Amy Padden recall, Arapahoe County, Colorado (2025)
| Amy Padden recall |
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| Officeholders |
| Recall status |
| Signature requirement |
| See also |
| Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2025 Recalls in Colorado Colorado recall laws County official recalls Recall reports |
An effort to recall Arapahoe County District Attorney Amy Padden did not go to a vote in Colorado. The recall effort was launched by Danielle Jurinsky, Judy Lutkin, and Suzanne Taheri. The recall petition format was approved on August 1, 2025. Recall organizers had until September 30, 2025, to collect 75,875 signatures in order to get the recall on the ballot.[1] Because organizers did not turn in signatures by the September 30 deadline, the recall did not go to a vote.
Recall supporters
Recall proponents cited the following reasons for Padden's recall in their recall statement of grounds:[2]
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In the tragic case of Kaitlyn Weaver, a vibrant 24-year-old Aurora resident, her life was senselessly ended by a 15-year-old, in this country illegally, driving 90 mph in a residential neighborhood. He received just three years’ probation in plea deal handed out by District Attorney Amy Padden. Justice for Kaitlyn and her family demands accountability. In another case a county social worker, Robin Niceta, convicted of seven felonies and three misdemeanors, also received a mere three years’ probation. Amy Padden further undermined trust by dismissing charges against two activists who defied police orders, blocking a major road during a protest. Padden also plans to dismiss charges in an attempted child kidnapping case, potentially releasing a mentally incompetent registered sex offender back into our community despite her authority to hold them in state custody until fit for trial. This all happened in her first six months in office. These decisions favor the accused over public safety. It’s time to recall District Attorney Amy Padden and demand a justice system that protects Arapahoe County and honors victims like Kaitlyn. [3] |
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Recall opponents
Padden's incumbent statement of justification follows:[2]
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As your District Attorney, I have focused on seeking justice for victims and making our communities safer. In the past six months, we obtained a life sentence for the Aurora dentist who poisoned his wife, a 36-year-to-life sentence for a human trafficker, and a 99-year-to-life sentence for a kidnapping and sexual assault case. We have filed thousands and tried over 100 cases this year, including homicides, DUIs, domestic violence, financial crimes, and sexual assault. During 2025, car theft rates and homicide rates have decreased, and I will soon announce a new initiative to combat a recent increase in vehicular homicides. I also sought and obtained additional resources to support victims, including 10 additional employees to ensure the orderly transition of domestic violence cases that the Aurora City Council shifted to my office. We also added an additional staff member to assist victims seeking compensation and support services. I have met with victims personally to ensure that I am seeking justice for them and will continue to do so throughout my term. Where I have identified weaknesses in the system, I have implemented new processes in the office and sought reform where appropriate. For example, in cases where mental competency is raised, courts are required by state law to dismiss the charges if a defendant is incompetent and unlikely to be restored or to maintain competency. A District Attorney does not have “authority to hold [a defendant] in custody until fit to stand trial” as asserted above. Only the Judge has that authority, and I am speaking with victims and other community leaders to advocate for changes in the statute. I look forward to continuing to serve as your DA and will continue to seek justice for victims and make Arapahoe County a safer place to live. [3] |
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Path to the ballot
- See also: Laws governing recall in Colorado
No specific grounds are required for recall in Colorado. The number of signatures required for a recall to qualify for the ballot in Colorado depends on the office type.[4][5] After the petition is approved by the relevant election office, petitioners have 60 days to gather signatures.[6]
Recall context
- See also: Ballotpedia's Recall Report
Ballotpedia covers recall efforts across the country for all state and local elected offices. A recall effort is considered official if the petitioning party has filed an official form, such as a notice of intent to recall, with the relevant election agency.
The chart below shows how many officials were included in recall efforts from 2012 to 2024 as well as how many of them defeated recall elections to stay in office and how many were removed from office in recall elections.
See also
- Ballotpedia's Recall Report
- Arapahoe County, Colorado
- Recall campaigns in Colorado
- Political recall efforts, 2025
- County official recalls
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Colorado Secretary of State, "Recall Petitions," accessed August 8, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Colorado Secretary of State, "18th Judicial District District Attorney Recall Statement of Grounds, Incumbent Statement of Justification, and Recall Election Cost Estimate," accessed August 8, 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Colorado Revised Statutes, "Section 1-12-105 - Signatures required for school district officers," accessed March 11, 2024
- ↑ Colorado Revised Statutes, "Section 1-12-104 - Signatures required for state and county officers," accessed March 11, 2024
- ↑ Colorado Revised Statutes, "Section 1-12-108 - Petition requirements - approval as to form - determination of sufficiency - protest - offenses," accessed October 13, 2023
