The Colorado Supreme Court and Court of Appeals provide an educational outreach program for high schools, and sometimes universities, which introduces students to the state’s appellate process. In the program, Courts in the Community, each court travels at least once a year to a different high school to hear oral arguments in two actual cases at each location. In fall 2022, the Supreme Court visited Pine Creek High School in Colorado Springs. A division of the Court of Appeals heard oral arguments at Montrose High School and Pagosa Springs High School.

Courts in the Community began on Law Day in 1986. The program gives students hands-on experience in how the Colorado judicial system works and illustrates how disputes are resolved in a democratic society. These are not mock proceedings. They are oral arguments in actual cases from which official opinions are issued. Cases are chosen by specifically considering the interests of students.

Colorado Supreme Court
Nov. 17, 2022, Pine Creek High School
21SC236, Elliott J. Forgette v. The People of the State of Colorado
Court of Appeals opinion
Opening brief
Answer brief
Reply brief

21SC665, Sylvia Johnson v. The People of the State of Colorado
Court of Appeals opinion
Opening brief
Answer brief
Reply brief

Colorado Court of Appeals
Oct. 11, 2022, Montrose High School
20CA1121, The People of the State of Colorado v. William Benjamin Cline VI
Opening brief
Answer brief
Reply brief
 
21CA1687, Adam Carpenter v. Cecil Norrid
Opening brief
Answer brief
Reply brief

Oct. 13, 2022, Pagosa Springs High School
21CA1710, Raphael Mukendi v. Bradley Schrock
Opening brief
Answer brief
Reply brief
Amicus brief, Colorado Defense Lawyers Association
Amicus brief, Colorado Trial Lawyers Association

19CA2194, The People of the State of Colorado v. Joshua Phillip Turner
Opening brief
Answer brief
Reply brief