History

A view of a Red Rocks amphitheatre from the stage, with a nearly full crowd.

The Lawsuit to End Red Rocks Rock ’n’ Roll Restrictions

Rock ’n’ roll music was banned from Colorado’s famous outdoor venue, until a lawsuit from music promoter Barry Fey brought it back.
A group of police officers supervise as two men pour a barrel of liquor into the sewers.

Denver’s Failed Attempt to Resist Alcohol Prohibition

The City and County of Denver’s attempt to resist a statewide prohibition on alcohol ended up in the Colorado Supreme Court.

When the Sanctuary Movement Went on Trial

A religious movement that provided safe harbor to refugees found itself in the legal crosshairs of the federal government in the 1980s.
An anti-abortion protest, with a sign saying “Love will end abortion” in focus.

The Colorado Law at the Heart of Health Care Clinic “Bubble Zones” Across the...

Colorado’s first in the nation “bubble bill,” aimed at shielding individuals entering health care clinics from activists, was recently cited in dissent from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
A natural gas power plant at night.

When the Utilities Lobby Received an Icy Reception from Colorado State Senators

Lobbyists from the utilities industry caused a stir in 1957 when they attempted to delay a bill permitting municipalities to build natural gas power plants.

A Colorado Court Case that Strengthened Due Process Rights

In 1962, the Warren Court held that a formal confession obtained during the five-day detention of a 14-year-old child violated his due process rights.

Colorado’s Unique Labor Organizing Law

Colorado’s Labor Peace Act looks likely to stir up controversy in the next legislative session, just like when it passed in 1943.
A lithographic rendering of Colorado City in the 1860s. Some homesteads can be seen, along with the foothills and Pike’s Peak in the background.

Mining Districts, One of the First Outcroppings of Law and Local Government in Colorado

Miners didn’t just dig up gold when they arrived in Colorado, they also set up some of the first courts and local governments in the state.
A long red brick building with grass in the foreground

Colorado’s Long Path Toward Mental Health Reform

From its founding in the early 1880s to its rebranding in 1991, the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo was frequently the center of criticism for operational issues and patient welfare. An 1899 investigation had long-lasting impacts on mental health treatment in Colorado.
Thomas Patterson.

Thomas Patterson’s Free Speech Battle Against the Colorado Supreme Court

Following the contentious election of 1904, sitting U.S. Senator Thomas Patterson battled the Colorado Supreme Court over contempt charges for his newspapers’ articles and cartoons criticizing the judicial body.