October 19th 2024.
The Colorado Supreme Court has denied a request from District Attorney Linda Stanley to delay her disbarment, which was set to take effect on Friday. Despite Stanley's arguments that this sudden loss of her law license would have a financial impact and disrupt the work of her office, the presiding disciplinary judge, Bryon Large, was not convinced. In his order, Large stated that he saw no reason to grant Stanley's request, as her status as an elected official does not exempt her from facing the consequences of her actions.
The decision to disbar Stanley was made by a Colorado disciplinary board in September, after it was found that she had engaged in misconduct during and after the prosecution of Barry Morphew, who was charged with the murder of his wife, Suzanne, earlier this year. This rare decision was based on several findings, including Stanley's inappropriate comments to the media, failure to properly supervise prosecutors, and causing violations of discovery rules. Additionally, she was found to have launched a retaliatory investigation against the presiding judge.
However, despite these findings, Stanley maintains her innocence and dropped the charges against Barry Morphew in 2022. He is currently not facing any charges related to his wife's death. The board's decision to disbar Stanley was met with opposition, with Stanley defending herself against the allegations and even launching an appeal. She argued that being disbarred before the appeal was heard or before her term as DA ends in January would damage the public's trust in the legal system and disrupt the work of prosecutors.
But Large remained firm in his decision, stating that it is not the duty of the disciplinary board to protect Stanley's position as a public official. He also emphasized that the disbarment will not take effect immediately, giving Stanley until November 1st to wrap up any ongoing cases and make arrangements for her clients. This leniency is meant to minimize any potential impact on her financial situation.
Stanley's attorney has not yet responded to the court's decision. As for Barry Morphew, he is still fighting the accusations against him and is hoping to clear his name. Stay updated on the latest crime news by signing up for our daily newsletter.
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