In Re the People of the State of Colorado v. James Lee Justice.

Summary

The court held that a Colorado trial court lacks authority to compel mediation in a criminal case. The court reasoned that plea discussions and the terms of any plea offer are committed to the prosecution's discretion, and that compulsory mediation improperly requires prosecutorial participation in plea bargaining. The court therefore made absolute the rules to show cause and did not reach the separation-of-powers issue.