People v. Walters.

No. 25PDJ3. 7/15/2025. Opinion Approving Amended Stipulation to Discipline.

August 21, 2025

The Presiding Disciplinary Judge approved an amended stipulation to discipline and suspended John Michael Walters (attorney registration number 33404) for three months. The suspension took effect immediately.

In January 2024, Walters spoke loudly and made a scene in the hallway of the Arapahoe County Courthouse. He then entered a courtroom and spoke to a magistrate’s judicial assistant while sitting on the floor in an area generally reserved for court personnel. Walters complained to the judicial clerk about the magistrate, referring to her as a “fucking bitch.” He made the judicial clerk feel uncomfortable by implicitly proposing a romantic or sexual relationship with her, suggesting that he would appreciate the judicial clerk more than her boyfriend would and asking her to “hang out” at his house. Walters then grabbed the clerk’s arm without her consent.

Through this misconduct, Walters violated Colo. RPC 8.4(i) (it is professional misconduct for a lawyer to engage in conduct that the lawyer knows or reasonably should know constitutes sexual harassment in connection with the lawyer’s professional activities).