Ian MacLaren Censured Suspended

Ian J. MacLaren, a Montezuma County, Colorado judge, agreed to a 90-day unpaid suspension and public censure to resolve a formal misconduct case brought by Colorado's Independent Judicial Discipline Adjudicative Board. The case alleged MacLaren scheduled a pretextual diversion hearing specifically to criticize a district attorney and a defendant, made derogatory comments presuming the defendant's guilt, and refused to let the defendant speak. A separate allegation involved MacLaren invoking his judicial title during a boating stop on McPhee Reservoir, raising concerns he sought preferential treatment — a "ticket-fixing" attempt — from Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers. In a July 20 stipulation, MacLaren acknowledged maintaining inappropriate communications with a former journalist about the diversion hearing he scheduled, making improper comments about a defendant, and "unintentionally" behaving in a way that amounted to an abuse of his judicial position during the ticketing matter. Along with the suspension and censure, MacLaren agreed to a two-week educational course and ongoing mentoring through the end of his term in 2028.