Federal judge tosses whistleblower's lawsuit against Colorado judicial officials

Senior U.S. Judge Kathryn Vratil dismissed a federal suit brought by Christopher Gregory, who left his role as executive director of the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline and has pursued multiple lawsuits alleging a coordinated effort to hide a 2019 bribery plot. The complaint targeted the Colorado Supreme Court, the Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline, and the Colorado Judicial Discipline Rulemaking Committee, which Vratil said are arms of the state and thus enjoy sovereign immunity.

Gregory claimed that former State Court Administrator’s Office chief of staff Mindy Masias collected speaking and consulting fees on state time and that officials attempted to award her a five-year contract worth between $2.66 million and $2.75 million to avoid a discrimination lawsuit, a contract later cancelled after media scrutiny. The judge also rejected Gregory's First Amendment claims, noting he had freely expressed his views and the defendants simply failed to act on them.

In state court, Gregory seeks an independent probe by another state's attorney general and public disclosure of judicial misconduct. He criticized the dismissal, asserting the case represents serious judicial wrongdoing, while the attorney general’s office and state court administrator declined comment.