CO Supreme Court says, no, elephants are not people. Colorado's overspending explained. Be part of the solution on judicial evaluation and retention.

CO Supreme Court says, no, elephants are not people.

I wanted to update a story I've followed with what I hope will be last word in elephant "personhood".

Maybe it won't: court challenges often start in state court, exhaust those options, and then move on up to Federal court.

Whatever direction it's headed in now, the earlier lawsuit over whether or not the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo elephants qualified legally as people got struck down.

The lawsuit (which has been going in multiple states according to the article linked below) has failed at every level from the first court up to the state's highest. Quoting the article from the latest decision (with the link intact--takes you to the ruling):

"'Simply put, no Colorado court, nor any other court in any other jurisdiction in the United States has ever recognized the legal "personhood" of any nonhuman species,' wrote Justice Maria E. Berkenkotter in the Jan. 21 opinion."

I was talking about this with a friend who agreed that this will likely go Federal now. How could it not? Efforts like these are funded by well-heeled, true believers.

Keep your fingers crossed for sane judges (a tall order sometimes, I know).

https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/colorado-supreme-court-rejects-personhood-for-captive-colorado-springs-elephants/article_09637b0a-83ca-5714-a6a9-b0723e23c2e8.html

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Colorado's overspending explained

I have alluded several times over the past couple weeks about how Colorado has been living beyond its means, due to Federal COVID largesse as well as policy which grows government.

We did the dancing and now we have to pay the band; our budget shortfall is the necessary and obvious outcome of financial recklessness.

I saw the op ed linked below and thought it a good summary of the problem. If you've not understood, or missed my earlier writing, or just want to see someone else's thoughts, I highly recommend it.

If you are moved to testify (or email) for or against any bill, if you are moved to contact your legislators, think about the concepts you see in the piece and how they can be used to help you advocate.

We are in the problem we are in because of poor fiscal choices.

https://pagetwo.completecolorado.com/2025/01/19/herman-colorados-over-spending-problem-explained/

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Be part of the solution on judicial evaluation and retention.

I've written a fair bit about judicial corruption, retention, and reviews.

I came across a post just this morning in Liberty Scorecard Colorado's FB page (see the screenshot above—I told you that it was worth following them).

Want to be part of the solution to the judicial problems in this state? A great way is to follow the original poster's advice. If you've interacted with a judge in some way, follow the link below and fill out the survey.

Thank you to the original poster for the reminder!

https://judicialperformance.colorado.gov/citizen-feedback?fbclid=IwY2xjawIG-axleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHeNlKo2Gy9h2glkYkLOdb-wtPhU6NpwOqdW8R34EORL-e_jh43d0_Wp9nw_aem_HPSiDog6-nmcRI0_OKBOaQ