Colorado Supreme Court suspends appellate judge following sexual harassment complaint

The Colorado Supreme Court on Friday temporarily suspended Colorado Appeals Court Judge Laurie Booras with pay, pending an investigation of allegations raised by a man claiming to be her former lover — including that she called a fellow appeals judge “the little Mexican.”

In the court order, the Supreme Court said an investigation by the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline would remain confidential. However, The Denver Post received a copy of the complaint from the man claiming to be Booras’ former lover, John Sakowicz, of City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, Calif.

The high court gave Booras three weeks to respond in writing explaining why “she should not continue to be suspended temporarily from any and all judicial duties pending the outcome of preliminary or formal proceedings,” the order says. The high court has not reached a conclusion about the validity of the allegations against Booras.

The court, acting with approval of all seven justices, appointed three judges to serve as special masters to oversee the commission’s investigation: 19th Judicial District Judge James F. Hartmann Jr., 12th Judicial District Judge Pattie P. Swift and Senior Judge Gregory J. Hobbs.

REad more: https://www.denverpost.com/2018/03/30/colorado-appeals-court-judge-laurie-a-booras-suspended/