Colorado Court Revives Inmate Coronavirus Lawsuit
Prison bars. Image via MaxPixel/Public Domain.
The ruling found that the court does have some authority to compel the governor to remedy a violation of inmates’ constitutional rights.
A Colorado Court of Appeals has reversed a district judge’s dismissal of a lawsuit demanding that state Gov. Jared Polis release low-risk inmates to help curb the spread of coronavirus behind bars.
According to
The Denver Post, the appeals court also determined that Gov. Polis—who sought to be dismissed from the suit—“is a proper defendant in this case,” because releasing inmates lies “within the Governor’s sound discretion and exclusive authority.”