Editor's note: This story was originally published by Colorado Newsline. Read the original story here.
The Colorado Supreme Court announced on Friday the selection of an eight-person panel tasked with selecting independent investigators to look into claims of widespread misconduct within the state’s Judicial Branch.
The independent investigators selected by the panel will examine allegations of sexual harassment and sexism within the Judicial Branch, as well as a claim that a multi-million dollar contract was improperly awarded to former senior administrator Mindy Masias to stop her from filing a sexual harassment lawsuit against the department.
The panel will first work to define the scope of the investigation and then will solicit applications for independent investigators for 30 days, according to Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright. Then, the panel will meet again to select the independent counsel or counsels from those who’ve submitted proposals.
“With this procedure, the judicial branch will not have any say in the selection process,” Boatright told lawmakers on Thursday during the annual State of the Judiciary address. “We will cooperate with the investigations and we will publicly release the results. We also hope the investigation will provide some specific recommendations for changes that we can make to ensure a safe and healthy work environment for all members of the branch going forward.”
The panel was selected by representatives from the governor’s office, attorney general’s office, and legislative leaders within the state’s General Assembly.
The panel members are as followed:
- Sen. Pete Lee, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee
- Rep. Kerry Tipper, vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee
- Rep. Adrienne Benavidez, House speaker pro tempore and member of House Judiciary Committee
- Sen. Bob Gardner, member of Senate Judiciary Committee
- Rep. Terri Carver, member of House Judiciary Committee
- Jacki Cooper Melmed, chief legal counsel for Governor Jared Polis
- Kara Veitch, executive director of Department of Personnel and Administration
- Maritza Dominguez Braswell, deputy attorney general who oversees the Civil Litigation and Employment Law section at the Colorado Department of Law
Colorado Newsline is part of States Newsroom, a network of news outlets supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Colorado Newsline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Quentin Young for questions: [email protected]. Follow Colorado Newsline on Facebook and Twitter.
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