In Re Title, Ballot Title 1999-2000

975 P.2d 175, 1999 Colo. J. C.A.R. 1479, 1999 Colo. LEXIS 298, 1999 WL 151066
CourtSupreme Court of Colorado
DecidedMarch 22, 1999
DocketNo. 98SA486
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 975 P.2d 175 (In Re Title, Ballot Title 1999-2000) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Colorado primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re Title, Ballot Title 1999-2000, 975 P.2d 175, 1999 Colo. J. C.A.R. 1479, 1999 Colo. LEXIS 298, 1999 WL 151066 (Colo. 1999).

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

In this original proceeding brought pursuant to section 1-40-107(2), 1 C.R.S. (1998), the petitioner, Bennett S. Aisenberg (“Aisen-berg”), challenges the action of the initiative title setting board (“Title Board”) in setting the title, ballot title and submission clause, and summary for Initiative “1999-2000 # 33” (“Initiative # 33”).1 Aisenberg contends that Initiative #33 addresses multiple subjects, that the titles2 and summary do not fairly and accurately describe the subject matter, and that the fiscal impact statement does not conform to applicable requirements.

With limited exceptions, Initiative #33 is virtually identical to Initiative “1999-2000 # 29” (“Initiative # 29”) which we reviewed in In re Ballot Title “1999-2000 #29”, 972 P.2d 257 (Colo.1999). Initiative #33, like Initiative #29, contains three subjects, in that it would (1) change the qualifications to serve as a state judge or justice, (2) change the qualifications to serve as a member of the judicial discipline commission, and (3) change the jurisdiction of county judges for the City and County of Denver. See 972 P.2d at 259. It also contains the same language in the judicial term limits provision that we held to be contrary to the constitutional and statutory prohibitions against misleading titles and summaries. See id. at 265-268. Accordingly, we must reverse the Title Board’s action in setting the titles.

Initiative # 33 differs from Initiative # 29 in that it adds (1) procedures for petitions that seek to remove a judge through an otherwise unscheduled retention election, and (2) prohibits the inclusion or mention of judicial performance commission review in ballot information booklets or election notices mailed to voters. We do not address these provisions at this time because our decision in Initiative # 29 controls. See id. at 259, 265-268.

Hence, we reverse the action of the Title Board and remand this case with directions to strike the titles and return Initiative # 33 to its proponents.

APPENDIX

Proposed Initiative “1999-2000 # 33” 1

The title as designated and fixed by the Board is as follows:

AN AMENDMENT TO THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION CONCERNING JUDICIAL PERSONNEL, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, LIMITING FUTURE TERMS OF OFFICE FOR CERTAIN STATE COURT JUDGES AND JUSTICES; PROVIDING THAT THE [177]*177GOVERNOR NOMINATE ALL STATE COURT JUDGES AND JUSTICES, SUBJECT TO SENATE AND VOTER APPROVAL; ESTABLISHING A PROCEDURE FOR REMOVAL ELECTIONS; REQUIRING ANY JUDGE OR JUSTICE WHO IS CONVICTED OF CERTAIN CRIMES, RECEIVES A NEGATIVE DISCIPLINARY FINDING, OR IS THE SUBJECT OF A REMOVAL PETITION TO STAND FOR ELECTION; PROVIDING THAT ANY JUDGE OR JUSTICE RECEIVING A MAJORITY LESS THAN 60% IS RETAINED OR NOT REMOVED FOR ONE YEAR ONLY; PROVIDING THAT FUTURE DISCIPLINE COMMISSION MEMBERS SHALL . BE NOMINATED BY THE GOVERNOR SUBJECT TO SENATE APPROVAL AND SHALL NOT BE LAWYERS, JUDGES, OR JUSTICES; REQUIRING RECORDS AND REPORTS ON EACH JUDGE AND JUSTICE TO BE PUBLIC AND COMPUTER ACCESSIBLE; REQUIRING THAT VOTERS RECEIVE SPECIFIED INFORMATION ON EACH JUDGE AND JUSTICE STANDING FOR ELECTION; PROHIBITING CERTAIN PERSONS FROM SERVING AS ACTIVE OR SENIOR JUDGES OR IN OTHER JUDICIAL POSITIONS; PROVIDING ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES; AND REPEALING CERTAIN CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS TO CONFORM WITH THIS AMENDMENT.

The ballot title and submission clause as designated and fixed by the Board is as follows:

SHALL THERE BE AN AMENDMENT TO THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION CONCERNING JUDICIAL PERSONNEL, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, LIMITING FUTURE TERMS OF OFFICE FOR CERTAIN STATE COURT JUDGES AND JUSTICES; PROVIDING THAT THE GOVERNOR NOMINATE ALL STATE COURT JUDGES AND JUSTICES, SUBJECT TO SENATE AND VOTER APPROVAL; ESTABLISHING A PROCEDURE FOR REMOVAL ELECTIONS; REQUIRING ANY JUDGE OR JUSTICE WHO IS CONVICTED OF CERTAIN CRIMES, RECEIVES A NEGATIVE DISCIPLINARY FINDING, OR IS THE SUBJECT OF A REMOVAL PETITION TO STAND FOR ELECTION; PROVIDING THAT ANY JUDGE OR JUSTICE RECEIVING A MAJORITY LESS THAN 60% IS RETAINED OR NOT REMOVED FOR ONE YEAR ONLY; PROVIDING THAT FUTURE DISCIPLINE COMMISSION MEMBERS SHALL BE NOMINATED BY THE GOVERNOR SUBJECT TO SENATE APPROVAL AND SHALL NOT BE LAWYERS, JUDGES, OR JUSTICES; REQUIRING RECORDS AND REPORTS ON EACH JUDGE AND JUSTICE TO BE PUBLIC AND COMPUTER ACCESSIBLE; REQUIRING THAT VOTERS RECEIVE SPECIFIED INFORMATION ON EACH JUDGE AND JUSTICE STANDING FOR ELECTION; PROHIBITING CERTAIN PERSONS FROM SERVING AS ACTIVE OR SENIOR JUDGES OR IN OTHER JUDICIAL POSITIONS; PROVIDING ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES; AND REPEALING CERTAIN CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS TO CONFORM WITH THIS AMENDMENT?

The summary prepared by the Board is as follows:

This measure amends the Colorado constitution and would affect all county and district court judges, the probate and juvenile court judges in the City and County of Denver, judges of the court of appeals, and justices of the supreme court. It would limit future terms of certain judges and justices to four years and prohibit certain judges and justices from serving more than three future terms at each court level. The measure provides that any future partial term constitutes a full term. The measure prohibits term-limited, mandatorily retired, removed from office, or defeated judges and justices from serving as active or senior judges. The measure requires the written consent of all parties for a senior judge to serve.

The measure changes the manner in which all state court judges and justices are selected by allowing the governor to nominate any qualified elector who resides in the judicial district even if the person were not recom[178]*178mended by a judicial nominating commission. The measure would prohibit any state court judge or justice from taking office until approved by the senate following a public hearing held after at least ten days’ notice. It requires all state court judges and justices to face a retention election in the first annual state election at least 90 days following approval by the senate. The measure would suspend without pay any judge or justice convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or subject to any negative finding by the commission on judicial discipline and require the judge or justice to face a retention election in the next November election more than ninety days following the conviction or finding.

The measure would require a removal election if signatures, not to exceed 7% of the total votes cast in the judicial district for the office of secretary of state, are collected within 9 months on petitions requesting the removal of any active or senior judge or justice. The measure provides procedures for the approval of petition entries including a presumption of validity of the entries, prohibiting the use of random sampling, and allowing only petitioners to appeal. It also provides that more than one member of the same court may be listed on a single petition and prohibits the listing of reasons for or against removal on the petition or the ballot.

If a judge or justice is retained or not removed by a majority less than 60%, the measure provides that the judge or justice is only retained or not removed until the next annual election.

The measure requires future members of the commission on judicial discipline to be confirmed by the senate and prohibits lawyers, judges, or justices from being members.

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Related

Blake v. King
184 P.3d 52 (Supreme Court of Colorado, 2008)
In Re Title, Ballot Title, Submission Cl.
184 P.3d 52 (Supreme Court of Colorado, 2008)
Matter of the Title v. Campbell
8 P.3d 1194 (Supreme Court of Colorado, 2000)
Aisenberg v. Campbell
975 P.2d 180 (Supreme Court of Colorado, 1999)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
975 P.2d 175, 1999 Colo. J. C.A.R. 1479, 1999 Colo. LEXIS 298, 1999 WL 151066, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-title-ballot-title-1999-2000-colo-1999.