According to the article, Colorado State Court Uses “Substantial Compliance” Standard to Uphold Legislative Recall Petitions, in Ballot Access News, written by respected election expert Richard Winger, Colorado is moving forward with the first ever recall elections for state lawmakers where the public has the power to challenge lawmakers to a special election for the seat, potentially costing the state lawmaker their jobs.  The Ballot Access News article had more information:

On July 18, a Colorado state district court upheld the validity of two recall petitions. The petitions are intended to require recall elections for two state legislators. The legislators had sued, saying the petitions are invalid because some of the mandatory wording was omitted. But the court ruled that the petitions substantially comply, and that the recall committees had depended on the template that had been furnished by the Secretary of State’s office. See this story. No Colorado legislator has ever before been recalled. The recall petitions are set for September 10.

Also from the Denver Post article:

A Denver judge Thursday ruled petitions submitted to oust a pair of Democratic senators from office are valid, a pivotal ruling that sets in motion Colorado’s first-ever recall election of state lawmakers.

One of the lawmakers has an ace up his sleeve however because “by law, Jonh Morse could resign his seat in the next 10 days and have a Democratic vacancy committee appoint a person to fill it, a move that would ensure the party holds the seat until 2014”.  This follows up on previous court decisions that have mostly supported the right to recall elections:

Petitions to recall Senate President John Morse are in compliance with the state constitution, Deputy Secretary of State Suzanne Staiert announced Wednesday in a significant ruling that advances an effort to oust the state lawmaker from office. Attorneys for a supporter of Morse, an El Paso County Democrat faced with a recall for his leadership on tougher Colorado gun laws, had sought to nullify more than 10,100 petition signatures in a legal protest to the Secretary of State’s office. Staiert’s ruling against them now sends the protest to Denver District Court.

Also, more information about Morse can be found on his Facebook page:

John P. Morse is a legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado who serves as the President of the Colorado Senate. Elected to the Senate as a Democrat in 2006, Morse represents Senate District 11, which encompasses Manitou Springs, Colorado and eastern Colorado Springs. On April 17, 2009, he was selected to become Colorado’s next Senate Majority Leader, following the resignation of Senate President Peter Groff and the promotion of previous Majority Leader Brandon Shaffer.

There is actually a website that is based on coordinating support for the recall effort that had some information about the reasons for the protest:

General statement of grounds for recall:

Senator John Morse (D- Colorado Springs) has failed to represent the interests of his constituents and has taken direction from national organizations that do not represent the values and liberties of Colorado citizens. Despite having sworn to support and uphold the Constitution of the United States and of Colorado, he has shown contempt for the constitutional liberties of the people he represents.

He proposed legislation that shifted liability to firearms manufacturers and gun owners from violent criminals where it rightfully belonged. His legislation was drafted with significant input from the Brady Campaign, which attempts to subvert the Second Amendment rights of citizens. He has limited public debate in the Senate and thereby minimized the opinions of Colorado citizens but permitted celebrities from other states to express their opinions on Colorado bills. These actions have shown contempt for firearm manufacturers and for the rights of Colorado citizens. Additionally, it was clearly an abuse of the coercive powers of government. Senator Morse’s abuse of his office and his failure to respect the rights and interests of his constituents necessitates his recall from office as the only reasonable and available means to defend the inalienable liberties of the citizens of his district. Elections to Oust Lawmakers