C. Jean Stewart, the judge who presided over Denver's probate court for 16 years, will step down in June to offer private services in probate cases and family estate matters."Public service in our courts has been my immense honor and privilege," she wrote in a resignation letter to the Colorado Supreme Court last week.
But she also described herself as eager to return to private endeavors, which include serving as a mediator, offering herself as an appointed judge and working with a task force on national probate court standards.
"I'm excited," she said in an interview. "I'm going to just offer neutral services (in probate cases)," rather than serve as an advocate or expert.
Probate courts appoint guardians and conservators for incapacitated people who need help making personal and financial decisions. They also handle mental health and family estate cases. In Colorado, Denver has the only court established solely to administer probate cases.
In a series of stories last year, The Denver Post highlighted problems at the court. The Post reported that many guardians failed to report anything about their wards for as long as five years, including one ward who was HIV-positive and sexually active. The Post also reported that a court-appointed public administrator had sold 25 estate homes to the same investor and that former employees complained that Stewart was not requiring key staffers to work a full week.
But a judicial retention commission unanimously recommended Stewart, commending her professionalism and commitment. The commission also cited a survey that showed overwhelming support from lawyers and nonlawyers who had appeared before Stewart. In November, Denver voters gave her another six-year term on the bench.
Stewart's resignation creates a vacancy in a court with one full-time judge and about 2,500 yearly cases. A seven-member committee will meet next month to interview and select nominees to succeed her. That committee will recommend two or three applicants to Gov. John Hickenlooper, who will appoint the next judge.
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Denver's Probate Judge Stepping Down After 16 Years
Too bad she didn't sleep with that patient!
ReplyDeleteI don't know this judge personally, but as a standard practice, judges shouldn't be on the bench for 16 years.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely hate it when a judge goes into the mediation field.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Terry.
ReplyDeleteI am always glad when a judge steps down. I know there are good judges out there, but far too many get tainted while on the bench.
ReplyDeletesThe underworld of probate now this former judge is going to profit in the probate industry....this makes me sick but proves what we suspect.
ReplyDeleteGood one, Anonymous 1
ReplyDeleteThis judge has been in the newspapers almost as much a "On the Far Side," cartoons. Yet she has been re-elected over and over. Are the people of Colorado unable to read the newpaper? I wonder why this judge would get re-elected again last November and then resign 6 months later. And it sounds like Jean Stewart will now do her very best to make sure the federal government will not fix the state probate fraud she has promoted.
ReplyDelete