                                  CASE ANNOUNCEMENTS
                                COLORADO SUPREME COURT
                                 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2020

"Slip opinions" are the opinions delivered by the Supreme Court Justices and are subject to
modification, rehearing, withdrawal, or clerical corrections. Modifications to previously posted
opinions will be linked to the case number in the petition for rehearing section the day the
changes are announced.
Click on the case number to view the opinion in pdf format.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  OPINIONS



                                                   2019 CO 8

                                  Supreme Court Case No. 17SC815
                                Certiorari to the Colorado Court of Appeals
                                 Court of Appeals Case No. 13CA1296

                                                   Petitioner:

                                                Alfredo Juarez,

                                                         v.

                                                 Respondent:

                                  The People of the State of Colorado.

                                             Judgment Affirmed
                                                  en banc

CHIEF JUSTICE COATS delivered the Opinion of the Court.
JUSTICE GABRIEL concurs in the judgment, and JUSTICE MÁRQUEZ joins in the
concurrence in the judgment.




                                                         1
                 COLORADO SUPREME COURT CASE ANNOUNCEMENTS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                                                   2020 CO 9

                               Supreme Court Case No. 19SA118
                            Original Proceeding Pursuant to C.A.R. 21
                District Court, City and County of Denver, Case No. 19CV30251
                             Honorable Michael A. Martinez, Judge

                                                      In Re
                                                    Plaintiff:

                                                 Paul Chessin,

                                                         v.

                                                  Defendant:

                                Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel.

                                            Rule Made Absolute
                                                  en banc

JUSTICE MÁRQUEZ delivered the Opinion of the Court.
CHIEF JUSTICE COATS does not participate.




                                                         2
                 COLORADO SUPREME COURT CASE ANNOUNCEMENTS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                                                  2020 CO 10

                                  Supreme Court Case No. 18SC919
                                Certiorari to the Colorado Court of Appeals
                                 Court of Appeals Case No. 17CA2038

                                                   Petitioner:

                                                       A.R.,

                                                        and

                                                   Petitioner:

                                  The People of the State of Colorado,

                                     In the Interest of Minor Child:

                                                       A.R.,

                                                         v.

                                                 Respondent:

                                                       D.R.

                                             Judgment Affirmed
                                                  en banc

JUSTICE GABRIEL delivered the Opinion of the Court.




                                                         3
                 COLORADO SUPREME COURT CASE ANNOUNCEMENTS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                                                  2020 CO 11

                                Supreme Court Case No. 19SC370
                         C.A.R. 50 Certiorari to the Colorado Court of Appeals
                               Court of Appeals Case No. 19CA452
                         Adams County District Court, Case No. 16JV122
                                 Honorable Priscilla J. Loew, Judge

                                      Petitioner/Cross-Respondent:

                                                     M.A.W.,

                                                         v.

                                      Respondent/Cross-Petitioner:

                                   The People of the State of Colorado

                                     In the Interest of Minor Child:

                                                     A.L.W.

                                             Judgment Affirmed
                                                  en banc

JUSTICE GABRIEL delivered the Opinion of the Court.




                                                         4
                 COLORADO SUPREME COURT CASE ANNOUNCEMENTS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                                       ORIGINAL PROCEEDING

19SA234, In Re People in the interest of E.R.G.
Adams County District Court, 18JD571
     Court order issued February 3, 2020



                     GRANTED PETITIONS FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI

No. 17SC749, Court of Appeals Case No. 14CA2083
Petitioner:
Franky Lamont Session,
v.
Respondent:
The People of the State of Colorado.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari GRANTED. The judgment of the Colorado Court of
Appeals is vacated, and the case is remanded to the Colorado Court of Appeals for
reconsideration in light of Melton v. People, 14SC282, 2019 CO 89; Wells-Yates v. People,
16SC592, 2019 CO 90; and People v. McRae, 16SC753, 2019 CO 91. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 17SC829, Court of Appeals Case No. 14CA2082
Petitioner:
Franky Lamont Session,
v.
Respondent:
The People of the State of Colorado.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari GRANTED. The judgment of the Colorado Court of
Appeals is vacated, and the case is remanded to the Colorado Court of Appeals for
reconsideration in light of Melton v. People, 14SC282, 2019 CO 89; Wells-Yates v. People,
16SC592, 2019 CO 90; and People v. McRae, 16SC753, 2019 CO 91. EN BANC.

JUSTICE MÁRQUEZ does not participate.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                         5
                 COLORADO SUPREME COURT CASE ANNOUNCEMENTS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 19SC107, Court of Appeals Case No. 17CA1992
Petitioner:
Department of Corrections, Denver Reception & Diagnostic Center,
v.
Respondents:
State Personnel Board and Matthew Mark Stiles.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari GRANTED. EN BANC.

[REFRAMED] Whether the State Personnel Board may only reverse or modify an
appointing authority’s disciplinary decision if at least three members of the Board find
it to be arbitrary, capricious, or contrary to rule or law, and if so, whether this standard
prevents the State Personnel Board from reviewing such a disciplinary decision de novo
and without giving any deference to it.

DENIED AS TO ALL OTHER ISSUES.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 19SC445, District Court, Grand County, Case No. 18CV30044
Petitioner:
John Marshall,
v.
Respondent:
The People of the State of Colorado.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari GRANTED. The judgment of the Grand County District
Court is vacated, and the case is remanded to the district court for reconsideration in
light of Martinez v. People, 18SC482, 2020 CO 3. EN BANC.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




                                                         6
                 COLORADO SUPREME COURT CASE ANNOUNCEMENTS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                      DENIED PETITIONS FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI

No. 17SC340, Court of Appeals Case No. 14CA589
Petitioner:
Adam James Younger,
v.
Respondent:
The People of the State of Colorado.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 17SC600, Court of Appeals Case No. 16CA481
Petitioner:
The People of the State of Colorado,
v.
Respondent:
Scott Alan Oldright.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.

JUSTICE BOATRIGHT would grant as to the following issues:

Whether, under Rutter v. People, 2015 CO 71, a trial court conducting an abbreviated
proportionality review of a habitual sentence must consider the General Assembly’s
reclassification of some of a defendant’s prior felony convictions, where the triggering
offense is grave and serious and has not been reclassified.

Whether a sixty-four year habitual sentence raises an inference of gross proportionality
when the triggering offense is first degree assault with a deadly weapon, two of
defendant’s five prior felony convictions would still be felonies if committed today, and
at least one prior conviction is a grave and serious offense for proportionality purposes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




                                                         7
                 COLORADO SUPREME COURT CASE ANNOUNCEMENTS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 17SC636, Court of Appeals Case No. 13CA1749
Petitioner/Cross-Respondent:
The People of the State of Colorado,
v.
Respondent/Cross-Petitioner:
Dennis Edward Granger.

Petition and Cross-Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
JUSTICE SAMOUR does not participate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 18SC742, Court of Appeals Case No. 15CA1009
Petitioner:
Hamilton Lee Sullivan,
v.
Respondent:
The People of the State of Colorado.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 19SC53, Court of Appeals Case No. 15CA506
Petitioner:
Jason Virgil Boe,
v.
Respondent:
The People of the State of Colorado.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 19SC73, Court of Appeals Case No. 16CA294
Petitioner:
Joshua Robert Hoppe,
v.
Respondent:
The People of the State of Colorado.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




                                                         8
                 COLORADO SUPREME COURT CASE ANNOUNCEMENTS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 19SC297, Court of Appeals Case No. 18CA57
Petitioner:
Sharman Heotis,
v.
Respondent:
Colorado State Board of Education.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 19SC451, Court of Appeals Case No. 15CA634
Petitioner:
Samuel Sims,
v.
Respondent:
The People of the State of Colorado.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
CHIEF JUSTICE COATS does not participate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 19SC482, Court of Appeals Case No. 17CA3
Petitioner:
The People of the State of Colorado,
v.
Respondent:
Maicle K. Abraha.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 19SC484, Court of Appeals Case No. 17CA84
Petitioner:
The People of the State of Colorado,
v.
Respondent:
Temesghen M. Gebreyohannes.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




                                                         9
                 COLORADO SUPREME COURT CASE ANNOUNCEMENTS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 19SC632, Court of Appeals Case No. 18CA950
Petitioner:
23 LTD, d/b/a Bradsby Group, a Colorado corporation,
v.
Respondent:
Tracy Herman.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 19SC665, Court of Appeals Case No. 18CA1059
Petitioner:
Trey Fernandez,
v.
Respondents:
Colt Holdings, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company and Jordan Head.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 19SC812, Court of Appeals Case No. 17CA2305
In re the Estate of William A. Powers, a/k/a William Arthur Powers, a/k/a William
Powers, a/k/a Bill Powers, deceased.
Petitioner:
Lora J. Powers,
v.
Respondent:
William Martin Powers.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 19SC834, Court of Appeals Case No. 18CA192
Petitioner:
Jessie Medina Jr.,
v.
Respondent:
The People of the State of Colorado.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         10
                 COLORADO SUPREME COURT CASE ANNOUNCEMENTS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 19SC840, Court of Appeals Case No. 17CA819
Petitioner:
Matthew Dean Fletcher,
v.
Respondent:
The People of the State of Colorado.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 19SC841, Court of Appeals Case No. 18CA684
Petitioner:
Lance Leroy McDermed,
v.
Respondent:
The People of the State of Colorado.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 19SC847, Court of Appeals Case No. 17CA1768
Petitioner:
Juan Lorenzo Johnson,
v.
Respondent:
The People of the State of Colorado.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 19SC868, Bent County District Court, 18CV30
Petitioner:
Rodney Douglas Eaves,
v.
Respondent:
Joe Trujillo.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




                                                         11
                 COLORADO SUPREME COURT CASE ANNOUNCEMENTS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 19SC900, Court of Appeals Case No. 17CA30
Petitioner:
Esther Sarai Herring,
v.
Respondent:
The People of the State of Colorado.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 19SC902, Court of Appeals Case No. 17CA957
Petitioner:
Tomas Mars Garcia,
v.
Respondent:
The People of the State of Colorado.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 19SC910, Court of Appeals Case No. 17CA1965
Petitioner:
Paul Andrew Stelzer,
v.
Respondent:
The People of the State of Colorado.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
JUSTICE MÁRQUEZ does not participate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 19SC911, Court of Appeals Case No. 18CA307
Petitioner:
Robert Lee Hunt, Jr.,
v.
Respondent:
The People of the State of Colorado.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




                                                         12
                 COLORADO SUPREME COURT CASE ANNOUNCEMENTS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 20SC20, Court of Appeals Case No. 19CA383
Petitioner:
K. E.,
v.
Respondent:
The People of the State of Colorado,
In the Interest of Minor Children:
A. E. and L. E.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 20SC28, Court of Appeals Case No. 19CA741
Petitioner:
A. M. M.,
v.
Respondent:
The People of the State of Colorado,
In the Interest of Minor Child:
L. K.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 20SC29, Court of Appeals Case No. 19CA518
Petitioner:
S. G. H.,
v.
Respondent:
The People of the State of Colorado,
In the Interest of Minor Child:
A. D. E. F.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




                                                         13
                 COLORADO SUPREME COURT CASE ANNOUNCEMENTS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 20SC31, Court of Appeals Case No. 19CA639
Petitioner:
L. B.,
v.
Respondent:
The People of the State of Colorado,
In the Interest of Minor Child:
I. B.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 20SC44, Court of Appeals Case No. 19CA1047
Petitioner:
A. G.,
v.
Respondent:
The People of the State of Colorado,
In the Interest of Minor Child:
M. G.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 20SC45, Court of Appeals Case No. 19CA556
Petitioner:
E. M.-S.,
v.
Respondent:
The People of the State of Colorado,
In the Interest of Minor Child:
B. H.-M.

Petition for Writ of Certiorari DENIED. EN BANC.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




                                                         14
