Posted by
NOTLEGALROADKILLYET on Friday, March 09, 2007 5:13:44 PM
The words "obstruction of justice" appeared in Colorado News today. A Supreme Court spokesman said:
"From the state court administrator's perspective, there would be no obstruction of justice with how we handled this."
At issue was a judge who resigned after allegedly stealing a $1600 computer. The court administrator blocked a felony prosecution until an elected DA found out about it. The administrator wanted the Commission on Judicial Discipline to handle the matter. Since the judge had already resigned, the harshest penalty the Commission could hand out was an admonishment that would be kept secret from the public.
Trying to short circuit a felony prosecution and substitute "admonishment" seems like obstruction of justice.
The Colorado Index has the story, and a recommendation for the State Attorney General to appoint a special prosecutor from out of state, since the Chief Justice appears to be involved.
We predict that Colorado Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey will have some hard questions to answer on this obstruction of justice issue. Perhaps she can get Martha Stewart to give her some decorating advice.