Grady Michael Holder

For Release: February 19, 2010

Contact: Casimir Spencer

Interim Communications Coordinator

Direct: 720.874.8556

Email: cspencer@da18.state.co.us

Centennial, CO. - Grady Michael Holder, 53, has been arrested for the attempted murder of a Sky Ridge Medical Center nurse.  Holder, a physician in Denver, allegedly attacked the nurse at the medical center.

Dr. Holder has posted a $200,000 bond.  Formal charges have not been filed as the case is still under investigation.

Pending charges include: Attempted 1^st Degree Murder, 2^nd Degree Assault and Menacing.

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Statement on the Kris Newland Lawsuit

For Release: February 19, 2010

Contact: Casimir Spencer

Interim Communications Coordinator

Direct: 720.874.8556

Email: cspencer@da18.state.co.us

Centennial, CO. In response to the allegations that therapist Kris Newland is being blacklisted by the District Attorney, the 18^th Judicial District Attorneys Office waived service and disputes the allegations in the lawsuit.  To our knowledge, Ms. Newland has not been blacklisted by anyone.   Regardless, our first concern is victims, not therapists or criminal defense attorneys. 

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Denver Post Clarification (Correction) regarding the CannaMart Case

CLARIFICATION: A story on Page 1B on Dec. 19 about the city of Centennial's efforts to shutter the CannaMart medical marijuana dispensary incorrectly described the origin of an e-mail written by Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers. The message, which was sent to 18th Judicial District Chief Probation Officer Robin Leaf, advised that her office was "taking the position that people who use medical marijuana while on probation are in violation of federal law and must be revoked." The e-mail was then forwarded to William Blair Sylvester, chief judge in the 18th Judicial District, who forwarded it to other judges. Arapahoe County District Judge Christopher C. Cross referenced the e-mail during the course of the CannaMart hearing, advising people who were about to testify that they were users of medical marijuana that they were potentially incriminating themselves and that they could be ticketed by sheriff's deputies and be prosecuted. On the second day of the hearing, Judge Cross clarified his statement about the e-mail, saying that the message had nothing to do with the CannaMart case and related only to the DA's position that using medical marijuana constituted a probation violation.

Carol Chambers' response to Denver Post Editorial:

 "The Buck doesn't stop at DA Chambers"

 Did you think I entered into that plea deal personally? I did take responsibility by saying that a deputy DA in my office entered into a plea deal in the Slade case that he should not have. I think everyone knows that I am the boss and that I am ultimately accountable to the taxpayers for whatever my deputies do. Didn't the article about this incident in the Denver Post state that I had taken responsibility? For the record, I have personally apologized to Sheriff Weaver, I have personally apologized to other members of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and I will personally apologize to the members of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office who were injured in the incident with Mr. Slade. It should never have occurred.

I think this editorial is really just retaliation because I complained about your reporter who was yelling at my young communications coordinator outside the courtroom in which the Hernandez jury was being selected. He was unprofessional. At risk of further retaliation, I have another complaint. Mike McPhee completely made up information contained in his 12/19/09 article about the CannaMart case. I received the transcript yesterday and Judge Cross never said that he had just received an email from me saying that I planned "to review all trial testimony and consider prosecuting admitted users". Mr. McPhee was informed that this was not true the very next day by Judge Cross - that is in the transcript too. Mr. McPhee never printed a retraction.

I know I am not supposed to "fight" with people who buy ink by the barrel, but really, why not at this point? You seem to believe anything anybody says about me or this office and write an article or column about it, you provide minimal follow up when you or a judge who has criticized us has been shown to be wrong.   You skew anything and everything you can against us, and as noted above, you just flat make things up about me.

Could that be because I support and seek the death penalty and am otherwise known for being tough on crime? Could it be because I am outspoken about problems in the judicial branch and some of those people are your good friends? Or perhaps it is just because I am a conservative woman. Do you think at this point the public gets that the liberal press has an agenda against all conservative women? For example, we don't care if Sarah Palin writes notes on her hand. We think you are all incredibly petty for making such a big deal out of that.

By-the-way, why isn't it a conflict of interest for you to be taking rent payments from the judicial branch? That arrangement is almost surely saving the Denver Post. But aren't you supposed to be the fourth estate; the people who make sure all branches of government are accountable? You are not holding the judicial branch accountable.

For example, did you know that after I was censored, the transcript of that hearing appears to have been altered? One of the members of the hearing panel clearly and unequivocally told the attorney for the other side that what Jonathan Steiner had done looked like a crime to him too. Judge Lucero agreed. They then asked what the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel was going to do to Jonathan Steiner. That entire discussion, which was witnessed by so many members of the press, is not in the transcript. It was also not reported at the time. If it looked like a crime to the hearing board, as it had to me, why wasn't I acquitted?? Dealing with crime is my constitutional mandate. What happened to Jonathan Steiner? Where are/were you on this stuff?

For other examples, I suggest KnowYourCourts.com. People need information on the judicial branch to knowingly exercise their right as voters to retain or not retain judges and you are not giving it to them.

If you really believed in freedom of speech, you would allow me to write at least a monthly column in the Denver Post. Instead, after having said all this today, I am just going to be attacked more. I await more retaliation from Susan Greene, Carlos Illescas, Mike McPhee, and your good friend at Westword, Alan Prendergast (cousin of a prominent criminal defense attorney in town).

Getting back to the original issue, it is my privilege to serve as the District Attorney for the 18th Judicial District. I try to be as compassionate as possible and as tough as necessary. We made a mistake in the Slade case and I apologize, without excuse, to the outstanding members of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and my constituents for that.

Carol Chambers