mystery man is judicial branch's power player

​Your legislator knows his name very well.
 
To your legislator, he’s the face of Colorado’s judicial branch.
 
But you don’t know his name, do you?
 
He’s paid with your tax dollars to influence legislators.
 
But he’s not influencing the legislators on your behalf.
 
He’s representing the Colorado Judicial Branch at the legislature.
 
Colorado’s judges aren’t supposed to play politics.
 
But there he is, day in and day out, during the legislative session.
 
He follows the orders of the chief justice and the state court administrator.
 
He makes sure that legislators know their positions on potential legislation.
 
But Colorado’s judicial system is not supposed to be political.
 
And he’s not an elected official.
 
Yet his official job title says he “plans, develops, and coordinates legislative activities.”
 
His job title also says he “develops strategies to achieve legislative goals . . . .”
 
And he does it all for the Colorado Judicial Department.
 
The salary for his position is $7,065 to $9,775 per month.
 
He’s paid to help judges get what judges want.
 
So what do you think he tells legislators about any bills that would make the judicial branch more accountable?
 
Or more transparent?
 
He’s paid to “develop strategies” to make sure such bills don’t succeed.
 
He holds a lot of sway with legislators.
 
Some will even seek him out before they vote on legislation.
 
They’re on a first name basis with him.
 
He’s a powerful fellow.
 
But you most likely don’t know his name.
 
It’s rarely published in articles.
 
His job is to keep a high profile with legislators.
 
But to keep a low profile with the public.
 
And he’s good at his job.
 
He may be the most powerful lobbyist in Colorado.
 
His name is Terry Scanlon.
 
He’s the legislative liaison (lobbyist) for Colorado’s judicial branch – an entity with great political power.

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