Litigation

CO Chief Justice Will Not Seek Reelection

By Peter Hardin

Colorado Chief Justice Mary Mullarkey has announced that she will retire effective Nov. 30 for personal reasons.

The decision means Justice Mullarkey, 66 and affected by multiple scleroris, will not seek another term in a fiercely controversial retention vote.

Justice Mullarkey has served on the high court 23 years, and at its helm for 12. Her retirement creates a vacancy for Gov. Bill Ritter, a Democrat, to fill by appointment after he receives the names of recommended finalists from a screening commission.

Justice Mullarkey told reporters that politics was not involved with her decision to retire now, according to a Denver Post article.

A group called Clear the Bench Colorado has been seeking to unseat four justices in retention elections this year, and Justice Mullarkey was among those targeted. The group is unhappy about decisions that have involved property taxes,  eminent domain and congressional redistricting (see Gavel Grab).

“One down, three to go,” said that group’s director, Matt Arnold, the Durango Herald reported.

Ritter said in a statement about Justice Mullarkey,  “Her strong leadership, wisdom and respect for the rule of law have guided the Court through many difficult and challenging issues. I have long admired her deeply held belief that the courts must be an open and accessible venue where we resolve our most important disputes, uphold our Constitution and protect our children and most vulnerable citizens.”

Meanwhile, an article in Law Week Colorado identified “well-known figures in Colorado legal circles” who have filed legal papers to set up a group to defend the judiciary in the face of the Clear the Bench campaign.

Full post as published by The Gavel on June 04, 2010 (boomark / email).