Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee Co, 10 May 2020 *Case dismissed w/o Prejudice* #101

[Diddian]

Where's Paul Harvey when you are eager to know "the rest of the story?"

 

[justtrish]

Judge Ramsey Lama who was presiding over #BarryMorphew case resigned a week after the dismissal of the charges citing health reasons. Judge Lama wrote a letter saying "after 6.5 years, it is time for me to move on." His last day will be July 25, 2022.

The courts have informed me that Judge Ramsey Lama will be returning to private practice. A press release announcing the judge vacancy will be issued in the coming weeks.

View attachment 341925

https://twitter.com/laurenscharftv/status/1520117471339945984?s=21&t=4GgXvTXKTxAjagR7HegUpg

Interesting that health reasons prevent him from being a judge but not from being in private practice. I never wish any serious illness on anyone and I hope in his case this is just mental health, maybe stress complicating some other issue he has, but the timing it suspicious. Was he not up for this case to begin with? If so, then would the prosecution be able to argue that to get his ruling reversed about the expert witnesses should charges be refiled and a new judge take over?

 

[justtrish]

If BM is charged, maybe Judge Lama can take him on as a client.

Wouldn't this be violating something? A conflict of interest? Defending him after being a judge on the case could make decisions he made before questionable.. I mean they already were questionable, but really hinky if he then went on to defend Barry.

 

[CGray123]

https://twitter.com/carolamckinley/status/1520112727577956352?s=21&t=_77fmWFsDI75iiYnURggDw

Lama was an 11th Judicial District Court Judge for six and a half years. Legal minds say his rulings will stand should the prosecution refile the case, but that they would be seen through "fresh eyes."

If the U.S. Attorney files charges, Judge Lama's rulings definitely won't apply. Write your Congressional representatives and let them know you are interested in justice for Suzanne, and that you have reason to doubt the capacity of state courts and local officials to handle this case.

 

[Chelly]

Although closed for the season, Monarch Mountain webcams are live and currently reporting snow base at 64" -- the mountain is only minutes from PP residence.

Conditions - Monarch Mountain

Was there snow cover at this location on May 9, 2020?

 

[WingsOverTX]

Interesting that health reasons prevent him from being a judge but not from being in private practice. I never wish any serious illness on anyone and I hope in his case this is just mental health, maybe stress complicating some other issue he has, but the timing it suspicious. Was he not up for this case to begin with? If so, then would the prosecution be able to argue that to get his ruling reversed about the expert witnesses should charges be refiled and a new judge take over?

I remember during one of BM's hearings Lama had to stand up and explained in court that sitting aggravated an injury. He was appointed in 2016.

Ramsey Lama appointed judge

ETA: FROM 2013 - Lama is recovering from a mountain biking accident in which he suffered a broken C2 vertebra and damaged the carotid artery in his neck.

Fundraiser will benefit Ramsey Lama

 

[GatorFL]

If the U.S. Attorney files charges, Judge Lama's rulings definitely won't apply. Write your Congressional representatives and let them know you are interested in justice for Suzanne, and that you have reason to doubt the capacity of state courts and local officials to handle this case.

Why would a U.S. Attorney file charges in this case?

 

[Cindizzi]

Judge who would have presided over Morphew trial resigns

[ ]

If the prosecution decides to refile the case, it will go to the judge who is next in the rotation, said Jon Sarche, a spokesman for the State Court Administrator's Office. Still to be determined is whether a second attempt at trial would be held in Chaffee County where it was originally filed or in Fremont County where it was moved after Lama was appointed to preside over the case when Judge Patrick Murphy recused himself in early January.

[ ]

 

[Love Never Fails]

Judge who would have presided over Morphew trial resigns

[ ]

If the prosecution decides to refile the case, it will go to the judge who is next in the rotation, said Jon Sarche, a spokesman for the State Court Administrator's Office. Still to be determined is whether a second attempt at trial would be held in Chaffee County where it was originally filed or in Fremont County where it was moved after Lama was appointed to preside over the case when Judge Patrick Murphy recused himself in early January.

[ ]

When prosecution dismissed the Morphew case, one of the comments at the presser by IE was the DA wanted to refile case and have a new judge.
How did IE know he would retire?

 

[Warwick7]

Judge Ramsey Lama who was presiding over #BarryMorphew case resigned a week after the dismissal of the charges citing health reasons. Judge Lama wrote a letter saying "after 6.5 years, it is time for me to move on." His last day will be July 25, 2022.

The courts have informed me that Judge Ramsey Lama will be returning to private practice. A press release announcing the judge vacancy will be issued in the coming weeks.

View attachment 341925

https://twitter.com/laurenscharftv/status/1520117471339945984?s=21&t=4GgXvTXKTxAjagR7HegUpg

1. time for me to move on
2. into private practice

Well looks like his "illness" is stopping him from either of these.
Hmmm.....

 

[Diddian]

1. time for me to move on
2. into private practice

Well looks like his "illness" is stopping him from either of these.
Hmmm.....

Doesn't "... partly for health reasons" imply partly for some other reason(s) as well?

I am particularly interested in knowing whether this resignation was urged by others.

 

[Diddian]

In other news related to the Colorado judiciary and the need for transparency:
Colorado Senate unanimously approves independent funding for judicial discipline

 

[CGray123]

Why would a U.S. Attorney file charges in this case?

Several WSers have posted on this recently, so it might be worth your while to review earlier posts on this thread.

Federal criminal jurisdiction is not an area with which I am familiar. However, I know generally that murder is a Federal crime if it violates U.S. law or happens while violating U.S. law. Murders on Federal property and some other locations are also treated as Federal crimes. Any murder that involves crossing state lines for the purposes of criminal activity is likely to be assigned to a federal prosecutor.

In my view, the likelihood that SM's remains were disposed of on Federal land is so high that a Federal investigation and prosecution is appropriate and warranted.

If the community gets behind the need for Federal action to assure that they don't become a place where wealthy residents can kill with impunity, it's more likely that the Feds will take up the case. It would be helpful if SM's family in Indiana called for a Federal investigation and prosecution of BM.

Further investigation by the FBI will undoubtedly be necessary, but in the long run the prosecutorial resources and expertise of the Federal government will be essential if this complex, expert-dependent case is to be presented effectively. Even if I were confident that the 11th JD could develop this expertise (and I'm not), Judge L's rulings make the DA's involvement in a future prosecution problematic IMO.

 

[MrsWatson]

I remember during one of BM's hearings Lama had to stand up and explained in court that sitting aggravated an injury. He was appointed in 2016.

Ramsey Lama appointed judge

ETA: FROM 2013 - Lama is recovering from a mountain biking accident in which he suffered a broken C2 vertebra and damaged the carotid artery in his neck.

Fundraiser will benefit Ramsey Lama

BBM

I had a broken vertebra, over twenty years ago and it can still knock me for a loop upon occasion. He could be in agony sitting for long stretches at a time. Private practice would allow him more freedom of movement, imo.

I don't read anything nefarious into his decision to return to private practice.

Didn't agree with his rulings, nonetheless.

MOO

ETA: While I don't see anything nefarious, I do find the timing curious and I do think there may be other factors at play with his decision. Not a case, maybe personal issues wrt the judge. No idea or speculation what those might be.

 

[CGray123]

Judge who would have presided over Morphew trial resigns

[ ]

If the prosecution decides to refile the case, it will go to the judge who is next in the rotation, said Jon Sarche, a spokesman for the State Court Administrator's Office. Still to be determined is whether a second attempt at trial would be held in Chaffee County where it was originally filed or in Fremont County where it was moved after Lama was appointed to preside over the case when Judge Patrick Murphy recused himself in early January.

[ ]

I wonder what would happen if the prosecution decided SD was no longer a witness to be called? That would eliminate the conflict that led to Judge M's disqualification.

 

[Lyanna]

Doesn't "... partly for health reasons" imply partly for some other reason(s) as well?

I am particularly interested in knowing whether this resignation was urged by others.

It's definitely weird in terms of timing.

I have a question, if someone could answer please, if prosecution does refile, would this potentially return to Judge Murphy after he recused himself previously (iirc -there wasn't massive choice of judges to replace him) - really liked Murphy and he was fair to both sides, therefore ultimately ensures BM has a better defence which protects his rights to a FAIR trial, not no damn trial and a whole load of lies being told .moo

Sorry if I've rambled at the end there, not sure if I've made sense

 

[CGray123]

Judge who would have presided over Morphew trial resigns

[ ]

If the prosecution decides to refile the case, it will go to the judge who is next in the rotation, said Jon Sarche, a spokesman for the State Court Administrator's Office. Still to be determined is whether a second attempt at trial would be held in Chaffee County where it was originally filed or in Fremont County where it was moved after Lama was appointed to preside over the case when Judge Patrick Murphy recused himself in early January.

[ ]

Also in this article (BBM):

"'If they were to refile the case, it would be refiled as a new case. All prior issues would be viewed through fresh eyes, but technically the prior rulings would not stand,' former New York and Colorado prosecutor Ryan Brackley said. 'It's my guess that if the case is refiled, it would stay in Fremont County.'"

 

[Aloe]

When I think of the Peoples Motion to Dismiss -- more specifically the following words in the motion: ...

As a result, the People cannot safely excavate this area and resolve this unanswered question....

I'm reminded of the MI case last year of missing student Brendan Santo who went missing on Oct 31, 2021, and was not recovered from the river behind a dorm until January 2022.

Although investigators believed the victim was likely trapped beneath ice at a log jam, it wasn't until a private investigator (using underwater cameras and surveillance equipment) had an image of the body underwater at the log jam that LE physically recovered the remains from the given location.

For weeks there had been much criticism of the county sheriff for not searching and/or recovering the body sooner but for 80 days the explanation was similar -- authorities did not believe they could safely navigate a boat or divers into the water during that period (i.e., risking lives) versus entering the water when they had the actual location of the body.

In other words, state investigators are not necessarily free to roam as they please but also have to answer to state bureaucracy with their finger on risk analysis and taxpayer-financed claims. MOO

https://www.courts.state.co.us/userfiles/file/Court_Probation/11th_Judicial_District/Freemont/Morphew/2022-04-19 08-49-34 Motion to Dismiss Without Prejudice.pdf

Body believed to be missing GVSU student found in Red Cedar Riverr

Didn’t Barry, in one of his many interviews, make mention of a beaver dam?

 

[Seattle1]

Doesn't "... partly for health reasons" imply partly for some other reason(s) as well?

I am particularly interested in knowing whether this resignation was urged by others.

Yes, me too.

My understanding is when a District Judge is first appointed to the bench, they serve two years and are evaluated by a commission of attorneys and non-attorneys and if they have a favorable rating, they are allowed to continue their term until the public retention vote. (2018 Commission voted Lama met the performance standards).

Lama started on the bench in 2016. If a term is 6 years, isn't 2022 his final year where he would be voted on for retention by the public this November? Hmmmmm.....

From the 2018 Commission survey:

Among the survey questions was, “Do you think Judge Lama meets judicial performance standards?” Of the attorneys responding to the survey, 84% answered yes, Judge Lama meets performance standards, 11% answered no, he does not meet performance standards and 5% had no opinion.

Of the non-attorneys responding to the same question, 95% answered yes, Judge Lama meets performance standards, with only 2% responding no, he does not meet the performance standards, and 2% had no opinion (these numbers do not equal 100% due to rounding).

Lama, Ramsey 2018 Evaluation | Judicial Performance.

 

[Aloe]

BREAKING: Judge Ramsey Lama has resigned from the bench, citing health reasons. Lama was the judge #BarryMorphew 's now-dismissed murder trial. The trial was scheduled to start yesterday had it not been dismissed without prejudice. Story to come.

https://twitter.com/carolamckinley/status/1520112450762199040?s=21&t=_77fmWFsDI75iiYnURggDw


https://twitter.com/carolamckinley/status/1520113232710569984?s=21&t=_77fmWFsDI75iiYnURggDw
The case was dismissed without prejudice April 19 after the prosecution said the lack of a body, or even proof that #SuzanneMorphew is dead, hampered their case. If refiled, defense could argue that this was an attempt to start over with a new judge.

Hmm, well is he now free to officially join the E&N firm??