Southern Colorado district attorney whose state ordered disbarment appeals his sanction

FREMONT COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — 11th Judicial District Attorney Linda Stanley is appealing a decision by a state disciplinary board that decided to disbar her earlier this month.

Stanley, had previously led the botched prosecution of Barry Morphew, in the murder of his wife Suzanne.

In an 83-page order, state disciplinary judges ruled that Stanley made at least three inappropriate statements to the media during the Morphew trial, failed to supervise the case and opened a criminal investigation in retaliation against the judge following the decisions he had rendered against his team. Stanley eventually dismissed the murder charge against Morphew.

Stanley filed the notice of appeal Monday.

The appeal says Stanley plans to challenge whether there is clear and convincing evidence that she violated the rules of professional conduct and whether the expungement of the sanction ordered by two of the three was justified. The appeal plans to raise the question of whether a lesser sanction, such as a suspension, should be imposed, as the judge recommends with a dissenting opinion.

You can read Stanley’s full notice of appeal by clicking on this link.

What this appeal could mean for Stanley’s impending disbarment and position as district attorney is unclear. Our team is working to find out more.

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