The ongoing squabble of where to house the state’s child-abuse watchdog appears to be nearing an end with a sensible compromise to place the under the judicial branch.
This could be a face-saving resolution for Gov. John Hickenlooper, who was fighting to keep the office under the executive branch. And it works for Sen. Linda Newell, who was successfully pushing a bill to move the office under the legislative branch.
Thank heavens for the third branch of government.
Now, we likely won’t see what could have been a self-serving veto from the governor of the bill.
The ombudsman needs autonomy to be effective. Though there is potential for conflicts between ombudsman investigations and court proceedings, we are confident in Colorado Chief Justice Nancy E. Rice’s assurances that the goal of independence for the ombudsman shall be achieved under the judicial branch.
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