In Re the People of the State of Colorado, Plaintiff v. Robert Keith Ray, Defendant

Summary

The court held that the trial court abused its discretion by ordering disclosure of thirteen prosecution witnesses' addresses to post-conviction counsel despite an extraordinary and compelling threat to witness safety. The court concluded that counsel's minimal showing that the addresses might assist post-conviction investigation did not outweigh the danger, and it made the rule to show cause absolute and remanded. Justice COATS, joined by Justices RICE and EID, agreed with the result but would have treated the majority's announced post-conviction balancing framework as unnecessary dicta.