A coalition of business leaders is calling on Gov. Bill Ritter, a Democrat, to decline a recommendation to nominate a controversial trial lawyer to a judgeship.
The Colorado Civil Justice League and the Colorado chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business have released a joint statement condemning the candidacy of Ross Buchanan, a Denver personal injury attorney and former president of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association.
According to Lee Mickus, a member of the CCJL's Legal Advisory Board, Buchanan's candidacy presents a multitude a potential conflicts of interest. "At the very best we would have a district judge who has strongly advocated for liability expansion to the detriment of Colorado businesses," Mickus said.
CCJL describes itself as a tort reform organization dedicated to eliminating frivolous litigation that harms Colorado's business climate. Ritter is required to make a determination on Buchanan's candidacy by next week. Buchanan is one of three nominees Ritter received from a bi-partisan nominating commission.
Buchanan's candidacy also raises the stakes for both sides of the tort reform debate; while trial lawyers have devoted substantial resources to electing and maintaining Democrat majorities in recent years, the commitment has yet to yield the type of legislative victories supporters had longed for.