DENVER – The Colorado Supreme Court today announced the Public Censure of Judge Robert A. Rand, County Court Judge in Larimer County. Judge Rand tendered his resignation as part of the agreement to end the formal proceedings against him brought by the Commission on Judicial Discipline.
On July 3, 2013, the Supreme Court granted a request by the Commission to order a temporary suspension of Judge Rand under Colorado Rule of Judicial Discipline 34(a). The rule allows the Court to suspend a judge, with pay, pending the resolution of formal proceedings. The Commission requested temporary suspension because of numerous allegations of inappropriate or unethical conduct on the part of Judge Rand. The Public Censure issued today indicates Judge Rand violated the Colorado Judicial Code of Conduct in five specific ways.
Chief Judge Stephen Schapanski was served with the order of suspension and the order of confidentiality at the same time Judge Rand was served on July 3, 2013. “Before the Commission became involved, the district administrator, the human resources division of state Judicial, and I worked with Judge Rand to address concerns regarding his treatment of staff, attorneys, and others who appeared in his court. Those efforts, which spanned a number of months, did not lead to noticeable improvement. After the Commission on Judicial Discipline became involved, I cooperated fully with the investigation. I was not entitled to or provided updates from the Commission.”
The Supreme Court has determined that the pleadings in the case are now open to the public in accordance with the Colorado Constitution, Article VI, Section 23(3)(g), which governs when confidentiality ends in a case of Judicial Discipline of a Judge.
“The agreement reached today eliminates the need for the formal hearing which was scheduled to begin March 17 and last for five days,” said William Campbell, Executive Director of the Commission. The Supreme Court can now begin the process of nominating a replacement for the office which will be vacant on March 31, 2014.
The Court’s opinion in 2013SA172, is available on line at http://www.courts.state.co.us/Courts/Supreme_Court/Case_Announcements/Index.cfm; the court file is available at http://www.courts.state.co.us/SCANNC/.
