13th Judicial District Notice Regarding COVID-19 and Court Operations

Spanish - Notice Regarding COVID-19

Supreme Court Order Regarding COVID-19 and Operations of Colorado State Courts, March 16, 2020

Order Authorizing Modified Procedures in Response to COVID-19, March 25, 2020

Chief Justice Operations Order of June 15, 2020 regarding Jury Trials

Due to the present the health concerns pertaining to the spread of COVID-19 (“Novel Coronavirus”), it is appropriate to permit modified procedures for handling court appearances in the 13th Judicial District.  These procedures go into effect immediately. 

1. CR/JD cases which are set on regular docket days for a routine type of hearing like a status conference, review hearing, dispositional hearing, revocation hearing, and for which no action is expected to be taken apart from setting for a future hearing, Defendants/Juveniles need not appear, so long as Defense counsel files a certificate with the Court, at least 24 hours in advance, to the effect that:  1) Defense counsel has had discussions with their client and the prosecution; 2) the parties and counsel have agreed to the continuance; and 3) Defense counsel will notify their clients of the next court date.  Further, in such event, the Prosecution will notify any alleged victims or victim’s representatives of the next court date.  Regardless, counsel for the Public Defender and the District Attorney are expected to be present in the courtroom, unless otherwise permitted by the presiding Judge to appear by telephone or other remote means.  Alternate Defense Counsel representing not more than two clients during any discrete portion of the docket may appear by phone so long as they notify the Clerk of Court at least 24 hours in advance.  (Counsel should be aware by now that Rule 43 has just been amended to allow a greater variety of hearings for which phone appearances by defendants are allowed).  
2. In JV cases, for review hearings, so long as the parties are in agreement as to the proposed review findings and order (and the Family Services Report filed by DHS does not contain anything that requires a contested hearing), counsel may appear in person or by phone, make their report, and set the matter for further hearing, with a promise to notify their clients of the next date.  Parents, grandparents, foster parents, special respondents, etc., shall not appear.  Juveniles also should not appear, unless they wish to appear by phone, and so request through their Guardian ad litem, in advance.  County Attorneys and Guardians ad litem are expected to appear in court unless they have two or fewer cases on the docket. 
3. No new DR/IV-D/truancy settings will take place for at least 90 days, except for emergency hearings which the presiding Judge has expressly agreed may be set on the docket.
4. PR cases will all be non-appearance; if contested, they must be set, off docket, for hearing through the Division Clerk.
5. Routine hearings in CV cases typically will be conducted by phone.  Contested cases that are permitted to be heard pursuant to the Chief Justice Order of March 16, 2020 may be conducted as “in person” hearings, at the discretion of the presiding Judge; these shall be scheduled by the Division Clerk of the presiding Judge.    
6. As to non-docket hearings, the use of phone and/or video appearances are also generally encouraged at this time.  As to all phone appearances, in the event several parties or attorneys in a case are expected to appear by phone, the lead party (usually, the first party in the party screen), should initiate the call, preferably through the Court’s conference line; or that party may set up the conference themselves; or, as the least preferred alternative, that party may furnish the courtroom clerk with the participants’ phone numbers to call. 
7. Local Sheriff’s Departments are taking steps to turn people away from county courthouses or individual courtrooms if they pose a potential danger to the health of others.  Deputies should immediately notify the Clerks of Court of the identities of those turned aside, in order to avoid the issuance of unnecessary warrants for failure to appear. 
8. Access to the courtrooms by the general public is restricted at this time.  Thus, apart from court staff, only counsel, parties, parents of juveniles in JD cases, GALs, social workers, law enforcement, victims, victims’ advocates, probation staff, and subpoenaed witnesses will be allowed in the courtroom and/or courthouse.  Further, an individual judicial officer may limit the number of persons in his or her courtroom, and/or may exclude individuals whose condition may present a health hazard.
9. Due to the differences among counties in terms of physical facilities, court security staffing, technological capabilities, and the availability of local staff, each judicial officer shall have discretion to re-arrange how cases are called on their dockets, in order to minimize “in-person” contact, consistent with the need to expeditiously conduct our constitutionally-mandated court functions.  This does not authorize the wholesale cancellation of routine dockets, without consulting with the Chief Judge.    

Date: March 23, 2020.  

BY THE COURT

Michael K. Singer

Chief Judge, 13th Judicial District

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Kit Carson County Combined Court office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday

EMAIL Contact:  KitCarsonClerksOffice@judicial.state.co.us - please use this for any record check or when needing to contact the clerk's office by email.

Telephone Numbers:

                Court Clerk:             719-346-5524, ext 3

                Jury Line:                 719-346-5524 ext 2 - no access to voice mail, please use ext 3 to leave a message

                Fax:                          719-346-7805

                Collections:             719-346-8686 ext 2

                Protective Proceedings Monitor (guardianship/conservatorship):  719-346-5524, ext 3

EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 COUNT COURT TRAFFIC AND MISDEMEANOR CASE TYPES WILL BE HELD ON THE 1ST, 2ND AND 3RD TUESDAYS.  All CIVIL COURT CASES ARE HEARD ON THE THIRD TUESDAY AT 1:00 P.M.  You may check the docket by clicking on  dockets in the link to the left.

Fines may be paid on line by using the link to the left.

FREE LEGAL CLINIC AT THE BURLINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY 
WEDNESDAY October 7, 2020, November 4, 2020 and December 2, 2020      Despite the COVID-19 closures of libraries across Colorado, all Virtual Pro Se Clinic (VPC) clinics are being held as scheduled.  We're able to do this because our volunteer attorneys already work remotely.   Now, instead of clinic patrons coming to your local public library in person, your local library staff will schedule all appointments.    It is especially important to provide a reliable phone number, and the volunteer attorney will call the clinic patron's telephone directly, during scheduled clinic hours.   Contact your local library at (719) 346-8109 to be added to the sign-up sheet.  Space is limited.  
A  free legal clinic for parties who have no attorney, will be featured from 2:00 pm - 5:00 PM on the FIRST WEDNESDAY of each month, very generously hosted by your Burlington Public Library at 321 14TH St. Burlington, CO 80807.   By computer link, volunteer attorneys will answer questions, help fill out forms, and explain the process and procedure for all areas of civil litigation, including family law, property law, probate law, collections, appeals, landlord-tenant law, small claims, veterans issues, and civil protection orders.   Please contact the Burlington Public Library at (719) 346-8109 to schedule an appointment.
ALL FREE, BY APPOINTMENT
 

Kit Carson County Combined Court
1650 Donelan
Suite 301
Burlington, CO 80807
Directions/Map

719-346-5524, ext 3
719-346-7805 (fax)
KitCarsonClerksOffice@judicial.state.co.us

View hours and other information
Hours
Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 12 noon and 1:00 pm -4:00 pm.

Other Information

The Kit Carson County Combined Court is a secure facility please enter through the south door of the courthouse.  You will be asked to walk through an electronic scanner.  Please leave all sharp instruments, or other questionable items in your vehicle or at home.  Thank you.  

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