Legal Filings

Legal Filings

Ethics Watch Urges IEC To Act On Rules Changes

At today's meeting of the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission (IEC), Colorado Ethics Watch applauded the IEC for its recent discussions on changes to the Rules of Procedure and urged the IEC to continue its efforts.

“We were delighted by the open and thoughtful discussion of changes to the complaint process that took place at the IEC’s July 1 meeting,” said Ethics Watch Director Luis Toro.  "We are concerned, however, that the IEC is losing momentum on the issue because the matter has not been on the agenda since.  The complaint process is one of the IEC’s core functions and fixing the process should be a high priority.  We therefore urge the IEC to begin formal rulemaking at it earliest opportunity.  The staff at Ethics Watch are available to assist the IEC in any way we can.”

The Independent Ethics Commission was formed as a result of the passage of Amendment 41 in 2006.  Ethics Watch has been engaged with the Colorado Independent Ethics Commission since its inception.  Ethics Watch staff testified at the hearing on the original Rules of Procedure.  It was the complaining party in the first IEC hearing on an ethics complaint.  In September 2009, Ethics Watch submitted a letter to the IEC making detailed suggestions to improve the hearing process.  In October 2009, Toro testified before the IEC on Ethics Watch’s suggestions for changes to the IEC’s procedural rules.  Ethics Watch has also filed two successful legal challenges to IEC secrecy, resulting in greater transparency of the IEC’s actions.