Six Reasons to
Limit the Judges
Lawyers Agree - Term Limits Are Needed.
"No judge fears not being re-elected"
"I am totally against career judges"
Bar Association pursues "personal political whims without consulting members"
Why should judges of the Colorado Supreme Court and Appeals Court serve virtual life terms, regardless of poor performance? Term limits for "ten and out" is a better answer.
All of the 100 elected legislators are term-limited. Shouldn't our unelected judges, who often act like lawmakers, be term-limited as well?
All of our statewide elected officials are term-limited. Shouldn't our unelected judges, a coequal branch of government, be term-limited as well?
I'm former Senate President John Andrews, chairman of Limit the Judges. Term limits made me a better legislator. Term limits on judges would make our courts better too.
Limit the Judges
Lawyers Agree - Term Limits Are Needed.
"No judge fears not being re-elected"
"I am totally against career judges"
Bar Association pursues "personal political whims without consulting members"
Why should judges of the Colorado Supreme Court and Appeals Court serve virtual life terms, regardless of poor performance? Term limits for "ten and out" is a better answer.
All of the 100 elected legislators are term-limited. Shouldn't our unelected judges, who often act like lawmakers, be term-limited as well?
All of our statewide elected officials are term-limited. Shouldn't our unelected judges, a coequal branch of government, be term-limited as well?
I'm former Senate President John Andrews, chairman of Limit the Judges. Term limits made me a better legislator. Term limits on judges would make our courts better too.
Judicial Term Limits Target 2008 Ballot
All Colorado judges would be limited to three terms of four years each, beginning in 2010, under a constitutional amendment proposed by a citizens group hoping to qualify it by petition for the 2008 ballot.
Limit the Judges, a campaign committee headed by former Senate President John Andrews, took the first step on October 2 toward getting its proposal approved by the Secretary of State so signature-gathering can begin.
Andrews led last year's unsuccessful campaign for Amendment 40, which would have placed a "ten years and out" limit on state Supreme Court justices and Appeals Court judges, including incumbents. He said the revised plan differs in applying uniformly to judges all levels, raising the limit to 12 years, and excluding incumbents.
"This approach could have won in 2006," Andrews said, "especially the provisions taking in district judges and avoiding retroactivity. We expect it will be a winner in 2008, building on more than half a million votes that we received from people who agree our courts lack accountability."
"Colorado still needs judicial reform, even though it was blocked last year by a campaign of distortion from self-interested lawyers and judges," he added. "Judges too often legislate from the bench, and we keep seeing examples of individuals with virtual lifetime appointments whose character is deficient."
Andrews noted that while judges in this state face periodic retention elections and aren't appointed for life, they enjoy a retention rate of over 99% under the current judicial performance review system, which he called "toothless."
He said his organization, Limit the Judges, is recruiting local leaders and beginning to fundraise toward a campaign goal of $2 million.
Read the proposed constitutional amendment text
Amendment 40 Supporters
Vow Comeback after Loss
Statement by John Andrews, Campaign Chairman
Limit the Judges says thank you to almost 600,000 Coloradans who voted Yes on 40 in response to the injustice of our state's most powerful branch of government also being the least accountable branch. That must not stand, and our movement will continue to press the issue despite falling short this year.
Read more...
Archive on 2006 proposal.
All Colorado judges would be limited to three terms of four years each, beginning in 2010, under a constitutional amendment proposed by a citizens group hoping to qualify it by petition for the 2008 ballot.
Limit the Judges, a campaign committee headed by former Senate President John Andrews, took the first step on October 2 toward getting its proposal approved by the Secretary of State so signature-gathering can begin.
Andrews led last year's unsuccessful campaign for Amendment 40, which would have placed a "ten years and out" limit on state Supreme Court justices and Appeals Court judges, including incumbents. He said the revised plan differs in applying uniformly to judges all levels, raising the limit to 12 years, and excluding incumbents.
"This approach could have won in 2006," Andrews said, "especially the provisions taking in district judges and avoiding retroactivity. We expect it will be a winner in 2008, building on more than half a million votes that we received from people who agree our courts lack accountability."
"Colorado still needs judicial reform, even though it was blocked last year by a campaign of distortion from self-interested lawyers and judges," he added. "Judges too often legislate from the bench, and we keep seeing examples of individuals with virtual lifetime appointments whose character is deficient."
Andrews noted that while judges in this state face periodic retention elections and aren't appointed for life, they enjoy a retention rate of over 99% under the current judicial performance review system, which he called "toothless."
He said his organization, Limit the Judges, is recruiting local leaders and beginning to fundraise toward a campaign goal of $2 million.
Read the proposed constitutional amendment text
Amendment 40 Supporters
Vow Comeback after Loss
Statement by John Andrews, Campaign Chairman
Limit the Judges says thank you to almost 600,000 Coloradans who voted Yes on 40 in response to the injustice of our state's most powerful branch of government also being the least accountable branch. That must not stand, and our movement will continue to press the issue despite falling short this year.
Read more...
Archive on 2006 proposal.
