much less lead to the retirement under pressure of the Colorado Supreme Court’s Chief Justice…

Clear The Bench Colorado Director Matt Arnold discusses the impact of Colorado Supreme Court rulings leading to a massive expansion of government power (at the expense of YOUR constitutional rights) and vastly increased taxation (such as the “Mill Levy Tax Freeze” property tax increase, the “Dirty Dozen” tax increases and of course the Colorado Car Tax (er, “vehicle registration fee”) increase, along with the dominant role of the Colorado Supreme Court in determining the boundaries of our legislative districts (at both the State and Federal level) - deciding how YOU will be represented in Congress and in the Colorado Legislature - at the Denver Monaco South Optimist Club breakfast Friday morning starting at 7:00 AM.

The Colorado Supreme Court - and particularly, the Chief Justice - exercises enormous power (”clout”) over the lives of Colorado citizens.  The current majority has repeatedly demonstrated that it does not exercise this power with restraint or consideration for your constitutional rights - ruling consistently against individual protections and in favor of expanded government power.  Upholding tax increases (such as the “Mill Levy Tax Freeze” property tax increase, or the “Dirty Dozen” new tax laws) imposed without the required vote of the people, enabling taxes to be collected under the guise of “fees” (such as the Colorado Car Tax), expanding eminent domain abuse to seize people’s property, and grabbing the (legislative) power to draw up voting districts (aided by the recent “Mary-mandering” bill) - this court is acting like rulers, with you as the subjects; re-writing the laws, instead of upholding them.

Be a citizen, not a subject - exercise your right to vote “NO” this November on the four ‘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 against seizure via eminent domain abuse, your right to be fairly represented in the legislature and Congress, 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 giving these unjust justices another 10-year term!

Need more reasons why voting “NO” on the four Colorado Supreme Court justices up for re-election this year are the MOST important votes you can cast in this very important year for Colorado Politics?

Clear The Bench Colorado Director Matt Arnold discusses the impact of Colorado Supreme Court rulings leading to a massive expansion of government power (at the expense of YOUR constitutional rights) and vastly increased taxation (such as the “Mill Levy Tax Freeze” property tax increase, the “Dirty Dozen” tax increases and of course the Colorado Car Tax (er, “vehicle registration fee”) increase, along with the dominant role of the Colorado Supreme Court in determining the boundaries of our legislative districts (at both the State and Federal level) - deciding how YOU will be represented in Congress and in the Colorado Legislature - at the Business Leaders for Responsible Government (BLRG) forum Thursday afternoon starting at 4:00 PM.

The Colorado Supreme Court - and particularly, the Chief Justice - exercises enormous power (”clout”) over the lives of Colorado citizens.  The current majority has repeatedly demonstrated that it does not exercise this power with restraint or consideration for your constitutional rights - ruling consistently against individual protections and in favor of expanded government power.  Upholding tax increases (such as the “Mill Levy Tax Freeze” property tax increase, or the “Dirty Dozen” new tax laws) imposed without the required vote of the people, enabling taxes to be collected under the guise of “fees” (such as the Colorado Car Tax), expanding eminent domain abuse to seize people’s property, and grabbing the (legislative) power to draw up voting districts (aided by the recent “Mary-mandering” bill) - this court is acting like rulers, with you as the subjects; re-writing the laws, instead of upholding them.

Be a citizen, not a subject - exercise your right to vote “NO” this November on the four ‘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 against seizure via eminent domain abuse, your right to be fairly represented in the legislature and Congress, 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 giving these unjust justices another 10-year term!

Need more reasons why voting “NO” on the four Colorado Supreme Court justices up for re-election this year are the MOST important votes you can cast in this very important year for Colorado Politics?

Clear The Bench Colorado Director Matt Arnold discusses the impact of Colorado Supreme Court rulings leading to a massive expansion of government power (at the expense of YOUR constitutional rights) and vastly increased taxation (such as the “Mill Levy Tax Freeze” property tax increase, the “Dirty Dozen” tax increases and of course the Colorado Car Tax (er, “vehicle registration fee”) increase, along with the dominant role of the Colorado Supreme Court in determining the boundaries of our legislative districts (at both the State and Federal level) - deciding how YOU will be represented in Congress and in the Colorado Legislature - on 600KCOL Mornings NewsTalk Radio with Gail Fallen Thursday morning starting at 9:00 AM.

The Colorado Supreme Court - and particularly, the Chief Justice - exercises enormous power (”clout”) over the lives of Colorado citizens.  The current majority has repeatedly demonstrated that it does not exercise this power with restraint or consideration for your constitutional rights - ruling consistently against individual protections and in favor of expanded government power.  Upholding tax increases (such as the “Mill Levy Tax Freeze” property tax increase, or the “Dirty Dozen” new tax laws) imposed without the required vote of the people, enabling taxes to be collected under the guise of “fees” (such as the Colorado Car Tax), expanding eminent domain abuse to seize people’s property, and grabbing the (legislative) power to draw up voting districts (aided by the recent “Mary-mandering” bill) - this court is acting like rulers, with you as the subjects; re-writing the laws, instead of upholding them.

Be a citizen, not a subject - exercise your right to vote “NO” this November on the four ‘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 against seizure via eminent domain abuse, your right to be fairly represented in the legislature and Congress, 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 giving these unjust justices another 10-year term!

“We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.” - Abraham Lincoln

Clear The Bench Colorado has succeeded - through sheer drive and determination (and the support of growing numbers of concerned Colorado citizens) - in raising awareness of the critically important issue of the right of Colorado voters to render their verdict on the performance of our Colorado Supreme Court justices in regularly scheduled judicial retention elections this November.  Coloradoans have a unique and historic opportunity to reject the continued occupation of the Colorado Supreme Court by jurists who do NOT follow the law - the Colorado Constitution, as written.  Failure to act upon this opportunity would result in another 10-year term of office for a majority of state Supreme Court justices who have repeatedly demonstrated their contempt for the very Constitution they are sworn to uphold - and dangerously undermine the rule of law in Colorado.

Clear The Bench Colorado Director Matt Arnold has traveled the state, speaking to numerous grassroots groups and interested organizations to raise awareness of the issues at stake - beginning with the massive (7000+) crowd at the first Tax Day Tea Party rally at the Denver Capitol and continuing through several events throughout the Spring (examples here, and here), Summer (examples here, here, and here) Fall (examples here, here, here, here, and here) and Winter (examples here, and here) of 2009, and continuing into 2010, most prominently at the Tax Day Tea Party rallies on April 15th.

Clear The Bench Colorado Director Matt Arnold also testified in opposition to several unconstitutional tax increase bills (the “Dirty Dozen” tax increases) which exploited an apparent loophole created by the Colorado Supreme Court’s anti-constitutional “Mill Levy Tax Freeze” ruling last year, and most recently testified in opposition to a legislative attempt to remove from state law several factors designed to ensure fair and impartial review by courts of legislative district boundaries (the “Mary-mandering” bill advancing the use of the courts to advance a particular political agenda and deliberately modify legislative boundaries for electoral purposes).

The growing momentum of Clear The Bench Colorado has recently inspired attacks from the left-wing lawsuit/complaint machine “Colorado Ethics Watch” (CEW, pronounced “sue” - it’s what they do) widely discredited as a “cheap political stunt” by news coverage and described as “disingenuous” by the professional nonpartisan staff of the Colorado Secretary of State’s office.

In fact, the defenders of the status-quo anti-constitutional incumbents on the Colorado Supreme Court are SO concerned about the potential loss of their “friends on the court” -

If they get their base motivated they could do some damage to our folks in the judiciary.

that they are forming a well-funded (by a group of highly partisan Democrat trial lawyers, led by Mark Grueskin) organization specifically to counter the growing momentum of Clear The Bench Colorado.

Despite all of these major, newsworthy developments - and despite extensive coverage by such diverse news organizations as Westword, Law Week Colorado, and the Colorado Statesman, Colorado’s largest newspaper (the Denver Post) continues to pretend that the issue of retention votes on Colorado Supreme Court justices does not exist.  In fact,  since the Post’s courts and legal affairs beat reporter Felisa Cardona’s article (”Four Colorado Supreme Court justices face a tough vote in elections“) appeared on the Post’s front page over 3 months ago (February 15th), the Post has not published one bit of news or comment on this extremely important issue.  The news blackout seems to coincide with the lease taken out by the Colorado Supreme Court for space in the Denver Post building - apparently the Denver Post doesn’t want to do anything to upset its most recent tenant (and major billpayer) - that same Colorado Supreme Court. ( “Move along, move along - no conflict of interest to see here.”)

The Colorado Supreme Court - and particularly, the Chief Justice - exercises enormous power (”clout”) over the lives of Colorado citizens.  The current majority has repeatedly demonstrated that it does not exercise this power with restraint or consideration for your constitutional rights - ruling consistently against individual protections and in favor of expanded government power.  Upholding tax increases (such as the “Mill Levy Tax Freeze” property tax increase, or the “Dirty Dozen” new tax laws) imposed without the required vote of the people, enabling taxes to be collected under the guise of “fees” (such as the Colorado Car Tax), expanding eminent domain abuse to seize people’s property, and grabbing the (legislative) power to draw up voting districts (aided by the recent “Mary-mandering” bill) - this court is acting like rulers, with you as the subjects; re-writing the laws, instead of upholding them.

Be a citizen, not a subject - exercise your right to vote “NO” this November on the four ‘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 against seizure via eminent domain abuse, your right to be fairly represented in the legislature and Congress, 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 giving these unjust justices another 10-year term!

Need more reasons why voting “NO” on the four Colorado Supreme Court justices up for re-election this year are the MOST important votes you can cast in this very important year for Colorado Politics?

Clear The Bench Colorado Director Matt Arnold discusses the impact of Colorado Supreme Court rulings leading to a massive expansion of government power (at the expense of YOUR constitutional rights) and vastly increased taxation (such as the “Mill Levy Tax Freeze” property tax increase, the “Dirty Dozen” tax increases and of course the Colorado Car Tax (er, “vehicle registration fee”) increase, along with the dominant role of the Colorado Supreme Court in determining the boundaries of our legislative districts (at both the State and Federal level) - deciding how YOU will be represented in Congress and in the Colorado Legislature - on the Richard Randall Show on AM740 KVOR today starting at 9:00 AM.

The Colorado Supreme Court - and particularly, the Chief Justice - exercises enormous power (”clout”) over the lives of Colorado citizens.  The current majority has repeatedly demonstrated that it does not exercise this power with restraint or consideration for your constitutional rights - ruling consistently against individual protections and in favor of expanded government power.  Upholding tax increases (such as the “Mill Levy Tax Freeze” property tax increase, or the “Dirty Dozen” new tax laws) imposed without the required vote of the people, enabling taxes to be collected under the guise of “fees” (such as the Colorado Car Tax), expanding eminent domain abuse to seize people’s property, and grabbing the (legislative) power to draw up voting districts (aided by the recent “Mary-mandering” bill) - this court is acting like rulers, with you as the subjects; re-writing the laws, instead of upholding them.

Be a citizen, not a subject - exercise your right to vote “NO” this November on the four ‘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 against seizure via eminent domain abuse, your right to be fairly represented in the legislature and Congress, 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 giving these unjust justices another 10-year term!

“No man’s life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.” — Mark Twain (1866)

Although the 2010 legislative session is now (happily) concluded and part of the history of Colorado Politics, the effects of the bills passed this session are becoming more evident with each passing day (perhaps it was necessary for the bills to first be passed in order for us to find out what was in them).  Case in point: the unconstitutional tax increase (er, “elimination of a tax exemption“) commonly known as the “Candy & Soda Tax” (HB10-1191 Subjecting candy and soft drinks to the state sales and use taxes).

As noted in the Denver Post this Sunday (”Vending-machine companies hike costs on sweet treats“),

Spare dimes and quarters are in high demand this month as Coloradans headed to the break room for a soda or a sweet treat scrounge for change to cover price hikes.

Vending-machine companies say the increases are at least partly caused by a new 2.9 percent sales tax on sweetened drinks and snacks.

The bill’s sponsor (Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder) - despite being warned by consumers and small business groups that the increased taxes would inevitably lead to higher prices -

(video courtesy of WhoSaidYouSaid)

is now shocked (shocked!) that vending machine prices have increased, stating

“This tax isn’t 10 cents (on a dollar). It’s 2.9 cents.”

(Strange; most vending machines that I’ve seen don’t accept 2.9-cent pieces)

Clear The Bench Colorado Director Matt Arnold testified in opposition to this bill on constitutional grounds - since it was clear that the bill represents “a tax policy change…  resulting in a net revenue gain” and therefore, under the Colorado Constitution, requires prior approval by a vote of the people.

The “Candy & Soda” tax is not only unconstitutional in origin, but (in the bill’s particulars) is confusing, capricious, and arbitrary in application - and will likely result in increased costs to government in the form of additional oversight, regulation, and enforcement (”Candy & Soda Police?”).  As the recent Denver Post article points out,

The new law defines candy as “a preparation of sugar, honey or other natural or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruit, nuts or other ingredients or flavorings in the form of bars, drops or pieces. Candy shall not include any preparation containing flour and shall require no refrigeration.”

Soft drinks, meanwhile, are defined as “nonalcoholic beverages that contain natural or artificial sweeteners. Soft drinks do not include beverages that contain milk or milk products, soy, rice or similar milk substitutes or greater than 50 percent of vegetable or fruit juice by volume.”

Some merchants have said the new regulations impose a byzantine tax structure for sweets, making a Twix bar not taxable but a Fresca subject to tax.

The new tax (imposed in violation of the constitutional requirement to obtain voter approval prior to any tax policy change resulting in increased revenue) is just one of the “Dirty Dozen” tax increases passed at the start of the just-concluded legislative session, all of which exploited an apparent loophole ripped into the Colorado Constitution by last year’s notorious “Mill Levy Tax Freeze” ruling (which didn’t only blindside voters to unconstitutionally increase property taxes, but further undermined TABOR) issued by the Colorado Supreme Court.

Although your “life, liberty, and property” are only under an enhanced threat by the Legislature for less than five short months, they are endangered by the Colorado Supreme Court year-round.  2010 has seen numerous legislative assaults on your wallet -  aided and abetted by several recent Colorado Supreme Court rulings - but it is also your last chance for 10 years to vote “NO” 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 against government abuse of eminent domain, and your right to enjoy the benefits of the rule of law, instead of suffering rule by activist, agenda-driven “justices.”  Support the Clear The Bench Colorado movement to restore accountability to the judiciary and bring back balance to the bench with your comments (Sound Off!), your contributions, and exercise your right to vote “NO” on  these unjust justices in November 2010!

Clear The Bench Colorado celebrated “May Day” this weekend with the “May Day at the Runway” fundraiser (er, FUN-raiser) - proving (yet again - after the “Won’t Get Fooled Again” event) that giving money to a great cause need not be boring.  It can even be educational - did you know, for example, that May 1st is also (appropriately enough) Law Day?

One of the fun (and educational) contests we held was a Colorado Supreme Court trivia contest - which we’re now sharing with our online reading audience.  Answer the following questions in the comments section (below) to qualify for Clear The Bench Colorado schwag (T-shirts, bumper stickers, etc.) - contest ends the same day as the end of the legislative session (May 12th) when your life, liberty, and property will be safe(r) once more.

20 Questions with Clear The Bench Colorado:

1. What Colorado Supreme Court ruling was the inpiration for the launch of Clear The Bench Colorado?  (Bonus Point for actual full name of the case as filed)

2. When did Clear The Bench Colorado take off as an organized effort (the “CTBC Birthday” month)?

3. Name 3 of the “Dirty Dozen” tax increases?

4. Where is the Colorado Supreme Court currently located?  (Offices and courtrooms)

5. What was the first tax increase to exploit the “April Fools” briefing to the JBC?

6. What two taxes (er, “fees”) did Governor Ritter propose to “balance the budget” that riled up Colorado gun owners last Fall?

7. What recent court victory for individual rights of self-defense may yet be appealed and end up before the Colorado Supreme Court?

8. What does the HB10-1408 (Repeal Congressional Districting Criteria) Bill  mean for Colorado?

9. Which Colorado Supreme Court decision expanded the abuse of Eminent Domain powers to include extraterritorial condemnation?

10. Which Supreme Court case violated TABOR by allowing taxes to be disguised as “fees”?

11. Who are the 4 Current Colorado Supreme Court justices up for retention vote?

12.  How will the vote appear on the ballot?

13.  What percentage of the time (since 1967) have the Performance Review Commissions recommended for retention of incumbent judges?

14.  Who appoints the members of the Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission?

15. How many names must be submitted for each opening from which the governor makes a selection?

16. How many new “fees” make up the Colorado Car Tax?  (Bonus: Name them)

17.  How many years of increases are in the Colorado Car Tax?

18.  What was the case that grabbed the power to decide “appropriate” levels of school funding away from elected school boards and the General Assembly?

19.  What event was the YouTube video debut for Clear The Bench Colorado?

20.  What is the name of the Clear The Bench Colorado celebrity spokespup, and what was her testimony to the Senate Finance Committee in opposition to one of the “Dirty Dozen” tax increases?

(Provide answers in the Comments section, below - provide your contact information either in the comment body or separately via E-mail or contact form)

Answer the call; exercise your right to vote “NO” on the 4 Colorado Supreme Court unjust 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 eminent domain abuse, and your right to enjoy the benefits of the rule of law, instead of suffering under rule by activist, agenda-driven “justices.”  Help to 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!

The resurgence of “We The People” in the form of local citizens banding together in grassroots civic action organizations to defend our constitutional rights is THE continuing political story of the year 2010 in America and is profoundly affecting Colorado Politics in this year and beyond…

Clear The Bench Colorado Director Matt Arnold is both proud and humbled to have been invited as a guest speaker to several such groups over the last several months - beginning with the massive (7000+) crowd at the first Tax Day Tea Party rally at the Denver Capitol and continuing through several events throughout the Spring (examples here, and here), Summer (examples here, here, and here) Fall (examples here, here, here, here, and here) and Winter (examples here, and here) of 2009 - we’re back for more in 2010, most prominently at the Tax Day Tea Party rallies on April 15th.

The Grassroots Revival continues.  Clear The Bench Colorado Director Matt Arnold is speaking this evening (Monday) at the RALY (Reviving America’s Legacy) meeting at the Summitview Community Church in Fort Collins starting at 6:30PM.

Join Clear The Bench Colorado and the Grassroots Revival in restoring “power to the people” - get active, get involved, raise your voice and help to restore accountability to the Colorado judiciary by exercising YOUR RIGHT to vote “NO” on the four unjust justices of the Colorado Supreme Court’s Mullarkey Majority (Justices Michael Bender, Alex Martinez, Nancy Rice, and - last but not least - Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey) who need YOUR approval to continue taking away your rights: your right to vote on tax increases, your right to defend your home and business against eminent domain abuse, and your right to enjoy the benefits of the rule of law, not suffer under rule by activist, agenda-driven “justices.”  Support Clear The Bench Colorado with your voice (Sound Off!),  your contributions, and your “NO” vote to remove these unjust justices on election day this November!

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!