In re Thompson.

2023 CO 21. No. 23SA18. Code of Judicial Conduct Canon Rules 1.1, 1.2, 2.8, and 2.11.

May 15, 2023

Former judge Mark D. Thompson appeared before the Colorado Supreme Court for imposition of discipline based on violations of his duties as a district court judge for the Fifth Judicial District. Thompson and the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline executed a stipulation on April 24, 2023, pursuant to Rule 37(e) of the Colorado Rules of Judicial Discipline. Thompson resigned as judge before the entry of the stipulation. Under the stipulation, Thompson acknowledged his noncompliance with Colorado Code of Judicial Conduct Canon Rule (Canon Rule) 1.2 (“A judge shall act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary, and shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety.”); Canon Rule 2.8 (“A judge shall be patient, dignified, and courteous to litigants, jurors, witnesses, lawyers, court staff, court officials, and others with whom the judge deals in an official capacity . . . .”); and Canon Rule 2.11 (“A judge shall disqualify himself or herself in any proceeding in which the judge’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned, including but not limited to the following circumstances: The judge has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party or a party’s lawyer . . . .”).

Consistent with the recommendations from the commission, the Court ordered effective the stipulation for public censure.