DISTRICT COURT WELD COUNTY, COLORADO Court Address: PO Box 2038 901 9" Ave Greeley CO 80631 (970) 475-2400 VERIFIED PETITION IN RE: ‘THE REQUEST OF THE GREELEY TRIBUNE FOR CERTAIN RECORDS PURSUANT TO THE COLORADO OPEN RECORDS ACTION, C.R.S.§24-72- 201 ET SEQ. COURT USE ONLY D DISTRICT ATTORNEY MICHAEL J. ROURKE ATTORNEY REG. #28812 : 915 TENTH STREET Case Number 18CV30907 DORE, Division/Ctrm: GREELEY CO 80632 PHONE NUMBER: 970-356-4010 ‘ FAX: 970-352-8023 PEOPLE'S MOTION TO INTERVENE PURSUANT TO COLORADO RULES of CIVIL. PROCEDURE 24(a)(2) COMES NOW, MICHAEL J. ROURKE, District Attorney in and for the Nineteenth Judicial District of the State of Colorado, and by and through his undersigned Chief Deputy District Attorney and Deputy District Attomey, respectfully requests this Honorable Court to allow the People to intervene into this action, pursuant to Colorado Rule of Civil Procedure 24(a)(2), as grounds therefore the People state the following: 1. In Weld criminal case 18CR2003, Defendant Christopher Lee Watts is charged with three counts of Murder in the First Des = After Deli ition (F1), as well as additional ‘charges related to the murders of Shannan Watts, Bella Watts, and Cecelia Watts. z 2. As a result of the homicides, and shortly after the bodies of the victims were recovered in a rural part of Weld County, Colorado, autopsies were performed onthe three victims at the direction of the Weld County Coroner's Office. 3. The international publicity and interest surrounding criminal case 18CR2003, has been substantial. There have been, and continue to be, many individuals and entities requesting information from various agencies regarding many aspects of the case that, if publicly Known, would jeopardize the vestigation and prosecution ofthe Defendant, Christopher Watts, 4. In anticipation of the completion of the autopsy reports and being aware of the numerous requests forthe autopsy reports the People requested the eriminal court tissue an Order permitting the Wel Comnty ‘Coroner's to Tequests (for autopsy reports) made pursuant to the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA). [L] Motion to Deny Disclosure ofPublic Record Pursuant to C.R.S, §24-72-204(6)(A), and [$] People’s Response to Defendant’s Motion (D-038). 5. The Court, Order (C-i4), held that “[uJntil further order of the court the parties and the Weld County Coroner ‘shall treat these reports as confidential and not a public locument.” /d. The Colorado Press Association and associates, filed a “notice” in the criminal action asserting that the Court lacked jurisditin 1 decide the issue . Ulumately the court issued an order (C-20), denying the People’s (LJ, Motion to Deny Disclosure of Public Record Pursuant to C.R'S. §24-72-204(6)(a). Shortly after the issuance of (C-20), the Weld County Coroner, by and through the Weld County Atiorney filed the Verified Petion Pursuant to CRS, §24.72-204(6}e). The criminal defense attorneys for Defendant Christopher Lee Watts, on Ociober 19, 2018, filed in the instant case, a Motion to Intervene Pursuant to Colo.R.Crim.P. 24(a) si). 10, Pursuant to C.R.C.P. 24(2)(2), @ party may intervene into an action as a matter of right “hn the applicant clam an intrest relating othe propery or transaction which isthe subject of the action and he is so situated that the disposition of the action may a5 a practical matter impair or impeded his ability to protect that interest, and his intetest is Rot adequately represented by the parties to the action * 11, In Defendant Watts" Motion to Intervene, the criminal defense attorneys challenge the People's/Weld County Coroner's Oifice’ claims. While the Weld County Attorney's ce represents the ines ofthe Weld County Coroner's Office, the Distct Ato represents the People ofthe State of Colorado, who are prosecuting’ Defendant Watts an ae gate atin to respond fo the challenges of the cima. defense ft Watts, 12. The District Attomey/People of the State of Colorado have a substantial interest in the outcome of the issu ofthese proceedings as the results wil impact the crmmnal case involving the prosecution of Delendant Watts, 13. In all faimess to the criminal prosecution of 18CR2003, People v. Watts, the People of the State of Colorado, by and through the 19* Judicial District Attorney, should be allowed to intervene inio this action, Seas DATED this 23" day of October 2018. MICHAEL J, ROURKE, #28812 DISTRICT ATTORNEY /s/Mi MICHAEL J. ROURKE #28812 DISTRICT ATTORNEY By _/ STEVE WRENN, #35411 CHIEF DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY By _i PATRICK T. ROCHE, If, #47352 DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY(CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE hereby certify that on 10/23/18, ‘true and correct copy of People’s Motion to Intervene was e- filed and e-served via ICCES E-System, to all parties as listed in ICCES. Additionally, copies were emailed to the parties: Karin MeDougal, Weld County Attorney's Office/Carl Blesh, Weld County Coroner's Office John Walsh/Kathryn Herold/Publie Defender's Offic, criminal defense attomeys for Defendant Watts, 18CR2003, BY __/iKLHolscher