Media coverage of the issues of judicial retention (both the performance review process and the upcoming November elections) and the process for reviewing and nominating applicants for judicial appointments (particularly for the Colorado Supreme Court opening created by Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey’s announcement of her intent to retire rather than be held accountable by voters in the November elections) has picked up considerably following the Denver Post’s recent publication of our response (“Demand accountability from judges, too”) to an earlier article bemoaning critiques of the courts (“Criticism of retiring Judge (sic) Mullarkey unfair”).

The Denver Post kicked off the week by acknowledging in print for the first time since February (”Four Colorado Supreme Court justices face a tough vote in elections“) that “four state Supreme Court justices [may not] survive an attempt to remove them from the bench this election” - and obliquely credited Clear The Bench Colorado with raising awareness of the issue:

This election, the group Clear the Bench Colorado is advocating voters reject all four Supreme Court justices up for retention because of rulings it believes are unconstitutional.

(Technically, only three Colorado Supreme Court justices are likely to be subject to a retention vote following Chief Justice Mullarkey’s announced intent to retire, but we’re not going to quibble).  The Denver Post story was also picked up by a number of media outlets across the state, both print and online.

Throughout the week, Law Week Colorado reported on a seeming epidemic of judges at various levels who have announced their intent to leave office rather than stand for retention this year - beginning with Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Sean Connelly (after only 2 years on the bench), followed by Larimer County Court judge Cynthia M. Hartman (also after only 2 years in office) joining the earlier announced retirement of Douglas County Court judge Michelle Ann Marker, bringing the number of announced retirements to four total (including Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey).  Although four announced retirements in one cycle may not seem to indicate an avalanche of impending judicial vacancies, the pace and timing of the announcements has struck several seasoned observers of the Colorado judiciary as unusual.

Curiously enough, embattled former prosecutors (and current Larimer County District Court judges) Jolene Blair and Terrence Gilmore have NOT elected to leave office, filing paperwork last week declaring intent to run for retention, and will face the voters in November.  Likewise, Colorado Supreme Court Justice Nancy Rice also announced (today) her intent to seek retention in office for another 10-year term.

Another national observer of legal news and affairs (Chicago-based Legal Newsline, a self-described “Internet-based newswire dedicated to 24/7 coverage of state supreme courts and state attorneys general”) joined in with coverage of the upcoming Colorado Supreme Court retention elections from afar (”Group wants lineup of Colorado Supreme Court radically changed“) - demonstrating the national scope of interest in the issue.  (Not to mention that Clear The Bench Colorado has been on the radar of the left-wing Huffington Post and the George Soros funded and “progressively” oriented ‘Justice At Stake’ group for several months already).

Finally, an analyst critiquing a column in yesterday’s Boulder Daily Camera (“Gunning for Guns” by Mike Ellis), which at least presented a defense of constitutional rights by someone admittedly “nervous around guns,” correctly points out (as we have indicated numerous times) that the campus gun bans at Colorado State University and the University of Colorado are matters of state law involving concealed carry (NOT, strictly speaking, 2nd Amendment issues, even following the McDonald v. Chicago “incorporation” decision) and therefore subject to ultimate decision by the Colorado Supreme Court (and not the Supreme Court of the United States).  Lose these cases here in Colorado, and you’ve lost for good.  The commenter notes:

People on both sides of the gun rights/gun control debate (and even people who aren’t particularly interested in the gun rights/gun control debate) need to be clear on what the Supreme Court’s incorporation of the Second Amendment does and doesn’t mean.  In many ways, what it does mean is something that must now be sorted out by the lower courts.  But what it doesn’t mean is very clear-it doesn’t mean that all restrictions on the possession of firearms are now null and void.

The Colorado Supreme Court may very well rule against CU’s gun ban, but it won’t be on the basis of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution; it’ll be on the basis of Colorado state law.

Indeed, a large number of issues are “sorted out” by state-level courts (far more than ever ultimately make it to the Supreme Court of the United States). 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!

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.

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 Estes Park candidate roundup today (1-3PM).

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!

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), the issue of judicial retention elections for the Colorado Supreme Court, and the recent announcement by Chief Justice Mullarkey that she would retire rather than be held accountable by Colorado voters - at the Greeley Republican breakfast Wednesday starting at 6:30AM.

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 - get informed, then exercise your right to vote “NO” this November on the four (er, three remaining) ‘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.”  Continue to 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!

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 101.5 FM The Truth (Denver’s FM Talk Radio) Monday night in the 9PM hour.

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 - get informed, then exercise your right to vote “NO” this November on the four (er, three remaining) ‘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.”  Continue to 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!

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 Douglas County Young Republicans meeting Monday starting 6:30PM.

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 - get informed, then exercise your right to vote “NO” this November on the four (er, three remaining) ‘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.”  Continue to 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!

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 Mountain Republican Women’s Club dinner Thursday starting at 6PM.

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 - get informed, then exercise your right to vote “NO” this November on the four (er, three remaining) ‘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.”  Continue to 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!

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.

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 Aurora Tea Party Patriots meeting this evening starting at 6:30PM.

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!

Media coverage of the pending opening  on the Colorado Supreme Court (due to Justice Mary Mullarkey’s announcement of her intent to retire rather than be held accountable by voters in the November elections) along with more coverage of Chief Justice Mullarkey as she begins a “farewell tour” (and the role of the judicial accountability movement spearheaded by Clear The Bench Colorado in precipitating that tour) continued over the last week.

Handicapping the list of potential replacements for the opening that will be created by Chief Justice Mullarkey’s announced retirement (which is set to go into effect November 30th), Law Week Colorado has set up a “justice tracker” listing potential applicants to become the next Colorado Supreme Court justice.  As of press time, the latest updates to the list include some current judges on the Colorado Court of Appeals, some lower court judges, a pair of district attorneys, a law professor, attorneys in private practice, and even a former state representative.

Chief Justice Mullarkey’s “farewell tour” kicked off with an appearance on Colorado Public Radio on Wednesday.  Law Week also published a synopsis (Chief Justice Gives Radio Interview On Retirement, Controversial Cases), which is revealing for showcasing the disdain displayed by the Chief Justice towards an otherwise friendly interviewer who dared question her ruling in the “Mill Levy Tax Freeze” case:

The conversation turned to the controversial 5-2 “mill-levy freeze” decision that Mullarkey authored last year, creating a few moments of tension.

Warner: Would you tell me just a little bit about that decision, for which the court came under some criticism?

Mullarkey: What we were doing there was construing a statute that had been passed by the General Assembly and signed by the governor. So we were construing a law and the question was whether that was consistent with the state constitution.

Warner: And specifically TABOR, the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.

Mullarkey: And what it amounted to was a change in the state law in the way that property taxes had been administered, particularly with respect to the schools. The choice and the change in law was made by the legislature, and the question was whether they could make that change. And we said that they could, that they had the discretion to decide to make that change in the law.

Warner: Without a vote of the people.

Mullarkey: That’s what representative government is: you vote for those legislators and they made that change.

Warner: Well let me say this: without a vote under TABOR.

Mullarkey: Well, I guess.

Warner: And you felt that that was within their discretion?

Mullarkey: Of course.

Warner: You didn’t see that, for example, as a new tax?

Mullarkey: It wasn’t a tax. I really don’t want to… I mean if this is the way you want to do the interview, let’s just end it now. I don’t want to get into an argument about this.

Warner: Oh, not at all - I’m just interested in the philosophy behind it.

Mullarkey: Well, it’s pretty simple. The question was whether the statute that was passed was valid, whether the legislature had the ability to pass the statute that they did, and we thought they did. That’s about it.

The tone of her reply to being questioned can only be fully appreciated by listening to the audio.

Chief Justice Mullarkey also neatly sidestepped the host’s question about the impact of Clear The Bench Colorado on her decision to retire rather than be held accountable by voters in the upcoming elections:

She was also asked about the Clear the Bench Colorado campaign, which urges voters to vote against Mullarkey and Justices Michael Bender, Alex Martinez and Nancy Rice.

Warner: There’s a movement afoot called Clear the Bench, and they have a campaign not to retain you on the court and other members of the state Supreme Court. Did that affect your decision to step down?

Mullarkey: I just decided to retire. And that’s just a simple decision. I’m 66 years old and I wanted to do all the things a retired person does.

A substantial majority of press coverage in the week following the Chief Justice’s announcement that she intended to retire would indicate that the decision was at least influenced, if not precipitated outright, by the “tough vote” facing her (and the remaining 3 justices subject to a non-retention vote) in November to retain her office.

Another article of interest appeared in the Pueblo Chieftain (”House, Senate Lines up for grabs again“), discussing the impact of Chief Justice Mullarkey’s impending retirement on the critical issue of the reapportionment of Colorado’s legislative districts.  The article does a superb job of explaining the process and timelines for creating the 11-member Reapportionment Commission, and notes that the next Chief Justice will have the decisive “final four” appointments who will determine how Colorado’s districts are drawn up (and how you will be represented in the General Assembly) for the next decade.

The next chief justice of the Colorado Supreme Court will be determined by the majority on the court following Mullarkey’s retirement - which further underlines the importance of the need to finish the job and Clear The Bench, Colorado! Exercise your right to vote “NO” this November on the four (er, three remaining) ‘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!

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.

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 Remember in November rally this evening starting at 6:00PM.

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!

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 South Weld County Republican Breakfast Saturday starting at 8AM.

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!