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Colorado Court Records & Case Lookup
The Colorado Judicial Branch handles about 704,000 cases every year. Around 191,000 of these are civil cases, 189,000 are criminal cases (including felony complaints), and 76,600 are traffic cases. Domestic relations, juvenile, and probate matters also make up nearly 14 percent of the cases filed in Colorado annually.
Records generated from these cases are generally considered public information under the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA). Access to these Colorado court records is broadly governed by the judicial branch's Chief Justice Directive (CJD) 05-01. However, some court records are excluded from public access. Examples of these include adoption, juvenile delinquency, mental health records, dependency and neglect records. Sealed court records are also deemed confidential and exempted from public disclosure.
Colorado court records can typically be accessed by contacting the court where the case was filed. The state's judicial branch also partners with several commercial vendors to provide online access to some court records. However, it should be noted that records obtained via these commercial sites are not considered official records.
State of Colorado Court System
The Colorado Judicial Branch consists of several different courts grouped into two main levels - Appellate Courts and Trial Courts – based on the types of cases they hear. Cases are initially filed in the trial courts and heard before a judge, with or without a jury. In most cases, the matter is concluded in a trial court and doesn't proceed any further. However, parties involved in the case may appeal the trial court's decision to an appellate court.
The appellate courts review decisions reached in trial courts to determine whether the law was correctly applied. It should be noted that these courts do not admit new testimony or evidence, and their decisions are based on the records of the proceedings in the trial courts. Colorado has two appellate courts: the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court. Appeals are initially heard in the Colorado Court of Appeals; however, certain cases may be appealed directly to the Supreme Court. The Colorado Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort, and its decisions are binding on all other courts.
Colorado Trial Courts
The Colorado court system has two types of trial courts – general jurisdiction courts that can hear almost any type of case and limited jurisdiction courts that handle specific (usually less complex) types of cases:
Colorado District Courts
The district courts are general jurisdiction trial courts, as such, they can handle all types of civil and criminal matters. These include criminal, domestic relations, juvenile, probate, and mental health cases, as well as civil cases in any amount.
Colorado County Courts
The county courts are limited jurisdiction courts that handle civil matters involving less than $25,000 (including small claims of up to $7,500), misdemeanors, traffic infractions, felony complaints, and protection orders.
Colorado Water Courts
The Colorado Water Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over cases involving water rights, such as the determination of water rights, the use and administration of water, and other related matters. There are currently seven water courts in Colorado located in each of the state's major river basins - South Platte, Arkansas, Rio Grande, Gunnison, Colorado, White, and San Juan rivers.
Colorado Municipal Courts
Municipal courts are limited jurisdiction courts that handle violations of local ordinances within their respective municipalities. Even though the municipal courts operate outside the state's judicial branch, they are still subject to its rules and procedures. Decisions reached in these courts are initially appealed to a district court before proceeding to the Court of Appeals.
Denver Probate Court
The Denver Probate Court has exclusive jurisdiction over all probate matters that occur in Denver.
Denver Juvenile Court
In addition to its probate court, Denver also has a separate trial court that exclusively handles non-criminal juvenile matters.
What are the Specialty Courts in Colorado?
The Colorado court system also includes several specialty courts. These courts, which are also called "problem solving courts", offer a unique, non-tradition approach to offender rehabilitation by combining treatment services with criminal case proceedings. The primary goal of the problem solving courts is to reduce substance use and repeat offenses.
There are over 70 problem solving courts in Colorado. These courts are grouped into six types:
- Adult Drug Courts
- Juvenile Treatment Courts
- DUI Courts
- Mental Health Courts
- Family Treatment Courts
- Veteran's Treatment Courts
Colorado State Court Records vs. Federal Court Records
The key distinction between Colorado state court records and federal court records is where they are generated. Colorado state court records are generated by the various courts located across the state, detailing their activities. As such, these records typically involve matters related to state law and local ordinances. On the other hand, federal court records in Colorado are generated by the United States District Court for the District of Colorado. These records detail information on cases involving federal law, such as bankruptcy cases, disputes between states, and other similar matters.
Colorado state court records are usually obtained by contacting the court that handled the case, but may also be accessed online via state-approved vendors. On the other hand, federal court records are accessed through Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER), a centralized database managed by the federal judiciary.
What Are Public and Non-Public Court Records in Colorado?
Even though court records are considered public records per the Colorado Open Records Act and generally accessible to any interested member of the public, certain records are exempt from public disclosure. These restricted records can usually only be accessed by authorized parties (sometimes with a court order) or may be provided with certain information redacted:
| Public Court Records | Non-Public Court Records/Redacted Information |
|---|---|
| Criminal case records | Juvenile delinquency records, sealed criminal records, identifying information on confidential witnesses and certain victims |
| Civil case records | Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, trade secrets, and other similar sensitive information |
| Family law/domestic relations records | Adoption records, identifying information on sexual assault and child victims |
| Probate records | Mental health records, records of probate-protected proceedings (like guardianships and conservatorships) |
| Court orders, case summaries, docket sheets, jury verdicts, and sentencing orders | Sealed records, suppressed records |
How To Seal or Expunge Colorado Court Records
Article 72, Part 7 of the Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS) provides the legal framework for record sealing in Colorado. Once a person's criminal record is sealed, it is no longer accessible to the public. However, the record is not destroyed and may still be accessed by criminal justice agencies, courts, and prosecution offices. The record may also be unsealed and considered during sentencing if the person is convicted of another crime.
The record sealing process in Colorado usually has to be initiated by the person named on the record and typically involves filing a motion at the court that handled the case. Nonetheless, certain offenses may be automatically sealed within four to ten years after the final disposition of the case, according to CRS 13-3-117. Note that the District Attorney retains the right to object to this automatic sealing. If this happens, then the person named on the record may request a hearing to discuss the sealing of the case.
It should also be noted that even though most Colorado court records can be sealed, some offenses are deemed ineligible for this process. These include offenses involving sexual assault, violent felonies, and traffic-related offenses (including DUIs).
How To Seal Court Records in Colorado
Individuals who wish to get their criminal records sealed in Colorado may do so by taking the following steps:
-
Determine Eligibility. This is the most important step when looking to seal court records in Colorado. Records involving DUIs, sex offenses, and violent felonies are typically ineligible for sealing. Likewise, most eligible records can only be sealed after a mandatory waiting period. This is usually
- One year for petty offenses and petty drug offenses
- Two years for Class 2 & 3 misdemeanors, drug misdemeanors, and Level 4 drug felonies
- Three years for Class 1 misdemeanors, Class 4, 5, & 6 felonies, Level 3 drug felonies, and most Level 4 felonies.
Note that this waiting period may be extended for individuals looking to seal multiple convictions.
- Gather Necessary Documentation. Proper case report numbers, court case numbers, arrest numbers, and other similar information are typically required when sealing records. In addition, the applicant must obtain a verified criminal history report from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
- Complete the Appropriate Forms. The specific forms required to file for record sealing in Colorado depend on the type of record to be sealed. Separate forms are required for sealing records of arrests where no charges were filed, non-conviction records, convictions from district and county courts, municipal court convictions, and for sealing multiple convictions at the same time. These forms are available online via the Colorado Judicial Branch's Seal My Case webpage.
- File the Forms with the Appropriate Court. The payment of a filing fee may be required at this stage.
Once these steps have been taken, the court will review the motion (along with supporting documents) and may schedule a hearing. Note that the motion can be approved or denied without this hearing.
If the motion is approved, the court will send the order for sealing to all the agencies listed in the petition, and they typically have to seal the record within 30 days of receiving this order. However, in situations where the motion is denied, the petitioner must wait at least one year before filing another request to have their record(s) sealed.
How To Expunge Court Records in Colorado
Expungements in Colorado are generally limited to juvenile records. The procedure for doing this is the same as that of record sealing and also involves determining eligibility, gathering the necessary documentation, completing the correct application forms, and filing a motion at the appropriate court. Forms are available online – to access the necessary forms, input "juvenile" in the search field or select "criminal matters" as the self-help category and "juvenile delinquency" as the sub-category.
Once a record is expunged, it is erased and treated like it never existed. The person named on the record can also legally deny ever being arrested, charged, adjudicated, convicted, or sentenced for the offense(s) that were expunged.
How Do You Access State of Colorado Court Records?
Colorado court records are generally available online and can be viewed on several, approved commercial sites. However, these online records are not considered official records of the court. Interested members of the public who wish to obtain official copies of court records generally have to contact the specific court where the record in question is being held and submit a request.
Online Access to Colorado Court Records
The Colorado Judicial Branch does not offer direct online access to court records. However, it partners with third-party vendors to make case information available online. Users can typically search for court records on these platforms by name or case number. Be aware that these vendors may charge a fee for their services.
On the other hand, some courts in Colorado offer direct online access to their records, usually through dedicated portals on their official websites. Note that these courts only manage, and provide access to, copies of records for cases filed with them.
In-Person Access to State of Colorado Court Records
In addition to viewing Colorado court records online, interested members of the public can inspect and copy these records in person at the courthouse where the case was filed. In-person requests are generally recommended for individuals looking to obtain official copies of court records.
Requesters typically have to complete and submit a formal request (some courts offer options for doing this online or via mail) and pay a fee; they may also have to provide a valid government-issued ID. Note that the procedure for in-person access to court records may vary by location, so it is advisable to contact the court in advance to inquire about their specific requirements for this process.
How To Request Judicial Administrative Records
Members of the public can request copies of judicial administrative records from the Colorado Judicial Branch by completing and submitting a Record/Document Request Form online. Responses are typically provided within three business days.
Requests for these records can also be made by submitting a Public Access to Information and Records Rule (P.A.I.R.R 2) Request Form to the court that maintains the required records.
How To Access Older and Archived Court Records in Colorado
The Colorado State Archives keeps copies of old Colorado court records and allows interested members of the public to view these records online via its Archives Search database. Copies of these records can also be obtained by submitting a formal request.
Copies of some older Colorado court records may also be accessed by contacting the court that handled the case.