Newsletter of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping Coloradans understand and use their rights of access to the records and proceedings of government and the judiciary.
Judge orders disclosure of performance narratives for two former Larimer County employees
A judge ordered Larimer County to publicly disclose the narrative portions of performance evaluations for two former employees of The Ranch, the county’s fairgrounds complex and events center.
A year after the legislature passed a law on police radio encryption, Denver-area news outlets are still blocked from listening
But a year after House Bill 21-1250 was signed into law, reporters still can’t tune into Denver and Aurora police radio transmissions like they did before both agencies blocked public access — Denver in 2019 and Aurora three years earlier. Although each department has a written policy on radio access, neither has reached an agreement with any Denver metro news organizations.
Judge rejects defendant's constitutional objection to release of police body camera footage
An attorney for defendant Elroy Lee had invoked a provision in Colorado’s new body-cam footage law that permits objections to the public disclosure of recordings on constitutional grounds “
Casa Bonita drops lawsuit that blocked building plans from the public
BusinessDen (via The Denver Post):: “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have dropped their objection to the release of building plans at Casa Bonita, the famous Lakewood restaurant they own.
CPR sues coroner for refusing to release amended autopsy of Elijah McClain
Colorado Politics: Colorado Public Radio filed a lawsuit against the Adams County coroner for refusing to release an amended autopsy of Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man who died after being violently restrained by police and sedated in 2019.
Legal notices a weapon in Colorado's local news battles
Ark Valley Voice: But increasingly, the decision on where those notices are carried, is becoming weapons of war; used by these government entities to express their displeasure with press coverage of their procedures, stances taken (or not taken) on issues important to constituents, and both their news coverage and their editorial positions regarding social and cultural issues.
Brush city attorney encourages fewer executive sessions
The Fort Morgan Times: When Brush City Attorney Dan Krob was asked about whether appointing a new member of City Council should be discussed in executive session, he sided for the most possible open government.
Colorado judge suspended for 30 days over threat with AR-15-style rifle
The Denver Post: Thompson is one of only a half-dozen of judges to be publicly disciplined in Colorado since 2010, and his censure comes as legislators are working to reform the judicial discipline system to make it more transparent and less controlled by the Colorado Supreme Court.
Timeline unclear for release of body camera footage from Englewood police shooting
Colorado Community Media: More than a month has passed since Colorado Community Media requested release of body camera footage from Englewood police officers involved in a July 24 shooting that left one unarmed man dead.
One southern Colorado city will pay $65,000 for locking a man out of 'the virtual town square'
Colorado Pubic Radio: A Colorado Springs resident has settled a lawsuit against the city of Woodland Park and its former police chief for $65,000 after he was blocked from the police department’s Facebook page.
Ballot images are published for election transparency
9NEWS: This is a pilot program. Weld has already posted images of ballots for the 2022 primary and the 2021 coordinated election. El Paso County will be posting the 2022 primary images by the end of next week. Mesa County is participating in the pilot program. Logan County will upload the November 2022 ballot images.
County clerks in Colorado field uptick in 2020 election records requests
Colorado Newsline: County clerks offices across Colorado saw an influx of Colorado Open Records Act requests for cast vote records from the 2020 election after Mike Lindell, the MyPillow CEO, hosted the “Moment of Truth Summit” in Springfield, Missouri.
Young: Denver police falsehoods followed by DA's failure to hold cops accountable
Colorado Newsline: Since the Aug. 16 release of body cam video, we can all see what actually happened, and it demonstrates that the police framed their initial story in a way they hoped would shield them from accountability.
District Attorney's Office rolls out 'data dashboard,' grants public access to criminal justice data
The Gazette: For the first time, the public now has access to detailed El Paso County and Teller County criminal justice system data in what the 4th Judicial District Attorney Office calls an important step in "building transparency and accountability" with the community.
Douglas County attorney cites legal concerns with release of confidential report
Colorado Community Media::An investigation by the Douglas County government’s attorney found that Commissioner Lora Thomas released a confidential memo to the media and that she could have broken the law by doing so.
What in the piping plover? New website sheds light on Colorado's 350 most sensitive species.
The Colorado Sun: The recently launched site allows for more transparency on CPW’s efforts to conserve the sensitive species — from the greater prairie-chicken to the long-nosed leopard lizard — and offers more awareness to conservation partners, land management agencies, local governments and the public.
Proposed sweeping changes to judicial discipline process would need public approval
The Denver Gazette: Colorado judges who face formal charges of misconduct would face a public trial rather than a secret one, which has been the norm for decades, according to a number of sweeping preliminary recommendations made by an interim legislative committee reviewing changes to judicial discipline.
Watch: Body cam video released of LoDo police shooting that injured six bystanders
The Denver Post: Denver police released body camera footage of three officers shooting an armed man and injuring six innocent bystanders outside busy downtown bars.
Douglas County school board majority disputes claim they violated open meetings law
Colorado Community Media: A new court filing from attorneys for the Douglas County School Board argues that directors didn’t ask former superintendent Corey Wise to resign and maintains one-on-one conversations do not violate the Colorado Open Meetings Law.
DougCo sheriff closes school board perjury investigation
NewsBreak Denver: Attorneys for DougCo school board directors Mike Peterson and Christy Williams said that the DougCo sheriff’s department closed their investigation into whether their clients lied under oath during a March preliminary injunction hearing.
The Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on membership dues, grants and gifts. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation or becoming a member. Thank you!
