WEEK OF OCTOBER 10, 2024
VOLUME 129 | ISSUE 32
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George Brauchler faces Karen Breslin Elbert sheriff in DA race for new 23rd Judicial District sues BOCC over control of office Legal filing alleges county interferes with operation of law enforcement agency
BY NICKY QUINBY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Karen Breslin
PHOTO VIA CAMPAIGN WEBSITE
BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Republican George Brauchler, a former district attorney, faces Democrat Karen Breslin in the race that will determine the first-ever district attorney of Colorado’s first new judicial district in decades. Colorado’s court system is made up of 22 judicial
districts, and a new district is on the way. Today, the 18th Judicial District includes Douglas, Arapahoe, Elbert and Lincoln counties. But state lawmakers — driven by population growth and a political split in the region — decided to break it up, moving Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties into a new district.
courts, also leading the prosecutors that work in that DA’s office. The office is responsible for prosecuting crimes that allegedly occur in the area. Both candidates spoke to Colorado Community Media ahead of the election, laying out their experience and values.
On Sept. 25, the Elbert County Sheriff ’s Office and Sheriff Timothy Norton filed a lawsuit against the Elbert County Board of County Commissioners and County Manager Shawn Fletcher. The lawsuit outlined several specific complaints, with a general overarching claim that the BOCC and Fletcher have interfered with the internal operations of the sheriff ’s office and undermined the sheriff ’s authority as provided by the Colorado Revised Statutes. The “Issues to be Resolved” stated in the lawsuit include whether or not the BOCC or county management can interfere with the sheriff ’s authority to hire and terminate law enforcement officers (LEOs) and ECSO staff ; whether or not county
SEE JUDICIAL, P6
SEE SHERIFF, P8
George Brauchler
The 23rd Judicial District is set to launch in January 2025. The 18th Judicial District will then only include Arapahoe County. Voters in Arapahoe County will select a new district attorney in a separate race in the November election as well. A district attorney serves as the head prosecutor for a region of Colorado’s
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