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Policies of the Colorado Court of Appeals
Self-represented individuals may wish to access the Colorado Legal Help Center, which connects Colorado’s unrepresented litigants to legal information, practical resources, and contact information for assistance with legal issues. Colorado Legal Help Center
Filing Policies:
Record & Public Access Policies:
- Policy on Records Checkout (PDF)
- Policy on Public Access to Court Records in the Colorado Court of Appeals (PDF)
- Access Form (PDF document)
- Access Guide to Public Records (Page Link)
Citation Policies:
- Policy on Citation to the Record (PDF)
- Appellate Rule 32(f) regarding prohibiting the use of names of Children and Sexual Assault Victims (PDF)
- Policy concerning citation of unpublished opinions:
- Citation of unpublished opinions is forbidden, with the following exceptions:
- (1) Unpublished opinions may be cited to explain the case history or to establish the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel;
- (2) This policy shall not apply to opinions that were designated as "Not Selected for Official Publication" and were announced between January 1, 1970 and November 1, 1975, but nevertheless were published in the Pacific Second Reporter. (Policy adopted April 28, 1994)
- Unpublished opinions are not displayed on this web site.
- Copies of unpublished opinions are provided for private use and are not to be included in an electronic database or otherwise published.
- Citation of unpublished opinions is forbidden, with the following exceptions:
Remote Oral Arguments:
Purpose:
The Court recognizes that for attorneys not located along the Colorado Front Range, travel to Denver for oral arguments increases costs for their clients. Additionally, in winter months travel to Denver may be hampered by adverse weather. Therefore, to ensure that all litigants have access to the Court of Appeals, an attorney may request to appear from a more conveniently located Colorado Courthouse and participate through a video link to the Ralph L. Carr Judicial Center in Denver.
Procedure:
If counsel wishes to appear through the Remote Oral program, counsel must file a separate Motion to Appear Remotely with the Court within 7 days of a motion for oral argument filed pursuant to C.A.R. 34. The Court of Appeals staff will make arrangements with the local judicial district and set the case at time the local judicial district has an available facility.
Sample Motion to For Remote Oral Argument Appearance
Protocols:
Appeal Materials for
Unemployment Benefits | Workers Compensation
Forms are also found on the Colorado Legal Help Center.
Simplified Process
Step 1 - File the Appeal
- JDF 664 - Combined Notice and Argument Form
- Self-Represented Litigants Only
- PDF Fillable
Step 2 - Response
- Instructions (PDF)
- Answer Brief Outline
Step 3 - Last Word
- Instructions (PDF)
- Reply Brief Outline
Step 4 - Court of Appeals Decision
Traditional Process
Step 1A - Give Notice
- Instructions (PDF)
- JDF 663 - Notice of Appeal
Step 1B - Arguments
- Instructions (PDF)
- Opening Brief Outline
Special Instructions for Companies
Filing Without a Lawyer
- Instructions (PDF)
- JDF 659 - Motion to File Without a Lawyer
General Forms
1. JDF 657 - Motion for More Time to File
2. JDF 658 - General Use Form
3. JDF 659 - General Motion Form
4. JDF 660 - Change Contact Info
5. JDF 661 - Response to an Order of the Court
6. JDF 662 - Certificate of Service
7. Certificate of Compliance in Briefs
Appeal Materials for
Dependency and Neglect Cases
1. Forms can be found in the Appeals section of the Form Directory
2. Standard Caption for Appellate Documents:
3. Certificate of Compliance for use with all Briefs:
Appeal Materials for
Family Matters | District Civil | Probate Cases
Forms are also found on the Colorado Legal Help Center.
Step 1 - Starting Paperwork
1. Notice of Appeal
2. Transcripts (if any)
Step 2 - Record on Appeal
1. Instructions - PDF
2. District Court sends Record to Court of Appeals.
3. Was the Record Complete? If no:
Step 3 - Written Arguments
1. For the Appeal
2. Appeal Response
3. Reply to Answer Brief
Step 4 - Decision
- A 3-Judge panel will mail its decision.
General Forms
1. Motion for More Time to File
2. General Caption
3. General Motion
4. Contact Info Change Form
5. Response to an Order
6. Certificate of Compliance for use with all Briefs:
Appeal Materials for
Felony Criminal Cases
Forms are also found on the Colorado Legal Help Center.
Step 1 - Give Notice
- Instructions (PDF)
- JDF 672 - Notice of Appeal
Step 2 - Transcripts
- Instructions (PDF)
- CAR Form 8 - Designation of Transcripts
- JDF 4 - Transcript Request Form
- JDF 673 - Motion for State Paid Transcripts
Step 3 - District Court Sends Record
- Instructions (PDF)
- CAR Form 9 - Motion to Add to the Record
Step 4 - Arguments for the Appeal
- Instructions (PDF)
- JDF 675 - Opening Brief - Typed
Step 5 - Response to Government's Argument
- Instructions (PDF)
- JDF 676 - Reply Brief - Typed
General Forms
1. JDF 666 - Motion for More Time to File
2. JDF 667 - Flexible Caption
3. JDF 668 - General Motion
4. JDF 669 - Notice of Contact Information Change
5. JDF 670 - Response to a Court's Order
6. JDF 671 - Certificate of Service
7. CAR From 6 - Certificate of Compliance in Briefs