Two Larimer County district judges facing a retention battle because of their past roles as prosecutors in the Tim Masters case have been accused of violating Colorado election laws.
The Committee for Judicial Justice — which is fighting against the retention of Terry Gilmore and Jolene Blair — filed a complaint Thursday with the secretary of state’s office alleging Gilmore and Blair did not form a lawful campaign committee and did not disclose the funds they’ve received for their campaign.
The Committee for Judicial Justice also claims that Gilmore and Blair may have “colluded” with the pro- judge group Retain Larimer Judges “to advocate for retention and thereby circumvent the law and their individual requirements as candidates,” according to a statement from the committee.
Ed Haynes, registered agent for Retain Larimer Judges, said the complaints are retaliation for complaints filed against Judicial Justice by his group.
Retain Larimer Judges filed complaints against Judicial Justice, a 527 committee, alleging that it has raised and spent money to specifically advocate against Gilmore and Blair, which is illegal under 527 rules. A hearing on the complaints against Judicial Justice was scheduled for Thursday but was continued to a later date, say officials.
“The judges have done nothing wrong,” said Haynes, adding his group is registered as a political committee that can expressly advocate for someone and accept donations up to $525 per donor.
“The judges have not received contributions, and they have not sent money to us,” Haynes said.
Gilmore and Blair were the prosecutors in 1999 when Masters was convicted of the 1987 murder of Peggy Hettrick in Fort Collins. In 2008, a visiting judge overturned the conviction after agreeing that new DNA testing raised questions about the original case.
Gilmore and Blair were censured by an arm of the Colorado Supreme Court for their role in the prosecution. But a state judicial-review group has recommended both be retained Nov. 2.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
