No Release Of Video/Audio Depicting Judge's Behavior

DENVER (CBS4) - Denver County Court administrators say they will not be releasing audio or video recordings taken in a public courtroom that may show a Denver judge acting erratically and inappropriately saying that releasing the recordings is "not in the public interest."

CBS4 first reported on the behavior of County Court Judge Kerry Hada, a respected jurist, who sources say acted so erratically in a courtroom Friday, Sept. 11, sheriff's deputies were eventually summoned to remove Hada from the courtroom.

Multiple sources say Hada was acting erratically and was nonsensical and refused to leave the courtroom when ordered by Chief Judge John Marcucci. Sources say sheriff's deputies had to subdue and remove Hada from the courtroom.

The following Monday night, the Denver police SWAT team was summoned to a southeast Denver hotel and engaged in a standoff with a hotel guest. Other hotel guests had to be evacuated from their rooms. Denver police say the subject of that investigation, which they called a "welfare check," was taken into custody and removed.

There are numerous indications the guest was Judge Hada. One Denver police source who asked not to be identified, said Hada seemed to be "delusional" when he was at the hotel. However Denver's Manager of Safety's Office refused to release any records on that standoff or on the Friday courtroom incident saying there was an ongoing investigation.

CBS4 subsequently requested audio and video recordings from Hada's courtroom from Sept. 11, but Denver County Court Administrator Terrie Langham said Wednesday the public will not be able to view those recordings.

"It's not in the public interest," said Langham, who said releasing the recordings was "discretionary." She said release of the requested recordings "does not outweigh the potential harm of disclosure."

Langham acknowledged that members of the public were in the courtroom when the incident took place but that court had not yet started.

"The matter is under investigation," said Langham, and she said the court system was interested in "protecting Judge Hada's privacy."

Langham said there was no timeline for when the personnel investigation would be complete. She said Hada was still employed as a County Court judge but would not discuss his current job status. Earlier, a court clerk said Hada was on an extended leave.

Hada has been a Denver judge since 2008 and is widely respected. He was an Army Ranger and is widely respected in the Asian-American community. Hada received his law degree from the University of Denver and is a frequent guest speaker at area schools.

A friend of Hada who asked not to be identified said earlier Hada was dealing with a "health issue" and was seeking medical treatment.

CBS4 Investigator Brian Maass has been with the station more than 30 years uncovering waste, fraud and corruption. Follow him on Twitter @Briancbs4.