Two Colorado House Democrats sue their caucus, Republicans for alleged violations of open meetings laws
Two Colorado House Democrats sue their caucus, Republicans for alleged violations of open meetings laws
https://coloradosun.com/2023/07/10/colorado-house-democrats-open-meetings-lawsuit/
The legal action, a rare intraparty spat spilling into public view and the courts, was filed in Denver District Court by Reps. Elisabeth Epps of Denver and Bob Marshall of Highlands Ranch
It alleges Colorado House Democrats’ near-weekly caucus meetings, during which pending legislation is discussed, should be publicly noticed and that meeting minutes be recorded and offered to the public. The lawsuit alleges members of the House Democratic caucus “directed legislative aides to omit or disguise these mandatory meetings from representatives’ calendars.”
The lawsuit also argues that House Democrats’ use of Signal, an encrypted smartphone messaging system in which messages can be automatically deleted, also violates the state’s open meeting and public records laws. According to the legal action, representatives used Signal to discuss witness testimony and how each lawmaker would vote on bills.