Justyna M. in Criminal Justice
In the midst of one of the most controversial 2024 elections I’ve experienced in my 30+ years living in the U.S., the political landscape has become more polarized than ever. On the national stage, we have two presidential candidates who couldn’t be more different, both stirring up intense debates on either side of the aisle. But what tends to get overshadowed in this chaos is the importance of our local elections—those choices will directly affect our daily lives.
In my previous article, I highlighted the significance of local elections, specifically the race for the Denver District Attorney’s office. John Walsh is vying for this crucial role, and whoever steps into this position will hold immense power not just for Denver, but across the state, as Denver’s DA office often sets the tone for legal proceedings statewide. A District Attorney must uphold the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and justice—not just for the victims but for the defendants too. Far too many innocent people are convicted in our legal system, a disturbing trend that must end.
Today, however, I want to shift focus to a different figure in the legal scene: Jeff Lindsey. Lindsey’s career is as controversial as it is puzzling. He has been bouncing around from county to county in Colorado—first El Paso, then Pueblo, and now, he is slated to become the District Attorney for the 11th District, covering Fremont County. What’s shocking is that he’s running unopposed, almost guaranteeing his position. But before we accept this outcome, we need to examine who he really is.
Fremont County is home to one of the largest prison complexes in the state of Colorado, housing inmates across multiple facilities.
You probably wonder, who is Jeff Lindsey? How does a man with such a questionable history continue to climb the ranks in the criminal justice system, now poised to become the District Attorney of Fremont County? Lindsey’s role as a prosecutor is one of immense responsibility—he’s supposed to stand as the voice for justice, ensuring that victims receive fairness and defendants are treated with integrity. But as his career unfolds, one must ask: Is Jeff Lindsey truly the embodiment of justice, or is he a victim of his own unethical conduct and deception? For someone who has spent 27 years in the prosecutor’s seat, Lindsey’s record is filled with contradictions. Prosecutors hold a unique position in our justice system. Their decisions directly influence the lives of both victims and defendants, and they wield the power to pursue justice or, as we’ve seen all too often, distort it. Yet in Jeff Lindsey’s case, a dark cloud of suspicion looms over his career. One of the most puzzling aspects of Jeff Lindsey’s biography is his recognition as an ethics instructor by the Colorado District Attorney Council. Ethics are the backbone of the legal profession. Integrity, fairness, and truthfulness are non-negotiable qualities expected from someone holding such a critical public position. And yet, Lindsey’s tenure has been littered with incidents that cast doubt on his understanding of these principles.
But what happens when the person behind the title exhibits behavior that suggests the opposite? Has Jeff Lindsey, after nearly three decades of prosecutorial work, become lost in his own web of deception?
When we look at anyone in public service, particularly attorneys and prosecutors, integrity is key. We expect them to uphold the law fairly, treat people with decency, and ensure justice is served for all. Lindsey’s record tells a different story.
One case that still haunts me to this day is that of Jaime Duran in El Paso County. Duran was accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting his estranged ex-wife, Doris Riveira Black, a sheriff’s deputy at the time. The case was highly publicized, and Duran was convicted. But there were inconsistencies throughout the trial that never sat right with me. What’s more surprising is that Jeff Lindsey doesn’t even mention this case in his bio, despite its prominence. Doris Riveira Black eventually went on Oprah to tell her story, and it’s rumored that Lindsey had a hand in getting her there, pushing for national attention on the case. Lindsey’s involvement in the Duran case becomes even murkier when you factor in his relationship with Chad Miller, who was a public defender at the time and is now a District Judge in El Paso County. For 18 years, Lindsey and Miller maintained a professional relationship that seemed to be built on more than just the pursuit of justice. Eventually, their connection fell apart, with Lindsey being fired from his position, raising even more questions about his ethics and his ability to work within the system.
Jeff Lindsey’s career continues to raise more questions than answers, especially as his involvement in high-profile cases and his constant transitions between jurisdictions come to light. One such case that remains etched in public memory is the disappearance of Suzanne Morphew, a Colorado woman who vanished over Mother’s Day weekend in 2020. In 2021, her husband, Barry Morphew, was accused of her murder—a case that became a national sensation. But while this case captured the media’s attention, another significant development involving Jeff Lindsey unfolded in the shadows.
In 2021, during the height of the Barry Morphew case, an announcement from the El Paso County District Attorney’s office sent shockwaves through the legal community. Jeff Lindsey, then Chief Deputy District Attorney, had been dismissed from his position. The reason? A “lack of confidence” in his ability to perform his duties, as outlined in a letter from Nathan Whitney, an attorney representing the El Paso County DA’s office. This decision wasn’t made lightly; it was based on Lindsey’s performance in trying cases over the years, along with input from colleagues both within and outside the office. It seemed like a harsh but necessary step for a man whose track record had become increasingly questionable.
Lindsey, however, didn’t go quietly. He pursued a dispute with the DA’s office, seeking to avoid a lawsuit. To settle the matter, El Paso County agreed to pay him $10,000—a decision that the DA’s office claimed was purely to avoid taxpayer-funded litigation costs. They denied any wrongdoing, but the settlement itself was telling. Why would an office settle with an attorney it no longer trusted to perform his duties?
There’s another layer to this story. In January 2021, Lindsey’s attorney, Ian Kalmanowitz, argued that Lindsey’s firing was politically motivated, linked to his participation in the campaign of Mark Waller, a former Republican candidate for District Attorney in El Paso County. Lindsey’s attorney claimed this was the real reason for his fired , but the cracks in Lindsey’s professional armor had been showing for years. His poor work performance and questionable ethics couldn’t stay hidden forever, and it’s no surprise that the DA’s office had enough.
Jeff Lindsey’s career has been one of bouncing from place to place, seemingly dodging accountability while moving from one jurisdiction to another. After being ousted from El Paso County, he found himself a new position just a short distance away—in Pueblo, as a District Attorney. It’s almost as if Lindsey was riding from one county to the next, trying to outrun the consequences of his actions. But the question now is: where will he stop? Lindsey’s sights are now set on Fremont County, a jurisdiction with a large prison complex and a community that deserves a prosecutor with integrity and competence. Instead, they’re poised to inherit a District Attorney with a history of scandal and poor performance.
Most recently, he was subpoenaed to testify in a lawsuit filed by Barry Morphew’s attorney against the El Paso County DA’s office. The charges? Conspiracy, fraud, manipulation of evidence, and overall deceptive behavior—familiar accusations for those who have followed Lindsey’s career. The Morphew case, which stemmed from the disappearance of Suzanne Morphew over Mother’s Day weekend in 2020, saw Barry Morphew accused of her murder. However, the prosecution’s case began to unravel, and charges were dropped in 2022 after it was revealed that DNA from an unknown male, not Barry Morphew, had been found. This shocking turn of events only added fuel to the fire of the lawsuit, which accused the DA’s office of unethical behavior in handling the case.
Lindsey’s testimony was particularly damning—not for Barry Morphew, but for his former boss, Stanley, who was later disbarred by the Colorado Bar Association. Lindsey testified against Stanley, painting a picture of an office in disarray. He claimed that the Morphew case was too much for him to handle alone, and that he was forced to work nights and weekends to keep up with the demands of the case.
“His admission that he quit because “nothing was happening unless I did it” speaks volumes about the dysfunction within the DA’s office during that time.” Jeff Lindsey
But this isn’t the first time Lindsey has been at the center of controversy. The case of Jaime Duran, who was sentenced to life without parole for the kidnapping and sexual assault of his estranged ex-wife, remains a glaring example of Lindsey’s questionable ethics. In that case, Duran’s defense was weak, and Lindsey’s tactics were aggressive, resulting in a conviction that many still believe was unjust. Lindsey’s former colleague, Chad Miller, who served as Duran’s public defender, later became a district judge in El Paso County—a move that raised eyebrows, given the close relationship between the two.
What makes this situation even more troubling is the way Lindsey continues to navigate the criminal justice system, hopping from one county to another. After being dismissed from El Paso County, Lindsey quickly found a new position in Pueblo. Now, he’s running for District Attorney in Fremont County, a jurisdiction with a significant prison population. But is Fremont County really getting a District Attorney who can serve justice? Or are they getting someone who has a history of deceptive behavior, passing blame, and cutting corners?
Lindsey’s own words during his testimony about the Morphew case raise serious questions about his ability to manage the responsibilities of a District Attorney. If he found the Morphew case overwhelming, how will he handle the demands of leading an entire DA’s office in a county as complex as Fremont? Will he resort to the same blame games and corner-cutting that have defined his career so far? And more importantly, how many innocent people might suffer under his watch, just as Jaime Duran did?
Lindsey’s track record is clear: he’s a prosecutor who has spent nearly three decades building a reputation for deceit and manipulation. His involvement in the Barry Morphew case, his dismissal from El Paso County, and his questionable tactics in cases like Jaime Duran’s all point to a man more interested in power than in justice. The fact that he’s now campaigning for District Attorney in Fremont County, using images of children and his role as a coach to groom the community into trusting him, only adds to the disturbing nature of his candidacy.
What is Lindsey really selling? Justice, or himself? Fremont County, and all of Colorado, deserve better. They deserve a District Attorney who is committed to fairness, integrity, and truth—not someone who has spent his career jumping from one scandal to another, leaving a trail of damaged lives in his wake.
A Warning for the Future
As Jeff Lindsey prepares to take on the role of District Attorney in Fremont County—largely due to the fact that he is running unopposed—it’s time to take a step back and evaluate the person who will hold such an influential position. Lindsey may speak of ethics, justice, and serving the people, but his record suggests otherwise. His career is one defined by instability, questionable actions, and a troubling lack of transparency.
If we are to trust our legal system, we must demand more from the people in positions of power. We must demand integrity, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to justice for all, not just for career gains or personal ambition. In the case of Jeff Lindsey, the people of Fremont County should be cautious—because once the mask of ethics and justice falls, what’s left behind may be far more concerning.
Jeff Lindsey’s career trajectory feels eerily like a cautionary tale. He seems to be chasing power, bouncing like the Energizer Bunny from county to county, hitting walls and leaving a trail of poor decisions in his wake. Fremont County deserves better than a prosecutor with a history of unethical behavior and a lack of transparency.
At this point, it’s clear that Lindsey’s past is catching up with him. The controversy surrounding his dismissal from El Paso County and the Morphew case is only the beginning. Lindsey is a man who has spent decades creating a facade of professionalism, but the cracks are now visible, and the consequences of his actions are becoming harder to avoid.
For Fremont County, and for Colorado as a whole, the time has come to question whether Jeff Lindsey is truly the kind of District Attorney we need. Can we afford to place such an important role in the hands of someone whose career has been defined by instability, scandals, and a pattern of bouncing from one failure to the next? The stakes are too high for us to accept anything less than complete transparency and competence from those tasked with upholding justice.
Jeff Lindsey’s story serves as a warning for us all: a prosecutor who lacks the ethical compass to perform his duties with integrity is not just a threat to justice, but to the very fabric of our legal system.
Jeff Lindsey is not just a figure in a small-town election. He represents a much larger issue within the criminal justice system—a system that allows individuals with tainted records and questionable ethics to rise to positions of power. As voters, it is our responsibility to look deeper, to question those who claim to serve justice, and to hold them accountable. Otherwise, we risk allowing the system to perpetuate its own injustices, with individuals like Jeff Lindsey at the helm.
This pattern of instability and questionable ethics follows Jeff Lindsey wherever he goes. As he prepares to take on the role of District Attorney for Fremont County, we must ask ourselves: Can we trust someone with such a turbulent history to hold such an important position? If we don’t demand more integrity from our local officials, we risk allowing people like Lindsey to dictate justice for our communities—and that’s a dangerous path to go down.
The choices we make in local elections, like this one, shape the justice system we live under. A poor decision now could mean years of injustice for countless individuals in our state. So as you cast your vote this year, remember that these elections are not just about political parties—they’re about the quality of life and the future of fairness in Colorado.
Justice Unlocked. 
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