Colorado legislature shuts down state criminal justice commission that has made policy recommendations for nearly 20 years

The 30-member Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, which for nearly two decades helped guide the legislature on criminal justice policy, was shut down Sunday by the Democratic-controlled General Assembly.

The decision comes less than 36 hours before the state’s lawmaking term ends Monday.

Formed by state lawmakers in 2007, the commission, known as the CCJJ, was the brainchild of then-Gov. Bill Ritter, a Democrat who before leading the state served as Denver’s district attorney. 

The panel is made up of legislators, prosecutors, representatives of the court and community members and was intended to help remove partisanship from the process of drafting criminal justice reform policy. Members of the panel are appointed by the governor, the…