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Colorado
Courts
At A
Glance
Colorado Courts At A Glance is published by the
Colorado Judicial Branch
Office of the State Court Administrator
1300 Broadway, Suite 1200
Denver, CO 80203
(Published 2015)
A Message from the Chief Justice
of the Colorado Supreme Court
Thank you for your interest in the Colorado Judicial Branch, one of the three branches of
government working independently for a common goal: to protect the rule of law, the ideal that our
country’s founders worked so hard to reach.
The Colorado Judicial Branch is charged with two responsibilities: resolving disputes and
supervising offenders on probation. By resolving disputes according to the rule of law, the judiciary
furthers the founders’ paramount principal that we are a government of laws and not people. No one is
above the law; our courts protect individual rights and are open to all.
Our busy state court system has four levels of courts: county courts, district courts, the Court of
Appeals and the Supreme Court. County courts handle about 450,000 case lings per year, and the
district courts – including our seven specially designated water courts – handle about 235,000 cases
per year. The 22 judges of the Court of Appeals, sitting in panels of three, handle about 2,500 cases
annually, and the seven-member Supreme Court, in which all justices hear each case, receive about
1,500 case lings each year.
This document provides an overview of Colorado’s state courts and the justice system in order to
help you better understand how the courts function and what rights you have in the courts. We believe
a more complete understanding of the justice system also will help all citizens appreciate the important
role an independent judiciary plays in protecting their constitutional rights. We hope you nd this
document useful and informative.
We also invite you to visit the Branch’s headquarters in downtown Denver to view beautiful artwork
and learn more about the courts and the rule of law in the Judicial Learning Center, which is open
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is always free of charge.
Nancy E. Rice
Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice
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Introduction
Your rights in court
Colorado’s courts play important roles in your life. When you buy or sell goods or property, get
married or divorced, have children, work, retire, drive a car, and even after you die, your state courts
can protect your rights and enforce your responsibilities. If you are the victim of a crime, are accused of
committing a crime, or witness a crime, you may be required to appear in a Colorado court. You may also
be called upon to serve as a juror, one of the most important privileges we all share as citizens.
In addition to state courts, there are federal courts in Colorado that deal with federal laws, such
as bankruptcies and matters involving the United States Constitution. This document does not discuss
federal courts. They are part of a parallel but entirely different judicial system.
This booklet is designed to answer questions that you, the people of Colorado, may have about your
state judicial branch. The following few pages present an overview of the Colorado Judicial Branch – how
it works and how it affects you. A glossary containing legal terms is provided beginning on page 12.
If you are arrested or charged with a crime, even some types of trafc violations, you have certain
constitutional rights. It is wise to exercise these rights even if you later decide to plead guilty to the
charges.
What are these rights?
• You have the right to remain silent and to refuse to answer any questions asked by police ofcers
and other ofcials about the event. Anything you say may be used against you.
• You have the right to have a lawyer represent you. If you cannot afford to pay for a lawyer, you can
ask the judge to appoint one for you.
• You have the right to a public and speedy trial, either by a jury or a judge only.
• You are not required to prove your innocence; instead, you are presumed innocent of any crime
unless the district attorney (city attorney in a municipal court) presents sufcient evidence to prove
your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
• You are entitled to testify in your own defense if you want to, but you cannot be forced to testify.
• You or your attorney may cross-examine any person who testies against you.
• You are allowed to bring in witnesses, and the judge can order any person you want as a witness to
appear in court.
If you are found guilty, you have the right to appeal. You also have the right to make a statement
or present additional information to the judge at the time of sentencing. The judge decides the sentence
unless the death penalty is a possibility, in which case the jury decides.
Violations of private rights and duties are considered civil cases. Suits can be brought for such
matters as the recovery of damages from negligence, breach of contract, or violation of civil rights. The
court does not appoint attorneys in civil cases; however, legal aid services may be available for people
who cannot afford a lawyer to represent them in civil matters.
Family law cases – involving such matters as dissolution of marriage (divorce), child support, allocation
of parental responsibility, and dependency and neglect – also are considered civil cases. People who
cannot afford legal representation for family law cases also may qualify for legal aid services or for court-
appointed counsel.
For more information on our courts, please click here.
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Types of courts
Several different courts in Colorado handle various kinds of cases. These courts are:
MUNICIPAL COURTS
Municipal (city) courts deal with violations of city laws committed within the city limits. Generally, these
laws involve trafc, shoplifting, and minor offenses such as dog leash-law violations and disturbances.
For some cases, you may have the right to a jury trial and to tell your side of the story in municipal court.
Municipal courts are not state courts; however, you may appeal a municipal court decision to a state court.
COUNTY COURTS
Every county in the state has a county court, with at least one county judge. These courts handle
trafc cases and minor criminal matters, as well as civil actions involving no more than $15,000. You may
have a jury trial in many types of county court cases. An appeal from a county court decision may be
made to the district court.
SMALL-CLAIMS COURTS
Small-claims courts are divisions of county court. Individuals are allowed to argue their own cases
and to have speedy decisions on civil matters involving no more than $7,500. Court sessions are held
during the day or evening to accommodate the public. There are no jury trials in small claims courts, and
sometimes a magistrate hears the cases instead of a judge. Normally, neither side may be represented
by an attorney. No plaintiff may le more than two claims per month or 18 claims per year in small-claims
court.
DENVER COURTS
Denver’s court system differs from those in the rest of the state, in part because Denver is both a
city and a county.
The Denver County Court functions as a municipal as well as a county court and is paid for entirely
by Denver taxes rather than by state taxes.
Denver County Court judges are appointed by the mayor of the city of Denver. Denver has the only
separate juvenile court and separate probate court in the state. In other parts of Colorado, district courts
handle juvenile and probate matters. The Denver juvenile and probate courts are state courts, along with
Denver District Court.
DISTRICT COURTS
Each county in the state is served by a district court. Colorado is divided into 22 judicial districts,
many encompassing more than one county. Unlike county courts, where there is at least one judge per
county, district judges are assigned to the judicial district and may serve more than one county within that
judicial district, particularly in rural areas of the state, where as many as seven counties may be included
in a district.
District courts have authority to handle many types of cases, including dissolution of marriage
(divorce), civil claims in any amount, juvenile matters, probate (estates), mental health, and criminal
matters. You may appeal a district court decision to the Colorado Court of Appeals and/or to the Colorado
Supreme Court.
WATER COURTS
Colorado has seven water courts, one in each of the major river basins (South Platte, Arkansas,
Rio Grande, Gunnison, Colorado, White, and San Juan rivers). Water court is a division of district court,
and the Supreme Court appoints a district court judge from within each river basin to act as water judge.
Other personnel include the clerk of the water court and a water referee, who investigates applications
for water rights and has the authority – under a water judge’s supervision – to rule on such applications
and other related matters. Water courts have exclusive jurisdiction over water rights. Cases relating to
the determination of water rights and the uses and administration of water resources are determined by
water judges. There are no jury trials in water courts, and all appeals from water courts’ decisions are led
directly with the Colorado Supreme Court.
PROBATE COURT
Probate courts oversee the distribution of estates after deaths. They also appoint guardians and
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conservators to oversee the affairs of living persons who have been declared incapacitated. Probate
courts also handle all involuntary mental health and substance-abuse commitments.
JUVENILE COURT
Juvenile courts handle matters of juvenile delinquency, dependency and neglect, paternity, adoption
and relinquishment. All cases in juvenile court are civil actions.
Delinquency cases involve allegations that a juvenile has broken criminal laws. The parents of the
juvenile also are named in a delinquency petition. If a juvenile is found to have broken criminal laws, the
court’s options range from ordering special schooling or treatment for the juvenile to incarceration of the
juvenile.
Dependency and neglect cases involve allegations of abuse or neglect of children by their parents or
legal guardians. If a child is found to be dependent and neglected, the juvenile court will order a treatment
plan for the adult involved if possible or, as a last resort, if a treatment plan is unsuccessful, may terminate
parental rights.
PROBLEM-SOLVING COURTS
Colorado also has adopted problem-solving courts in all 22 judicial districts. Problem-solving courts
offer a sentencing alternative to incarceration for eligible offenders.
Court participants accepted into the voluntary programs are placed under intensive court supervision
and receive treatment specic to their needs. These courts rely on close collaboration by members such as
probation ofcers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, treatment providers and mental health professionals.
Such courts exist in all 50 states and have proved to reduce substance abuse and recidivism.
Colorado has six types of problem-solving courts: adult drug courts, juvenile drug courts, DUI courts,
adult and juvenile mental health courts, family and dependency/neglect courts, and veterans treatment
courts.
For more information on problem-solving courts, please click here.
COURT OF APPEALS
The Colorado Court of Appeals, located in Denver, has 22 judges. One is appointed by the Colorado
Supreme Court chief justice as chief judge. The court sits in divisions, each consisting of three judges.
Unlike the other courts discussed above, the Court of Appeals is not a trial court. The Court of
Appeals usually is the rst court to hear appeals of decisions made by Colorado district courts and
Denver’s probate and juvenile courts. In addition, it is responsible for reviewing the decisions of several
state administrative agencies. Its determination of an appeal is nal unless, upon petition of a party, the
Colorado Supreme Court agrees to review the matter.
SUPREME COURT
The Colorado Supreme Court has seven justices. A chief justice is elected by the court from its
membership. The chief justice is the chief executive ofcer of the judicial branch of state government.
The Supreme Court is the court of last resort or the nal court in the Colorado court system. An
individual who has appealed to the Court of Appeals and is still dissatised with the outcome may ask the
Supreme Court to review the case. In most situations, the Supreme Court has a right to refuse to do so.
In some instances, such as water-rights or election-related cases, individuals can petition the Supreme
Court directly regarding an administrative body’s or lower court’s decision.
In addition to its legal duties, the Supreme Court has supervisory and administrative responsibilities.
The Supreme Court has supervisory power over all other state courts and over all attorneys practicing
law in Colorado. The following bodies assist the Supreme Court in its duties:
For more information on our courts, please click here.
PRO SE SELF HELP
To help the growing number of people representing themselves in civil cases navigate the sometimes
complicated court system, the Colorado Judicial Branch has created self-help centers in many court
locations around the state.
Staff at these centers can’t provide legal advice, but they can help steer people toward court forms
they need, to community resources, and sometimes provide legal clinics offering the services of volunteer
lawyers.
Click here for an up-to-date list of staff at self-help centers and much more information designed to
help people representing themselves in civil matters.
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Judges
Colorado’s population increases every year. As a result, the number of cases led in the courts
increases every year. Colorado judges work hard to cope with the increasing number of cases so
individuals may have prompt court hearings. This is not an easy task.
Judges do their best to move cases through their courts as fast as possible while still making certain
that everyone has a fair hearing. The sheer number of cases sometimes makes this difcult. With the
approval of the chief justice, judges who retire from service may assist local courts with case backlogs
and ll in for judges during vacations and emergencies.
Trial judges have many responsibilities in addition to presiding over trials. The judges frequently must
hold hearings where they listen to evidence and arguments and decide questions of law that are involved
in a case. Judges spend considerable time researching legal matters and writing orders and opinions.
Trial judges also have the responsibility of advising people of their constitutional rights when they are
charged with a crime.
To ensure there is an adequate number of judges to handle cases in a timely manner, the state court
system will occasionally request the addition of new judgeships to the Court of Appeals and the trial courts
in the districts where they are most needed. Only the Legislature has authority to add new judgeships to
the state system.
Judges on the Court of Appeals and justices on the Supreme Court do not handle trials. They decide
an appealed case by reading the printed record of the trial and by considering written briefs and hearing
the arguments of the lawyers on both sides. They research and review the law involved in the case and
then write opinions, some of which are published and become part of the law of Colorado.
HOW DOES A JUDGE BECOME A JUDGE?
A judge must be a special person: fair, just and knowledgeable in the law. How do judges attain their
places on the bench?
The people of Colorado passed a constitutional amendment in 1966 which provides that state judges
be appointed rather than elected on a political ticket. This is called a merit selection system. When a
vacancy occurs in a state court, a judicial nominating commission interviews applicants and recommends
two or three individuals to the governor for consideration. The governor then appoints one of them as a
judge to ll the vacancy.
Every judicial district has a nominating commission. Each judicial district nominating commission
consists of three attorney members and four non-attorney members. The non-attorneys are appointed by
the governor, and the attorneys are appointed jointly by the governor, Supreme Court chief justice and
the attorney general. Every nominating commission has one more non-lawyer than there are lawyers, and
no political party may have a majority of more than one on a commission. A separate state commission
recommends individuals for vacancies on the the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. The state
commission is composed of one lawyer and one non-lawyer from each of Colorado’s seven congressional
districts, plus a non-lawyer member-at-large.
The Colorado Constitution requires each judge wishing to remain in ofce to stand for retention after
serving a full term. Voters select “yes” if they wish to grant the judge another term in ofce or “no” if they
think the judge should not be retained in ofce.
COURTS IN THE COMMUNITY
Both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals travel around the state several times per year to
hear arguments in real cases at high schools.
The visits are part of the Courts in the Community program, which the courts created in 1986 to help
improve students’ civic knowledge of the courts and appellate process.
During these visits, students get the opportunity to ask questions of the attorneys who argue cases
before the appellate courts, and of the judges or justices.
For more information on Courts in the Community, please click here.
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Initially, a judge serves a two-year provisional term before standing for retention and then serves a full
term. A county judge serves a four-year term; a district judge, six years; a Court of Appeals judge, eight
years; and a Supreme Court justice, 10 years. All judges must retire by age 72.
Our courts also benet from the service of retired judges, who may be appointed at the request of
trial courts, to hear cases in which judges have recused themselves or to ll in when a judge is absent or
when there is a judicial vacancy or an overscheduled docket. Senior judges contract to provide 60 or 90
days of service per year. In return, the judge’s retirement benet is temporarily increased.
For more information on judicial nominating commissions, please click here.
JUDICIAL PERFORMANCE
In 1988, the Colorado General Assembly created judicial performance commissions for the purpose
of providing voters with fair, responsible, and constructive evaluations of trial and appellate judges and
justices. The evaluations enable voters to make informed decisions in judicial retention elections, and also
provide judges with information that can be used to improve their professional skills.
The State Commission on Judicial Performance develops evaluation techniques for district and
county judges, judges of the Court of Appeals, and justices of the Supreme Court. Criteria include
integrity; knowledge and understanding of substantive, procedural, and evidentiary law; communication
skills; preparation for, attentiveness to, and control over judicial proceedings; sentencing practices; docket
management and prompt case disposition; administrative skills; punctuality; effectiveness in working with
participants in the judicial process; and services to the legal profession and the public.
Each judicial district has its own 10-member Judicial Performance Commission. The governor and
chief justice each appoint one attorney and two non-attorneys. The president of the Senate and speaker
of the House each appoint one attorney and one non-attorney.
The state commission is responsible for evaluating the performance of judges of the Court of Appeals
and of the justices of the Supreme Court. Its members are appointed in a similar manner.
Narrative proles and recommendations concerning judicial retention are made available at least 45
days before each general election for those judges subject to that year’s retention vote. The information is
available on the Internet and is published in the Colorado Legislature’s Blue Book of Ballot Issues, which
is mailed to each voter household prior to the election.
For more information on the commissions, please click here.
COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE
The Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline oversees the ethical conduct and behavior of state
court judges, justices, and senior judges. Created in 1966, the commission is composed of 10 members:
four citizens, two attorneys, two district court judges, and two county court judges. The citizen and
attorney members are appointed by the governor and must be approved by the Colorado Senate. The
judge members are appointed by the Colorado Supreme Court. Commission members serve staggered
four-year terms.
The commission does not have jurisdiction over Denver County Court or municipal court judges.
Complaints against these judges go to the mayors of the respective cities.
The commission has the constitutional authority to investigate allegations of any of the following acts:
• Willful misconduct by a judge, including misconduct which, although not related to judicial duties,
brings the judicial ofce into disrepute or is prejudicial to the administration of justice;
• Willful or persistent failure of a judge to perform judicial duties, including the incompetent
performance of judicial duties;
• Intemperance, including extreme or immoderate personal conduct, recurring loss of temper or control,
abuse of alcohol, or the use of illegal narcotics or dangerous drugs;
• Any conduct on the part of a judge that constitutes a violation of the Colorado Code of Judicial
Conduct; or
• A disability, which is or is likely to become permanent, that interferes with the performance of judicial
duties.
For more information on the commission, please click here.
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The jury system
The jury system is an important part of the
court process in Colorado. Persons accused of
crimes have a right to trial by jury. Parties to a civil
suit also may choose to have their case decided
by a jury.
Jurors are selected at random from a
computerized list of names taken from voter
registration and driver’s license records, and
Department of Revenue lists. Juror summonses
are then sent to the people selected, informing
them when and where they are to appear for jury
service.
About 95 percent of all jury trials in the world
take place in the United States. Those who have
served as jurors often express a feeling of pride
in and respect for our system of justice and an
appreciation for the opportunity to be part of the
judicial process.
Efforts to streamline the jury system and make
it more effective are continuing. Jurors in Colorado
serve for only one day or one trial in any calendar
year.
Colorado jurors may take notes during trials
and submit written questions to be posed to
witnesses by the judge if the judge approves. Jurors
also are given notebooks containing pertinent
information about the case such as the judge’s
instructions, a glossary of terms used during the
trial and information about witnesses and exhibits.
If the parties agree, jurors also may discuss the
case with each other before the trial is complete.
Parties are encouraged to use technology to speed
the presentation of evidence.
Employers must pay regular employees who
are serving as jurors their regular wages (or up
to $50 per day) for the rst three days of the trial.
Unemployed jurors may claim a reimbursement for
expenses. The state pays $50 per day to all jurors
after the third day.
The opportunity to serve on a jury allows you
to become a better informed and more responsible
citizen and to learn more about your courts and the
law.
For more information on jury service, please
click here and be sure to click on the “Colorado
Jury Service Video” link.
VOIR DIRE
JUDGE’S INSTRUCTIONS TO THE JURY
ON THE LAW
CLOSING ARGUMENTS BY LAWYERS
JURY DELIBERATIONS AND VERDICT
ENTRY OF JUDGMENT
JURY SELECTED
OPENING STATEMENTS BY LAWYERS
PLAINTIFF’S OR PROSECUTOR’S CASE
Presents evidence and testimony
Defendant’s lawyer may cross-examine
DEFENDANT’S CASE
(If defendant chooses to present a case)
Presents evidence and testimony
Plaintiff’s lawyer or prosecutor may
cross-examine
REBUTTAL BY PROSECUTOR OR PLAINTIFF
Anatomy of a Colorado jury trial
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The legal system
Like the United States, the State of Colorado has three branches of government: Executive, Legislative,
and Judicial. The Colorado Constitution denes each branch’s responsibilities. The Constitution also
guarantees many specic legal rights to all Coloradans and provides for the establishment of state courts.
Courts are part of the Judicial Branch of government, and their major function is to resolve disputes.
CIVIL DISPUTES
Colorado’s courts have power (called jurisdiction) to decide two kinds of disputes – civil and criminal.
Civil cases usually involve conicts between private citizens, such as disputes over contracts, wills,
personal injuries, or family law matters. Government departments, agencies, and ofcials may also be
involved in civil cases. In deciding civil cases, judges often must interpret laws made by the Legislative
Branch or rules made by government departments or agencies that are part of the Executive Branch.
Court proceedings, however, provide only one way to resolve legal disputes; other methods are
called alternative dispute resolution, or ADR. There are two basic types of ADR: negotiation, in which
the parties have control of the decision making; and adjudication, in which a neutral person makes the
decision.
Mediation is the most commonly used type of negotiation-based ADR. In mediation, a trained neutral
third party helps the parties reach a resolution, but the parties make the actual decision. Arbitration is
the most common type of adjudication-based ADR. Arbitration is like an informal trial where a neutral
third party hears evidence and arguments from the parties and then makes a binding decision (called an
award). An award made through binding arbitration may be appealed to the courts only for very limited
reasons.
CRIMINAL CASES
Criminal cases in state trial courts involve charges of violations of certain laws enacted by the
Colorado General Assembly, the Legislative Branch. Criminal charges are led by government attorneys,
called district attorneys, on behalf of the people of the State of Colorado. Some criminal charges – called
indictments – are led by grand juries, but this procedure is rarely used in Colorado state courts.
The Colorado General Assembly establishes the denition of crimes and sets the ranges of penalties
that trial judges may impose on convicted criminals. The Judicial Branch is responsible for the state
courts and probation services. The Colorado Department of Corrections – a department of the Executive
Branch – is responsible for the state prison system and community corrections facilities. Parole – also
under the Department of Corrections – is the supervision of convicted criminals after they are released
from the state prison system. The governor has constitutional power to change the sentences of convicted
criminals.
City (also called municipal) governments are similar in organization to the state government. City
councils pass ordinances that control the behavior of individuals within the city limits. City attorneys
may le charges when certain ordinances have been violated, and trials on such charges are held in a
municipal court before a municipal judge. Municipal courts are not part of the state court system, but the
procedures are very similar to those followed in state courts.
CRIMINAL SENTENCES
Whenever a defendant in a criminal case pleads guilty to or is found guilty of a criminal charge, the
judge must sentence the defendant according to the law. Before any defendant is sentenced (except in
trafc or other less serious criminal matters), the judge is given a report from the probation department.
This report contains information about the defendant and recommendations from the probation department
and other professionals involved in the case as to the sentence that should be imposed.
A defendant may be sentenced to serve a stated period of time in a correctional facility. The
Department of Corrections decides in which institution the defendant will serve the sentence.
Upon the recommendation of a district attorney, the judge may postpone sentencing a defendant for
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a stated period of time after the defendant enters a plea of guilty. If the defendant is a law-abiding citizen
for that time, the judge may dismiss the case and the criminal record of the defendant may be erased.
This is called a deferred sentence.
A defendant may be granted probation. If this is done, the judge places the defendant under the
supervision of the probation department instead of imposing a sentence to a correctional institution. Most
defendants who receive probation are rst-time offenders involved in nonviolent crimes. Payment to the
victim for any losses (called restitution) is usually a requirement of probation. A defendant who violates
probation or a deferred sentence may be sent to a correctional facility.
Defendants who are sent to a correctional facility may be released before their sentence is fully
served by being granted parole by the State Board of Parole. Defendants on parole must keep a parole
ofcer advised of all their activities for the time required by the board. Defendants who violate conditions
of parole may be returned to a correctional facility.
For more information on our court system, please click here.
Probation
Each judicial district has a probation department that is managed by a chief probation ofcer who is
appointed by the judges of the district, with the approval of the chief judge.
The mission of probation is to protect the community while holding offenders accountable. Probation
does this by:
• Providing the judge with information on the offender to help the judge fashion the most appropriate
sentence;
• Providing support to victims; and
• Ensuring convicted offenders pay restitution to the victim, comply with conditions of the court, and
complete community service as ordered.
Information provided to the judge prior to sentencing is based on details of the current offense and
the offender’s criminal and social history; circumstances of the victim, such as restitution needed; and
recommendations for sentencing. If the offender is granted probation, these reports are helpful to the
supervising probation ofcer for case planning. If the offender is to be incarcerated, the report is forwarded
to the Department of Corrections, where it is used in the diagnostic and placement process. Eventually,
it may be reviewed by the parole board if the offender applies for parole.
For those granted probation, supervision may include counseling, referral to treatment facilities,
collection of restitution, drug and alcohol testing, and home detention. Personalized case management
plans are developed through evidence-based assessment tools that are used to determine risk and need
to help ensure efcient and effective use of resources. Special-needs offenders are referred to specialized
programs. These programs are designed for sex offenders, drunk drivers and drug offenders. Evaluators
work to refer offenders to programs that best address their needs. These referrals are often to weekly
outpatient groups, individual therapy, or daily outpatient sessions. Certain high-risk offenders are referred
to intensive supervision probation programs, which may include home monitoring. Defendants who fail to
comply with conditions of probation can be returned to court and may subsequently be incarcerated or at
least have their conditions of probation increased.
The probation department’s post-sentence victim services program is charged with the responsibility
of notifying qualifying victims of crime about changes in the probation status of the person convicted of
committing a crime against them. Victims who have asked for the service are told about numerous points
of information, such as whether the offender has asked for early termination of probation, whether the
offender’s probation may be revoked or whether the offender’s probation has been modied. Referrals to
service agencies are also made for victims in need.
For more information on probation, please click here.
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Administration
The Colorado Judicial Branch is centrally administered by the chief justice of the Supreme Court. To
assist the chief justice, the Supreme Court appoints the state court administrator. Judicial districts are
supervised by chief judges, who are appointed by the chief justice. The chief judge within each district
appoints a district administrator, a chief probation ofcer, and clerks of court to assist in the management
of the district.
Innovative business techniques and new procedures are constantly under evaluation for possible
introduction throughout the branch at all levels in order to improve efciency and to make the courts more
accessible to the citizens of Colorado.
USEFUL LINKS
Colorado Judicial Branch: www.courts.state.co.us
Colorado Court Facts: www.courts.state.co.us/Courts/Education/Court_Facts.cfm
Colorado State Government: www.colorado.gov
Colorado Constitution: www.courts.state.co.us/Courts/Education/Constitution.cfm
Court Case Information: www.cocourts.com or http://www.bisi.com/dataservices.php
INDEX OF LINKS PROVIDED
Educational resources: www.courts.state.co.us/Courts/Education/Index.cfm
Problem-Solving Courts: www.courts.state.co.us/Administration/Unit.cfm?Unit=prbsolcrt
Courts in the Community: www.courts.state.co.us/Courts/Education/Community.cfm
Nominating Commissions: www.courts.state.co.us/Courts/Supreme_Court/Nominating.cfm
Judicial Performance: www.coloradojudicialperformance.gov
Judicial Discipline: www.coloradojudicialdiscipline.com
Jury Information: www.courts.state.co.us/Jury/Index.cfm
Courts Overview: www.courts.state.co.us/Courts/Index.cfm
Probation: www.courts.state.co.us/Administration/Division.cfm?Division=prob
Learning Center: www.colorado.gov/pacic/cjlc/learning-center
Education
The Colorado Judicial Branch puts signicant effort toward educating the public about courts and
legal matters.
Besides formal programs such as Courts in the Community (see the Supreme Court section)
and programs designed for adults and high school students run by judges in some parts of the state,
the Branch invites everybody to visit its headquarters in downtown Denver. The Ralph L. Carr Colorado
Judicial Center features not only numerous beautiful pieces of art, but also a state-of-the-art interactive
Judicial Learning Center for youth and adults.
Admission to the Learning Center, open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., is always
free. At the Learning Center, people can learn about the American justice system and its history, how
judges do their work, the U.S. and Colorado Constitutions, and the importance of the rule of law. For more
information, please click here.
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Supreme
Court
Court
of
Appeals
Judicial
Districts
(22)
Chief Judges
District Administrators Chief Probation Officers
District Courts
County Courts
(63)
Denver Probate
Court
1
County Court of
Denver
2
Municipal Courts
3
Denver Juvenile
Court
1
Chief Justice
Chief Judge
State Court
Administrator
• Judicial Nominating Commissions
• State Board of Law Examiners
• State Judicial Performance
Commission
• Board of Continuing Legal Education
•Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel
•Office of Attorney Registration
• Presiding Disciplinary Judge
• Judicial Discipline Commission
• Commission on the Legal Profession
• Access to Justice Commission
• Attorneys’ Fund for Client Protection
• Judicial Ethics Advisory Board
• Judicial Advisory Council
• Fairness and Diversity Committee
Colorado Judicial Department
Organizational Chart
The Colorado court system consists of the Supreme Court, an intermediate Court of Appeals, district courts and county courts. Each county
is served both by a district court and a county court. Special probate and juvenile courts exist in the City and County of Denver. Colorado
statutes also authorize locally funded municipal courts with jurisdiction limited to municipal ordinance violations.
1 – Separate probate and juvenile courts are exclusive to the City and County
of Denver. In the rest of the state, the district courts are responsible for
juvenile and probate matters.
2 – The Denver County Court functions as a municipal as well as a county
court and is separate from the state court system.
3 – Created and maintained by local government but subject to Supreme
Court rules and procedures.
4 – There are seven water courts, one for each of Colorado’s major river
basins, which are divisions of District Court.
Water Courts
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The Colorado court system consists of the Supreme Court, an intermediate Court of Appeals, district
courts and county courts.
Each county has both a district court and a county court. Special probate and juvenile courts created
by the Colorado Constitution exist in the City and County of Denver.
Colorado statutes also authorize locally funded municipal courts with jurisdiction limited to municipal
ordinance violations.
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Law has a special language. Some familiar words have a different meaning when used in connection
with our courts. This list will help you understand them.
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR) A way to resolve legal disputes that involves such
methods as mediation or arbitration, as a way to avoid litigation in court. ADR is generally less
expensive and less time-consuming and can be less adversarial than litigation.
APPEAL A request to take a case to a higher court for review. No new evidence may be introduced during
the appellate process; the reviewing court considers whether errors occurred during prior proceedings.
APPELLATE JURISDICTION The power of a court to review a case that has already been tried by a
lower court.
BRIEF A written document presented to the court by a lawyer to serve as the basis for argument.
CAPITAL CASE A criminal case in which the death sentence may be imposed.
CIVIL MATTERS Matters or cases pertaining to the private rights of individuals.
COMMON LAW The law of a country based on custom, usage, and the decisions of courts.
CONTEMPT OF COURT The punishable act of showing disrespect for the authority or dignity of a court.
CONVICTION The nding that a person is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of committing a crime.
COUNSEL A lawyer or a group of lawyers.
COURT OF RECORD A court in which a permanent record of proceedings is made.
CRIMINAL MATTERS Matters or cases concerned with acts considered harmful to the general public
that are forbidden by law and are punishable by ne, imprisonment, or death.
DAMAGES Money claimed by, or ordered paid to, a person who has suffered injury due to the fault of
someone else.
DEFENDANT A person sued or accused.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY A lawyer elected or appointed in a specied judicial district to serve as a prosecutor
for the state in criminal cases.
DOCKET A list of cases to be heard by a court.
DOMESTIC RELATIONS Refers to dissolution of marriage (divorce), parenting time and parenting
responsibilities, child support, maintenance (alimony), and property division.
EVIDENCE Anything presented to the judge or jury to prove or disprove a fact. Evidence can be witness
testimony, statements, writings, recordings, or objects. Statements by lawyers are not evidence.
Glossary
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FELONY A crime punishable by death or by imprisonment in a state penal institution.
GRAND JURY A jury of 12 to 23 citizens that investigates accusations concerning crimes. If there is
sufcient evidence, the jury may return an indictment. Used more often in federal court than in state
courts.
INDICTMENT A formal accusation against a person by a grand jury, based upon probable cause that the
person committed a crime.
INFORMATION A formal accusation of crime, based on an afdavit of a person allegedly having knowledge
of the offense.
JEOPARDY Exposure to possible conviction, such as being on trial in court.
JURISDICTION The legal power to hear and decide cases; the territorial range of such power.
JURY A group of people who swear or afrm to hear evidence, to inquire into the facts in a case, and to
give a decision in accordance with their ndings.
JUVENILE CASES Cases involving delinquent children (under 18 years of age), children needing
oversight, and dependent or neglected children (including abused children).
MENTAL HEALTH CASES Cases involving actions in which a mentally ill person is committed to a
hospital or other institution for treatment. A guardian may be appointed to handle the person’s affairs.
MISDEMEANOR A less serious criminal offense punishable by a sentence of two years or less.
OPINION A formal statement by a judge or justice hearing a case.
ORDINANCE A law passed by a city or town legislative body.
PLAINTIFF A person who brings a suit in a court of law.
PRE-SENTENCE INVESTIGATION REPORTS Reports by probation ofcers that present information
necessary for the judge to sentence the offender.
PROBATE MATTERS Matters or cases having to do with wills or estates.
PROBATION An alternative form of sentencing for one convicted of a crime. After the convicted person
agrees to behave properly, the person is placed under the supervision of a probation ofcer, rather
than being put in jail or prison.
PROSECUTOR A lawyer who represents the government in bringing legal proceedings against an alleged
wrongdoer.
PUBLIC DEFENDER A lawyer employed by the government to represent an accused person who cannot
afford to hire a lawyer.
RESTITUTION The act of making good or of giving the equivalent for any loss, damage or injury.
SENTENCING When the defendant is brought before the court for imposition of punishment such as nes
and costs, time in jail or prison, or probation.
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Updated 2015
SUBPOENA A written legal order directing a person to appear in court.
SUMMONS An ofcial order to appear in court in a criminal case. In civil cases, it is a notice that a case
has been led and that an answer is required.
TESTIMONY A statement made under oath by a witness or a party to establish a fact.
WARRANT A writ or order authorizing an ofcer to make an arrest, search, or to perform some other
designated act.
