Colorado Judicial Branch

Congratulations to the 117 Colorado attorneys who were sworn in recently at a ceremony held every year since our state was founded 150 years ago.

Looking back at 1876, 61 men became attorneys in Colorado, including Alvin Marsh, a drafter of the Colorado Constitution and the main writer of the state’s bill of rights. March would eventually become a Colorado Attorney General and a Colorado District Court judge.

At this week’s ceremony, Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Monica Márquez administered the oath; Colorado Supreme Court Justices, Court of Appeals judges, and district court judges also attended the event.

Did you know the Colorado courts played a key role in shaping modern constitutional law related to equal protection and sexual orientation?

In 1992, voters approved Amendment 2, which prohibited state and local governments from creating laws that protected people based on sexual orientation. The amendment was quickly challenged in state court, and the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that it violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed this ruling in the 1996 landmark decision, 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘷. 𝘌𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘴, which overturned the amendment.

America 250 - Colorado 150 Commemoration

𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟏 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?

Ratified in 1876, it protected civil liberties, banned slavery and set up an independent judiciary. It also reflected the territory’s diversity by requiring laws to be published in English, German and Spanish and established core principles like due process, equality, free elections and water rights that courts still interpret today.

150 years and 176 amendments later and it's still going strong.

Learn more about the Colorado Constitution: https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/150-anniversary

America 250 - Colorado 150 Commemoration

Do your part today and donate blood if you are able!

The Colorado state courts and probation offices will be closed on Monday, May 25, 2026 for Memorial Day, a federal holiday that honors the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Regular hours will resume on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

It was not your typical day in court.

Instead of meeting in a Denver courtroom, District Court Judge Jon Olafson and two attorneys held a pretrial hearing in a civil case at Abraham Lincoln High School and gave about 50 students a firsthand look at the trial courts in action.

Judge Olafson (2nd Judicial District, Denver) partnered with the school to launch this outreach initiative as a way to demystify the courts and connect with the local community.

“I want students to experience the judicial system on their terms and in their own space,” he said, hoping the visit might spark future interest in legal careers and help students feel more confident when serving on a jury or appearing in court.

Denver Public Schools

SCAM ALERT!

Colorado residents, be aware that fraudulent text messages are circulating statewide. These texts falsely claim recipients must appear in District Court for a traffic violation. Anyone who receives one of these texts should delete it immediately and avoid clicking any links.

Note that the courts will never reach out by text to demand money for a missed traffic violation.

For more information about how to spot the fake text, how courts actually notify you and how to report the scam, visit our website: https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/fraudulent-court-appearance-text-messages-targeting-colorado-residents

Governor Jared Polis has made many recent judge appointments to district courts and county courts around Colorado. Check out our website for information about these appointments: https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/media/judge-appointments

During Mental Health Awareness Month and National Treatment Court Month in May, we are highlighting how Colorado courts support people facing mental health and substance use challenges.

Each year:
• Competency dockets help nearly 1,800 people participate meaningfully in the legal process while ensuring cases move forward fairly.
• Problem‑solving treatment courts—including wellness, DUI, veterans, juvenile and family programs—support about 1,700 Coloradans on paths toward recovery, stability and stronger community connection.

Learn more about how courts and community partners work together to support wellness and recovery:

👉 Treatment Courts: https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/media/press-release/colorado-courts-highlight-recovery-success-during-treatment-court-month
👉 Competency Courts: https://cjpu.colorado.gov/competency