On Thursday, July 24, 2025, Colorado Politics published an opinion piece from Christopher Gregory, the former executive director of the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline, highlighting issues within Colorado’s judicial discipline system.

The piece, titled “System skewed to benefit disciplined judges,” detailed concerns about conflicts of interest and lack of transparency in the handling of a disciplinary case involving 13th Judicial District Court Judge Justin Haenlein.

According to Gregory, Judge Haenlein received his full salary of $16,656.50 per month and benefits from November 24, 2024, until his resignation on April 30, 2025, while suspended under Colorado Judicial Rule 34.

The Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline (CCJD) initiated formal proceedings on March 17, 2025, after a four-month delay. Gregory noted that the Colorado Judicial Discipline Adjudicatory Board (CJDAB) deviated from prior practices by not immediately publishing a proposed stipulation in Haenlein’s case on the Weld County District Court’s website. This lack of public disclosure, he argued, reduced transparency in a process intended to be more open following changes approved by Colorado voters.

The opinion piece also raised concerns about Haenlein’s retention in the November 2024 general election, despite allegations against him surfacing earlier that year. The 13th Judicial District Judicial Performance Commission unanimously recommended his retention.

On July 21, 2025, the CJDAB issued a disciplinary order adopting the stipulation, which allowed Haenlein to keep approximately $120,000 in salary and benefits received during his suspension.

Further complicating the case, Haenlein’s attorney, David Beller, serves on the Colorado Judicial Discipline Rulemaking Committee (CJDRC), which has the authority to set rules for judicial discipline remedies, including whether a judge must repay salary received while suspended. Gregory suggested that this connection raises questions about potential conflicts of interest within the disciplinary process.

Gregory’s piece concluded by describing Haenlein’s case as part of broader issues within Colorado’s judicial system, pointing to the need for legislative action and federal law enforcement review to address taxpayer-funded judicial discipline processes.

 

 

Source: Colorado Politics