In re Kiesnowski.

2024 CO 12. No. 23SA171. Judicial Discipline—Sanctions.

March 4, 2024

In this judicial disciplinary proceeding, the Supreme Court considered the amended recommendation of the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline (Commission) to (1) publicly censure now-retired Adams County District Court Judge Robert Kiesnowski and (2) order him to pay the costs incurred by the Commission in this matter. In reviewing the amended recommendation, the Court considered Judge Kiesnowski’s exceptions. The Court concluded that the Commission properly found that Kiesnowski violated the Code of Judicial Conduct when he acted as counsel and exploited his judicial position for the benefit of his brother-in-law. The Court further concluded that, because Kiesnowski is now retired, the appropriate sanction is the imposition of a public censure and an order requiring the payment of the Commission’s costs in this matter.

Accordingly, the Court publicly censured now-retired Judge Robert Kiesnowski for violations of Canon 1, Rule 1.1, Rule 1.2, and Rule 1.3, as well as Canon 3, Rule 3.10, of the Colorado Code of Judicial Conduct. Additionally, the Court ordered now-retired Judge Kiesnowski to pay the costs incurred by the Commission in this matter in the amount of $4,966.95.