DENVER (CN) — Citing sovereign and qualified immunity, a federal judge on Tuesday dismissed a complaint against the Colorado government and judicial officials accused by a watchdog of coordinated efforts to cover up a 2019 bribery scheme.
“The Colorado Supreme Court, [Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline] and [Colorado Judicial Discipline Rulemaking Committee] are arms of the State of Colorado. They are therefore entitled to sovereign immunity," wrote Senior U.S. Judge Kathryn Vratil in a 29-page opinion.
Since leaving his job as executive director of the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline, Christopher Gregory, has filed two state lawsuits and two federal complaints looking to hold state court actors accountable for conduct he says erodes trust in the courts.
Gregory traced the trouble back to 2019 when Mindy Masias, a former chief of staff at the State Court Administrator’s Office, was facing termination over financial problems. Gregory asserts state auditors found Masias and another official collecting speaking and consulting fees while on state time.
Then, state auditors found officials attempting to ensure Masias would be granted a five-year $2.66 million to $2.75 million contract for training services as she departed her job — reportedly to prevent a discrimination lawsuit. The contract was later cancelled after media reporting, and no payment was made to Masias.
In the lawsuit, Gregory said he was removed from his position after trying to hold the...
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