Colorado Supreme Court Rejects Request to Postpone Disbarment of District Attorney Linda Stanley

The Colorado Supreme Court has denied a request from 11th Judicial District Attorney Linda Stanley to postpone her disbarment, rejecting arguments that it would cause financial burden and disrupt the operations of her office. Presiding disciplinary judge Bryon Large, in his order denying Stanley’s request, emphasized that elected officials are not held to lenient standards and refused to allow her to use her position as a shield after being found guilty of abusing her power.

Stanley’s disbarment stems from her involvement in the prosecution of Barry Morphew, who was charged with the murder of his wife, Suzanne, in 2021. The Colorado disciplinary board found that Stanley engaged in misconduct during and after the trial, including making inappropriate comments to the media, failing to supervise prosecutors adequately, causing discovery violations, and launching a retaliatory investigation into the presiding judge.

Barry Morphew, who has maintained his innocence throughout the legal process, is not currently facing charges related to his wife’s death. The rare decision to disbar Stanley was made by the disciplinary board in September. The order by Judge Large states that Stanley’s disbarment will take effect no earlier than November 1.

The denial of Stanley’s request for a postponement highlights the court’s commitment to upholding the integrity of the legal system and ensuring that elected officials are held accountable for their actions. The decision also sends a strong message that abuse of power will not be tolerated, regardless of one’s position.