Proposed Bill Calls For More Transparency Around Court Spending

· Sep. 22, 2015, 9:26 pm

A bill proposed for the next legislative session in Colorado would make public more information on how the state court system is spending tax money.

Calls for greater transparency were heightened during the Aurora theater shooting trial when the amount spent defending James Holmes wasn't released.

Photo: Willett, Fields, Lawrence Transparency Court Spending (FREELANCE) — State Reps. Yeulin Willett, R-Grand Junction and Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, listen as Rep. Polly Lawrence speaks at a Sept. 22 Capitol press conference. The three lawmakers are supporting efforts to create more transparency in the state's judicial system.

“It is baffling to me that I can't get answers as a lawmaker about how much a defense is costing,” Fields said.

State Rep. Polly Lawrence, R-Littleton, says the state's judicial branch should adhere to many of the open records standards other branches of government must follow.

“They are supposed to be co-equal branches of government. One is not supposed to be held to a different standard than the others,” Lawrence said.

The bill is expected to attract support from both parties.

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