BackboneAmerica

(Press Release from Limit the Judges: Yes on 40) Carol Chambers, District Attorney for the 18th Judicial District, today announced her support for Amendment 40, the term limits initiative for 10 years’ maximum service on the Colorado Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.

Chambers, a Republican, spoke at a State Capitol press conference. She was elected in 2004 as chief prosecutor for the district including Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln Counties. She noted that district attorneys are themselves subject to a term limit of eight years.

At the same press conference, Michael Laden of Conifer announced that he and other attorneys are helping organize a group supporting passage of Amendment 40, to be known as Lawyers for Limits. He said the Colorado Bar Association’s opposition to the measure was determined without member input and does not speak for all lawyers.

Laden is retired after 31 years in solo law practice, specializing in litigation. The other founding members of Lawyers for Limits are Steve Foster of Steven J. Foster PC in Boulder, and John Archibold, retired from practice with Kelly Stansfield O’Donnell in Denver.

Comments from lawyers supporting term limits, posted at www.limitthejudges.com, include one who said, “No judge fears not being re-elected.” Another wrote, “I am totally against career judges.” Another complained that the Colorado Bar Association leadership, in its position on Amendment 40 and other ballot issues, has pursued “personal political whims without consulting members.” The CBA’s “direct advocacy [with voters] seems hard to justify for a non-profit,” a fourth attorney observed.

The citizens’ petition for judicial term limits was certified Thursday by Secretary of State Gigi Dennis as Amendment 40 on the November 2006. The campaign chairman is former Senate President John Andrews. Co-chairmen include state Sen. Tom Wiens, state Sen. Greg Brophy, and state Rep. Ted Harvey.