05SC184
ANNOUNCEMENTS
COLORADO SUPREME COURT
MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2008
"Slip opinions" are the opinions as filed by the judges with the clerk.
Slip opinions are subject to modification, rehearing, withdrawal, or
clerical corrections. A link to any modifications to previously posted
opinions will appear in the petition for rehearing section of the
announcement document the day the changes are announced.
Click on the case number to view the opinion in pdf format
OPINIONS
Case No. 07SA314
SUPREME COURT, STATE OF COLORADO
Two East 14th Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80203
Interlocutory Appeal from the District Court
Larimer County, Case No. 06CR501
Honorable John David Williams, Judge
Plaintiff-Appellant:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO,
v.
Defendant-Appellee:
NATHANIEL LEE STRAUSS.
ORDER REVERSED AND CASE REMANDED
EN BANC
CHIEF JUSTICE MULLARKEY delivered the Opinion of the Court.
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Case No. 07SA339
SUPREME COURT, STATE OF COLORADO
Two East 14th Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80203
Original Proceeding Pursuant to C.A.R. 21
Arapahoe County District Court, Case No. 07CR1483
Honorable J. Mark Hannen, Judge
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In re:
Plaintiff:
The People of the state of Colorado,
v.
Defendant:
AARON THOMPSON.
RULE TO SHOW CAUSE MADE ABSOLUTE
EN BANC
JUSTICE MARTINEZ delivered the Opinion of the Court.
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Case No. 07SA326
SUPREME COURT, STATE OF COLORADO
Two East 14th Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80203
Interlocutory Appeal from the District Court
Adams County, Case No. 06CR3394
Honorable Philip F. Roan, Judge
Plaintiff-Appellant:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO,
v.
Defendant-Appellee:
LEE ANTHONY MADRID.
ORDER REVERSED
EN BANC
JUSTICE RICE delivered the Opinion of the Court.
JUSTICE MARTINEZ dissents in part and concurs in the judgment only in part,
and CHIEF JUSTICE MULLARKEY and JUSTICE BENDER join with JUSTICE MARTINEZ.
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PETITIONS FOR REHEARING
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Case No. 07SA150
SUPREME COURT, STATE OF COLORADO
Two East 14th Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80203
Original Proceeding Pursuant to C.A.R. 21
Adams County District Court, Case No. 06CV546
Honorable John E. Popovich, Jr., Judge
In Re:
Plaintiff:
CYNTHIA CARDENAS, mother and next friend of ISABELLE PEREZ,
v.
Defendants:
VADNA JERATH, M.D.; and ST. ANTHONY HOSPITAL NORTH.
Petition for Rehearing DENIED. EN BANC.
JUSTICE COATS and JUSTICE EID would grant the Petition.
Case No. 07SC36
SUPREME COURT, STATE OF COLORADO
Two East 14th Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80203
Certiorari to the Court Of Appeals
Court of Appeals Case No. 04CA0320
Petitioner:
NAIF AL-YOUSIF,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Rehearing DENIED. EN BANC.
JUSTICE BENDER and JUSTICE EID do not participate.
PETITIONS FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI
No. 07SC440
Court of Appeals Case No. 02CA1371 (11/30/06)
Petitioner:
JAMES MCNURLEN,
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v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
JUSTICE EID does not participate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 07SC441
Court of Appeals Case No. 01CA2340 (11/30/06)
Petitioner:
HAUSUA A. WHITTIKER,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED.
JUSTICE EID does not participate.
EN BANC.
JUSTICE BENDER would grant as to the following issue:
Whether prosecutorial misconduct requires reversal when the prosecutor
improperly shifts the burden of proof by arguing to the jury that the defense
failed to put on evidence; and tells the jury that the prosecution is happening
for “our children” and “our neighbors” and that he would not have allowed the
defense to “badger” witnesses if he did not believe in the case.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 07SC478
Court of Appeals Case No. 02CA0719 (2/8/07)
Petitioner:
RICHARD S. CARMICHAEL,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari GRANTED.
JUSTICE EID does not participate.
EN BANC.
Summary of Issues:
Whether a defendant is denied his constitutional right to the effective assistance
of counsel when counsel does not know that the potential penalty for the
charged offenses is an indeterminate life sentence in prison and, based upon
that misinformation, the defendant rejects a plea agreement for probation.
Whether a defendant’s conviction should be reversed when the defendant challenges
a juror for cause, the district court denies the challenge based on a colloquy
between the juror and the prosecutor, and that colloquy does not appear in
the appellate record.
Whether the trial court erred when it refused to grant the defense’s challenge
for cause to a juror who expressed doubt on her juror questionnaire as to whether
she could be fair and impartial in the case.
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Whether the lack of an accurate, complete record of appeal violates the
defendant’s due process rights.
Whether the inordinate delay in preparing the record on appeal violated
the defendant’s due process rights to a speedy appeal.
DENIED AS TO ALL OTHER ISSUES.
JUSTICE BENDER would grant as to the following issues:
Whether the district court’s exclusion of a defense witness over objection is
reviewed on appeal for an abuse of discretion or to determine if the error is
harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
Whether a district court violates a defendant’s right to present a defense
by excluding a defense witness as a sanction for the late endorsement of the
witness and without first considering less drastic sanctions as required by People
v. Cobb, 962 P.2d 944 (Colo. 1998).
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 07SC812
Court of Appeals Case No. 03CA1105 (7/26/07)
Petitioner:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO,
v.
Respondent:
ADOLPH QUENTIN SHERROD.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari GRANTED.
EN BANC.
Summary of Issues:
Whether the court of appeals erred in finding that a chief judge’s appointment of
a county court judge to be an acting district court judge nunc pro tunc
constituted reversible error where the judge did not have the proper authority
to oversee the case at the time of pretrial hearings, but subsequently acquired
that authority by the time of trial.
Whether a defect in the trial court’s authority to hear pretrial rulings can
be remedied by remand for a post-trial determination and re-entry of the
pretrial rulings.
DENIED AS TO ALL OTHER ISSUES.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 07SC813
Court of Appeals Case No. 05CA1236 (5/31/07)
Petitioner:
THOMAS PATRICK ROGERS,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
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No. 07SC817
Court of Appeals Case No. 06CA0163 (8/9/07)
Petitioner:
THE WEITZ COMPANY, LLC,
v.
Respondent:
MID-CENTURY INSURANCE COMPANY.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 07SC877
Douglas County District Court Case No. 06CV2670
Petitioner:
CRAIG HOWELL,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 07SC908
Court of Appeals Case No. 04CA0386 (9/6/07)
Petitioner:
JESSE COSTILLO,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED.
EN BANC.
JUSTICE BENDER would grant as to the following issue:
Whether the court of appeals erroneously interpreted the term “related” for
purposes of C.R.S. section 16-6-201 and denied petitioner his right to a fair trial
by holding that the district court judge was not required to disqualify herself
from petitioner’s case.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 07SC951
Court of Appeals Case No. 06CA0209 (8/23/07)
Petitioner:
STACY A. SMITH,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 07SC976
Court of Appeals Case No. 06CA0927 (8/9/07)
Petitioner:
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DAVE GURTLER,
v.
Respondent:
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS FOR LARIMER COUNTY, STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 07SC983
Court of Appeals Case No. 02CA1358 (10/4/07)
Petitioner:
CHARLES A. FARRAR,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari GRANTED.
EN BANC.
Summary of Issue:
Whether a new trial is required when the trial court finds that an alleged
sexual assault victim has “substantial credibility issues,” and that her
post-conviction recantation is no more or less believable than her testimony at
trial, in a case where the credibility of the alleged victim was the sole issue
at trial.
DENIED AS TO ALL OTHER ISSUES.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 07SC1032
Court of Appeals Case No. 04CA2640 (10/25/07)
Petitioner:
MICHAEL MUNIZ,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 07SC1042
Court of Appeals Case Nos. 06CA0630 & 06CA1017 (11/1/07)
Petitioner/Cross-Respondent:
GOODLAND CONSTRUCTION, INC.,
v.
Respondent/Cross-Petitioner:
SPECIALIZED GRADING ENTERPRISES, INC.
Petition and Cross-Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 07SC1057
Court of Appeals Case No. 06CA0752 (11/1/07)
Petitioner:
ARMANDO VIGIL,
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v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 07SC1060
Court of Appeals Case No. 05CA1038 (10/4/07)
Petitioner:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO,
v.
Respondent:
ISAAC R. ALLEN.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 07SC1064
Court of Appeals Case No. 05CA2752 (11/15/07)
Petitioner:
ESPERANZA VILLALPANDO,
v.
Respondents:
DENVER HEALTH AND HOSPITAL AUTHORITY; SIMON SHAKAR, M.D.; PAUL SURI, M.D.;
KATHY THIGPEN, M.D.; and EUGENIA CARROLL, M.D.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 07SC1077
Court of Appeals Case No. 05CA0178 (10/25/07)
Petitioner:
MELECIO GONZALES,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 07SC1107
Court of Appeals Case No. 06CA0614 (10/18/07)
Petitioner:
JONATHAN MATHENY,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC19
Court of Appeals Case No. 05CA0741 (11/29/07)
Petitioner:
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HOWARD JAMES STRICKLIN,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC56
Court of Appeals Case No. 05CA1377 (12/6/07)
Petitioner:
JAMES CONKLETON,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC71
Court of Appeals Case No. 04CA1429 (12/13/07)
Petitioner:
EUGENE MASON,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC76
Court of Appeals Case No. 05CA1835 (11/15/07)
Petitioner:
NEIL CREEDEN,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC79
Court of Appeals Case No. 05CA0970 (12/13/07)
Petitioner:
WILLIAM FRED WAGNER,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC85
Court of Appeals Case No. 06CA1892 (12/20/07)
Petitioner:
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GREGORY K. WIEBERG,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC86
Court of Appeals Case No. 06CA1191 (12/20/07)
Petitioner:
RICHARD A. LONG, JR.,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC90
Court of Appeals Case No. 05CA2433 (12/20/07)
Petitioner:
KENNETH E. EPPERSON,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC95
Court of Appeals Case No. 05CA1341 (12/20/07)
Petitioner:
CHARLES ARMSTRONG,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC97
Court of Appeals Case Nos. 06CA0006 & 06CA0552 (12/20/07)
Petitioner:
NATHANIEL CHOPP,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC98
Court of Appeals Case No. 06CA1998 (12/20/07)
Petitioner:
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CLARENCE E. HASSLER,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC99
Court of Appeals Case No. 05CA1948 (12/20/07)
Petitioner:
LOREN ANDREW HARRIS,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC100
Court of Appeals Case No. 06CA1832 (12/20/07)
Petitioner:
DEREK LANCTOT,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC103
Court of Appeals Case No. 06CA0615 (12/20/07)
Petitioner:
JOSEPH HUGEE,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC106
Court of Appeals Case No. 06CA0486 (12/20/07)
Petitioner:
JASON JACOB CORTEZ,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC108
Court of Appeals Case No. 06CA0790 (12/20/07)
Petitioner:
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LESLIE M. JACKSON,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC112
Court of Appeals Case No. 03CA1310 (1/17/08)
Petitioner:
MONDO MORALEZ,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC120
Court of Appeals Case No. 07CA0414 (12/27/07)
Petitioner:
MAURO VALEZQUEZ-JUAREZ,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC121
Court of Appeals Case No. 05CA1417 (1/17/08)
Petitioner:
DEBRA JO MELLINGER,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC124
Court of Appeals Case No. 06CA0453 (12/27/07)
Petitioner:
SHAUN T. BOGNER,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC125
Court of Appeals Case No. 06CA2299 (12/27/07)
Petitioner:
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DANIEL JOSEPH APODACA,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC131
Court of Appeals Case No. 06CA1735 (1/24/08)
Petitioner:
SEVTRIA D. HALL,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC135
Court of Appeals Case No. 06CA0699 (1/17/08)
Petitioner:
MICHAEL J. MIKELSON,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC137
Court of Appeals Case No. 04CA2550 (11/1/07)
Petitioner:
RICHARD ROBERT CORTEZ, JR.,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------No. 08SC150
Court of Appeals Case No. 06CA1878 (1/24/08)
Petitioner:
DARRYL JAMMAAL HICKS,
v.
Respondent:
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
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