On Thursday, February 26, 2026, The Denver Gazette reported that a judicial committee for the Denver-based federal appeals court upheld a finding that a federal judge in Colorado did not engage in misconduct. The finding, which was initially made by the chief judge, concerned the judge’s handling of a civil case involving other attorneys and judges within the state.

The case involves Christopher S.P. Gregory, an attorney who had filed two civil lawsuits against the Colorado judiciary. Gregory publicly disclosed his complaint against U.S. District Court Judge Daniel D. Domenico in court filings. Ordinarily, misconduct proceedings against federal judges maintain anonymity for both the complaining party and the subject judge.

Judge Domenico has since recused himself from one ongoing lawsuit filed by Gregory. While Domenico stated that the misconduct complaint was not grounds to step aside, he determined that some of Gregory’s allegations could implicate his own state employment before he took the bench in 2019. He cited “an abundance of caution” as the reason for his recusal.

Gregory, the former executive director of the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline, had filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Colorado Supreme Court, the discipline commission, and others, representing himself. The lawsuit alleged a conspiracy related to the 2019 decision to award a multimillion-dollar contract to a judicial employee who was facing misconduct allegations. The employee, Mindy Masias, had reportedly cataloged alleged instances of judicial misconduct that she was prepared to disclose. Gregory’s lawsuit seeks his reinstatement as the judicial discipline commission’s director and the removal of those appointed to discipline, judicial performance, and judicial nominating roles.

Before Gregory filed suit, Domenico had dismissed a similar case that was sealed from public view. Following the dismissal, Gregory filed a misconduct complaint against Domenico with Chief Judge Jerome A. Holmes of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. Gregory alleged that “Judge Domenico intentionally inserted himself into the underlying case to achieve an overtly biased outcome favorable to his self-identified friends.” He also argued that Holmes should recuse himself because he presented an award to Colorado Supreme Court Justice Richard L. Gabriel at the 10th Circuit’s conference the prior year.

Chief Judge Holmes dismissed Gregory’s complaint on September 22, after undertaking a “limited inquiry.” Holmes asked Domenico to respond to the allegations of bias related to his connections with the judges or lawyers Gregory was suing. According to Holmes, Domenico stated that the “personal friendships” alleged by Gregory were instead professional relationships. Domenico said he would greet these individuals at a professional event or on the street, but does not socialize with them on a personal level and has not worked with or had social interactions with them since becoming a judge. Holmes added that Domenico was randomly assigned the case and had not “inserted himself” into it.

Gregory sought a review of Holmes’ order with the circuit’s judicial council, a body created by law that consists of other appellate and district judges. Gregory accused Holmes of demonstrating “actual bias, dishonesty, and the abuse of his position to protect Judge Domenico.”

Around the same time, Gregory sought Domenico’s recusal from his still-pending lawsuit against the Colorado judicial defendants. In January, he filed a document alleging that Domenico, through his work as Colorado’s former solicitor general and an adjunct law professor, was personally connected to various participants in the alleged conspiracy over a period of decades.

Domenico agreed to recuse himself from the case on February 3, while defending his professional relationships within the legal community. He noted that he has worked in various roles throughout his legal career, and it is not surprising that some individuals are defendants in the case.

U.S. District Court Judge Gordon P. Gallagher has since been assigned to the case. The 10th Circuit’s judicial council issued a brief order upholding Holmes’ finding of no misconduct on Domenico’s part on February 17. Gregory’s complaint against Holmes is still pending.

 

 

Source: The Denver Gazette