The Denver Post: A committee of Colorado judges and lawyers will discuss and decide in private whether to make changes to court rules that have allowed thousands of criminal and civil cases to be secreted from public view over the past two decades.

The Colorado Supreme Court’s 14-member Rules of Criminal Procedure committee on Friday is expected to begin deciding whether to shore up rules dealing with suppressed court cases. But the committee, which includes nine elected officials or representatives, will not allow any member of the public to attend.

Instead, any proposed rule would be published and public input invited, including public testimony before the full Supreme Court at a later date. The justices would then meet in secret to consider the recommendations and input before issuing any final rule.

“That there is an opportunity for public input … is not a complete substitute for the public’s ability to observe the formation of public policy,” said attorney Steven Zansberg, president of the Colorado Freedom of Information Committee.

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