Colo. high court to rule on gift ban
April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News
Published October 25, 2007 at midnight
The Colorado Supreme Court will decide today whether to uphold a lower court's ruling that blocked the gift-ban provision of a controversial ethics measure voters approved last fall.
The court will begin hearing oral arguments in an appeal filed by the Colorado Attorney General in June.
Denver District Judge Christine Habas issued a temporary injunction in May, halting the enforcement of the gift-ban provisions of Amendment 41.
Amendment 41 was meant to curb the influence of lobbyists at the state Capitol and with elected officials, but Habas ruled the gift-ban had a "chilling effect" on free speech and went beyond the measure's intentions.
Nate Strauch, spokesman for the attorney general, said the state's legal challenge hinges on four arguments, including the ethics measure does not violate public employees' and elected officials' constitutional rights or prevent accepting college scholarships or gifts from family or friends.
Featured
-
DNC in Denver
Complete coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
-
The Crevasse
A five-part series that examines one tragic day on Mount Rainier.
-
Deadly denial
Sick nuclear workers applied for government compensation but most haven't seen a dime.
-
Final Salute
The Rocky followed Maj. Steve Beck as he took on the most difficult duty of his career.
-
'Colorado's burning'
Coverage of the state's worst wildfires.
-
Columbine shootings
Coverage of the April 20, 1999, shootings at Littleton's Columbine High School.
-
The Crossing
Colorado's deadliest traffic accident killed 20 children on Dec. 14, 1961.
-
Osveli's journey
Osveli Sales left Guatemala for a better life. Two months later, he came home in a box.
-
Wake for an Indian warrior
Oglala Sioux bestow a tribute to the first tribal fatality in Iraq.
