NOTICE: Effective July 1, 2023, all hourly, flat fee, and maximum rate amounts for judicial paid appointments will increase, per updates to Chief Justice Directive’s 04-04 and 04-05.

Hourly appointments will have the appropriate rate applied based on the “Date of Service”.

Maximum amounts will have the appropriate amount applied based on the appointment “Start Date”.

Lastly, flat fee contract rate increases for Mental Health and Truancy appointments will not require a contract amendment, as changes to these rates are now incorporated into the language of CJD 04-05.

Please review the links above for new rate amounts.  

Under both the United States and Colorado Constitutions, as well as state law, defendants and respondents in various criminal, delinquency, juvenile, and other matters are to be afforded due process in the courts, including the right to competent legal representation regardless of their financial ability.  Appointments of state-paid counsel are made under the policies and procedures set forth by the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court.

State funds are appropriated to the Judicial Department to provide for representation in certain cases in which the party represented, or the party’s parent or legal guardian, is determined to be indigent.  These include, for example:

• The appointment of counsel in Mental Health cases.

• The appointment of guardians ad litem and court visitors for impaired adults in all cases.

• The appointment of child and family investigators in the best interest of children.

• The appointment of advisory counsel in criminal cases and contempt, probate, or truancy counsel.

• Other appointments of counsel for indigent persons in the event that there is no statutory authority for any other agency to pay for or represent such persons.

State funds for representation are also appropriated to the following agencies:

• Office of the Child's Representative - for the provision of guardians ad litem and child’s representatives appointed on behalf of minors/children (under age 18).

• Office of Respondent Parent Counsel - for representation of respondent parents in dependency and neglect cases.

• Office of the Public Defender - for the representation of indigent persons in criminal and juvenile delinquency cases.

• Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel - for the representation of indigent persons in criminal and juvenile delinquency cases in which the Public Defender declares a conflict of interest.