Each fiscal year the Colorado Judicial Branch Annual Statistical Report is issued to provide information about Colorado state courts. Profiled in the reports are caseload statistics for the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, District Court, County Court, Water Court, and Probation, as well as summarized financial information for the Judicial Branch. Unless specified otherwise, all references to years in the reports refer to fiscal years (July 1 through June 30).   If you have questions, please send an e-mail to courtdatarequests@judicial.state.co.us .

Fiscal Year (FY) 2019

The Access and Fairness survey was developed by the National Center for State Courts as part of their CourTools measures. This measure provides a tool for surveying all court users about their experience in the courthouse. This is done by rating the court users’ perceptions of the courts accessibility and its treatment of court users in terms of fairness, equality, and respect. The survey establishes a baseline of information so that the courts can evaluate current practices and utilize the results to create plans that work toward more improved and efficient court practices. We use the results at the statewide level when requesting resources, including when we request additional staff and judges for districts, and as a part of our accountability measures with the legislature.

Please contact Sierra Candelaria (sierra.candelaria@judicial.state.co.us) if you have any questions or need assistance regarding the Access and Fairness (A&F) Survey.

Providing appropriate resources for pro se parties in the courts is important both as an access to justice issue for citizens and for the efficient operation of courts across the state.  The following tables identify the volume of parties and cases that come before the court without attorney representation. All of these measures have been limited on the time period the case was initially filed.  There are several similar, but distinct ways to measure this activity.  Please contact courtdatarequests@judicial.state.co.us if you have any questions or need assistance regarding these reports.

Article VI, Section 5(3) of the Colorado Constitution authorizes the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court to assign judges and retired judges to temporarily perform judicial duties as necessary to foster the prompt disposition of judicial business. Section 24-51-1105, C.R.S. explains the organization of the Senior Judge Program and authorizes retirees to return to temporary judicial duties. Eligible retired judges who are selected for the program enter into a contract with the Chief Justice to perform judicial duties.

The Senior Judge Program assigns retired judges to:

• hear cases in which trial court judges have recused themselves for reasons set forth by §13-1-122, C.R.S.,
• ensure that the trial court’s docket is not interrupted to the detriment of the litigants due to the illness or unexpected absence of a judge, judicial vacancy, judicial training and education, or an overscheduled docket,
• perform case screenings and handle alternate dispute resolution settlement conferences for the Office of Dispute Resolution (ODR),
• handle overscheduled dockets, write opinions and operate the pre-argument settlement program for the Court of Appeals, 
• complete special assignments or other duties as assigned by the State Court Administrator

As of April 2018, there are 43 senior judges participating in the program.  Please contact Sara Rannetsberger (sara.rannetsberger@judicial.state.co.us) if you have any questions regarding this program.