Michael Bender

A retired Colorado Supreme Court justice joined dozens of other former judges from across the nation to demand that federal immigration enforcement officers stop arresting immigrants at courthouses.

Former Chief Justice Michael Bender joined 67 other former judges from 23 states in the letter published Wednesday that said the courthouse arrests were making immigrants afraid to testify in criminal procedures and disrupting the judicial system.

“Together, we have presided over thousands of cases in trial and appellate courts,” according to the letter. “We know that judges simply cannot do their jobs — and our justice system cannot function effectively – if victims, defendants, witnesses and family members do not feel secure in accessing the courthouse.”