Denver police are investigating an incident involving a county judge who was removed from the courthouse under circumstances officials refuse to discuss.
The episode involved Denver County Court Judge Kerry Hada, who oversees criminal cases from the bench in Courtroom 2300 in the Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center on West Colfax Avenue.
“There is a current investigation into the incidents, and the interest in maintaining the integrity of that investigation outweighs any public purpose to be served by providing information or records related to the incidents at this time,” said a statement Thursday by Mary Dulacki, records coordinator for the Denver Department of Safety.
Courthouse and other sources told The Denver Post on condition of anonymity that Chief Judge John Marcucci told Hada to leave the bench after erratic behavior in the past week, and Hada refused.
He was then escorted from the building, the sources said.
The Denver Sheriff Department provides security at the courthouse, and department spokesman Simon Crittle referred all questions to Dulacki. Police also referred calls about the judge to her.
Marcucci refused to comment on the incident on Thursday. Hada did not return a voice mail message seeking comment.
In a prepared statement, the Denver County Court said: “The Denver County Court respects and values the privacy of our employees and judicial officers; and it would be inappropriate and improper for us to make any comments on personal or personnel related matters regarding any employee or judicial officer.”
and former Army infantry officer who often meets with veteran’s groups, according to information on the Web page of the Colorado Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation.
Hada received his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado, a Master of Science from Colorado State University and law degree from the University of Denver College of Law in 1988.
Former Mayor John Hickenlooper appointed Hada to Denver County Court in 2008.
Tom McGhee: 303-954-1671, tmcghee@denverpost.com or twitter.com/dpmcghee
