Opinion ID: 1401746
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Summary of Prior Versions of this Initiative

Text: Three prior versions of this Initiative have been presented to us for review. On June 22, 1998, we issued an opinion regarding Initiative # 64, one of the first versions of the instant Initiative. See In re Proposed Initiative for 1997-1998 # 64, 960 P.2d 1192 (Colo.1998). Therein, we held that Initiative # 64 violated the single-subject requirement because it pertained not only to the qualifications of persons for judicial office, but also repealed the constitutional requirement that each judicial district have at least one district court judge, deprived the City and County of Denver of control over Denver County court judgeships, immunized persons who criticize a judicial officer regarding his or her qualifications from any liability, and altered the composition and powers of the Judicial Discipline Commission. See id. at 1192-2000. One week later, we reviewed and rejected on single-subject grounds one of the proponents' several redrafted versions of the Initiative, entitled Initiative # 95. See In re Proposed Initiative for 1997-1998 No. 95, 960 P.2d 1204 (Colo.1998). In addition to the aforementioned subjects that we found in Initiative # 64, Initiative # 95 proposed to eliminate the power of home rule cities to control the election, appointment, and retention of municipal court judges within their jurisdiction, and proposed to enlarge the jurisdiction of the Commission on Judicial Discipline. See id. at 1206-09. On February 16, 1999, we held that yet another of the proponents' redrafted versions of the proposal, entitled Initiative # 29, violated the single-subject/clear titles requirement. See In re Proposed Initiative for 1999-2000 No. 29, 972 P.2d at 268. Specifically, we found that the titles of Initiative # 29 failed to fairly, clearly, and accurately reflect the meaning of the term limits proposal therein, because its stated application to certain state court judges and justices was misleading and promoted voter confusion. Id. at 267-68. Moreover, we found that Initiative # 29 contained two impermissible multiple subjects: the proposal not only would have changed the qualifications to serve as a member of the Commission on Judicial Discipline, but also would have changed the jurisdiction of county judges for the City and County of Denver. See id. at 262-65.