The District of Colorado has announced the suspension of all criminal and civil jury trials and all in-person bench trials through January 8, 2021. If youre found not guilty by a jury or a DA dismisses your case, theres absolutely no provision in the law for you to get anything out of it. We just dont know for how long.. sufficient pressure on both sides, though, one side may be willing A defendants right to a speedy trial is in the U.S. Constitution, however, it does not specify what constitutes a speedy trial, neither does the Colorado Constitution. Colorado judicial districts got the green light to resume criminal jury trials this week after the coronavirus shut down much of in-person court operations in mid-March. hire judges if both sides agree to rule on the case. In a normal year, the office typically sees an excess of 100 to 200 felony cases when comparing newly-filed cases with resolved cases, he said. In a normal year, there are only 2,716 jury trials held. These are the types of decisions people will start making in 2021 until the court backlog is cleared. With all of the cases waiting for trial, McCann says some things are falling through the cracks and others need to be prioritized. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Who makes the best hot chicken sandwich in Denver? For Thomas Raynes, the executive director of the Colorado District AttorneysCouncil, one of the biggest challenges is the lack of consistency between the judicial districts. Normally, the speech doesn't garner much media attention. preference over commercial cases. Having jurors Even while the courts struggled to ease their doors open this fall, the recent upswing of COVID-19 cases and the Governor's response have trickled down to both the state and federal courts. I have an attorney who tried a homicide case this last week and will try another next week, he said. Home Announcements, Closures, and Delays. larger by the day. The bill allows judges to grant a continuance, as it is known, up to two times, but the bill sponsors indicated they would seek to limit the extensions to just one. Should You File A Prior Disclosure In 2023? On January 19, 2021, we had 14,635 jury trials scheduled, statewide with over 10,000 of those being criminal trials. In a Sept. 18 order, U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen M. Tafoya observed that the curtailment of jury trials in Colorado Springs and the limited use of pilot trials in Denver's Arraj and Rogers . At this point, I don't know if any of them is office has been reaching out to defendants before their first appearance date to explain the process and talk about what they will be charged with. Every trial I had scheduled Protracted proceedings weigh on everyone across the judicial Were digging out, but we still have a ways to go, said Brian Mason, district attorney for the 17th Judicial District, which covers Adams and Broomfield counties. Were less likely to staff a case with two attorneys, Kellner said. Because of limited courtroom space, limited judges and limited jury availability, we will be backlogged for quite some time, Roberts said. Youll only need to do it once, and readership information is just for authors and is never sold to third parties. From 2017 to 2019, the Colorado State Advisory Committee examined the causes and consequences of naturalization backlogs and their impact on voting rights, civil rights, and the So, this is very rare of them to do, which makes me think theres a serious problem, said Rep. Dylan Roberts, D-Avon, one of the bills primary sponsors and an assistant district attorney in Eagle County. Courts should act now to get tools like Quick Check Judicial in place, so they are better prepared to handle the backlog. But its going to affect court operations for some time. If jurors do come, the most important cases to try from the In March 2020, the world seemed to grind to a halt as government-issued pandemic restrictions limited social interactions. Citizenship Delayed Report on Citizenship and Naturalization Backlog in Colorado . Jon Sarche, a spokesman for the Colorado Judicial Department, said that it is difficult to quantify how long it will take to get through Colorados backlog of criminal cases, especially since new cases are still being filed every day. Will all these trials You dont get that time back, Gorman said. Statewide mandates cause delays in judicial districts On Feb. 18, 2021, Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Brian Boatright issued his first State of the Judiciary speech, noting that the. Of the $60 billion, $40 billion would support federal partnerships with states and tribes to tackle the backlog of restoration and fire mitigation projects. At the end of May, the Colorado Supreme Court issued a rule that allows judges to grant a mistrial if they believe the pandemic makes it impossible to conduct a fair trial, said Dougherty. No president has been elected. Tamara Chuang 5:46 PM MDT on Mar 29, 2021 ", Other news: Trial begins in Pueblo for Monte Vista man accused of killing, dismembering mother. With each trial delay, litigants are taking a wait and see Prosecutors are prioritizing cases involving violent crimes or serious felonies, he said, as well as cases that have been pending for a long time. County Courts handle civil cases under $25,000, misdemeanors, traffic . Trials vary in length, depending on the complexity of the case, with some lasting only a day and others lasting weeks.Defense and prosecution follow local rules, face public scrutiny. However, statewide reports, like one from the Colorado Bureau of Investigations, show a rise in violent crime. The uncertainty is going to make the first quarter 2021 very The weighting would not be based on which case was filed first. We dont want to have people sitting in jail longer than they need to. certain courtrooms have appeared to be ready to host a socially "My attorneys, they're having anxiety attacks, migraines. Feds sue water company for rupture damaging Rocky Mountain National Park -- again, Family gets unexpected bill after Kaiser Permanente Colorado software error that resulted in refunds to thousands, Skygazers will have a great view Wednesday of two planets that look like they are almost touching. Theyre trying to move forward as best they can, but its a tough proposition.. Every trial I had scheduled this year starting on March 30, 2020, has been reset to the first quarter of 2021. Already, defense attorneys are concerned that defendants constitutional rights are being threatened as the backlog drags on, she said, not just the right to speedy trial but also the right to effective counsel. This information is not intended as legal advice. My civil case load is backlogged. Other trials have slowly begun to move forward after months worth of delays, like the trial of the teen accused of killing Kendrick Castillo in the STEM Highlands Ranch school shooting. On Feb. 18, 2021, Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Brian Boatright issued his first State of the Judiciary speech, Building connections: Swerdfeger Construction sells to national company, Pueblo West woman's dreams of owning a food truck come to fruition with Luke Dogs, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Both the buildings and courtrooms are We will use this experience to enhance our safety protocols so the community may safely continue to conduct business in El Paso Countys courthouse, Chief Judge William Bain said in a press release on Monday, after court operations shut down because a court staff member tested positive for COVID-19. Jury trials will not happen in Boulder, Jefferson, Broomfield, Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties until at least Jan. 21 if not longer, chief judges for those judicial districts. Statewide, the number of cases awaiting jury trials dropped from about 14,600 in 2021 to 11,200 earlier this month, said Rob McCallum, a spokesman for the Colorado Judicial Department. With courts essentially shuttered due to the COVID-19 outbreak, custody and domestic violence hearings are on hold, which is creating a backlog of cases numbering in the thousands. Some judges are sitting for hearings, including evidentiary hearings, and certain courtrooms have appeared to be ready to host a socially distant jury selection. The court can currently hold about 24 felony and misdemeanor jury trials a month. His jurisdiction has seen the backlog of felony cases set for jury trials in the next six months drop from more than 700 in the spring of last year to just over 500 this month, according to data the office provided. However, he agreed with the public defender that the backlog is a myth in Pueblo, as there are always cases that don't make it to jury trial. challenges. But either way as a state, we should have some process in place for the next time a crisis strikes so that speedy trials could be suspended.. Adams Alamosa Arapahoe Archuleta Baca Bent Boulder Broomfield Chaffee Cheyenne Clear Creek Conejos Costilla Crowley Custer Delta Denver Dolores Douglas Eagle El Paso Elbert Fremont Garfield Gilpin Grand Gunnison Hinsdale Huerfano Jackson Jefferson Kiowa Kit Carson La Plata Lake Larimer Las Animas Lincoln Logan . Lawyer requests to delay due to an untenable number of trials set close together are being denied. Thats really unusual to try two back-to-back homicide trials.. . Any court staff, public defenders and prosecutors who wanted to be vaccinated have been, he said, and the county is lifting its mandatory mask mandate. The 17th Judicial District has more than 700 felony jury trials on its calendar, but is currently holding just two a week because of COVID-19 safety restrictions, District Attorney Brian Mason said. One District judge recently told me that a hierarchy All Rights Reserved. Chief Judge Martinez of the 2nd Circuit (for Denver City and County) likewise announced that all jury trials would be suspended at least until January 4, 2021. showing up for work. The prospect is opposed by the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, said Ann Roan, a board member. As litigators, we know it DENVER During his State of the Judiciary address Thursday, Chief Justice Brian Boatright spoke candidly about a series of allegations involving sexual harassment, discrimination and payoffs at the Colorado courts' highest levels. State courts have been open on a limited basis, judge by judge Then, other cases would be weighted for priority. But with COVID-19 beginning to fade locally, trial dates are finally arriving for defendants and the backlog is rapidly declining. In an effort to help, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that a mistrial can be declared if the court room does not have the capacity to safely hold a trial or if a jury pool cannot be compiled due to the pandemic. The networks scream "breaking news" Sign Up for our free News Alerts - All the latest articles on your chosen topics condensed into a free bi-weekly email. POPULAR ARTICLES ON: Litigation, Mediation & Arbitration from United States. Nicole Westbrook is an attorney with Jones & Keller in Denver. In conjunction,Colorado's courts had several hurdles to clear prior to restarting large, in-person proceedings, namely jury trials. . to wait it out. Chief Judge Martinez of the 2nd Circuit (for Denver So thats some of the difficulty, the lack of continuity throughout the state by the judiciary., Alleviating the backlog in criminal cases. zoom, as are depositions, made possible because court reporters are The work has continued, its just slowed down, Sarche said. At the end of the day, it will be my sectorcomplex Its unclear if the reduction in the jail and prison populations has affected public safety. Anecdotally, we do know it has had some impact, she said. Shes been a reporter since 2012, focused on criminal justice. The District of Colorado has announced the quarter 2021. Thats a strategy used by several judicial districts. The death happened in 2020 and the trial was delayed by COVID-19. The other prong, of course, is whats going on with the courts, where its not really safe to do in-person court appearances, in-person evidentiary hearings, or in-person jury trials.. The Legislature was encouraged to pick it up and did not do so, Dougherty said, adding that there is disagreement over whether the governor has the authority to suspend the mandate. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. "While we have made significant changes to how we do business by having virtual and telephonic hearings when possible, there are some hearings that simply require in-person proceedings. Over the last decade, public defenders have gone from carrying an average of 72 cases at a time to 106 a 47% increase. She is a trial instructor as well as a frequent writer and presenter on legal issues. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. opposing side and move the case to arbitration. If we get a vaccine around the beginning of the year, my hope "That backlog has mounted significantly, and we're trying to get out from underneath that with less people to do it," Pickarts said. Mask mandates were imposed and distancing rules engaged. The legislature could change the general speedy trial deadline, but so far no bills have been introduced to do so. So, if you didnt have to miss work to appear, if you didnt have to miss child care to appear, I imagine people are more likely to appear, he said. Chieftain reporter Heather Willard can be reached via email at hwillard@gannett.com or on Twitter: @HeatherDWrites. Contact Editor Quentin Young for questions: info@coloradonewsline.com. And I think at some point its going to end up hurting victims and jeopardizing public safety.. It is also part of the information that we share to our content providers ("Contributors") who contribute Content for free for your use. If jurors do come, the most important cases to try from the justice systems perspective are the criminal cases because they have a speedy trial mandate that cant be violated. And unfortunately, those answers just arent there., She said shes unsure how the long-term impacts will play out as a result of the backlog of criminal cases. Vote in our annual food bracket challenge. Even while the courts struggled to ease their The statewide court system cut 111 employees this summer and eliminated 95 empty positions in order to reduce its general fund budget by about $34 million amid a statewide shortfall, according to information the judicial branch provided to the legislature's Joint Budget Committee. COVID disproportionately impacts the poor and people of color, she said. But its going to affect court operations for some time. The bill now moves to the Senate for debate. This is new uncharted territory for our state., by Moe Clark, Colorado Newsline August 6, 2020. Benavidez says many of the people who are in pre-trial detention simply cannot afford their bonds and extending the amount of time they are in jail infringes on their rights. The backlog is really overwhelming to the system right now, and it impacts the rights of defendants, and it impacts the rights of victims, and it certainly impacts the ability of the system from judges to prosecutors to defense attorneys to keep up, Mason said. The mandate requires defendants who plead not guilty to have their case heard within six months. Domestic relations and family law cases, which constitutionally take precedence, will also be made a priority, he added. Criminal trials are generally bound by law to take place within six months of a plea entry, but these too were halted for a period, as pandemic case numbers rose along with death counts in the state and county. Instead of requiring retired judges to serve for at least 60 or 90 days, the bill would allow retired judges to return for as little as 10 days, giving more flexibility to retirees and to courts. 26th Floor A lot of civil judges are being annexed away from the civil cases and being used to push through criminal cases, contributing to an even larger backlog of civil cases. In Pittsburgh, she helped the newspaper earn the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news after a mass shooting at a local synagogue, and in 2020 she was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in local reporting for an investigation into child sexual abuse among Amish and Mennonite communities. Emily Tofte Nestaval, executive director of the nonprofit Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center, described the number of criminal cases in the backlog as a tidal wave barreling towards Colorados criminal justice system. anxiety for clients and increase the difficulty for lawyers in Singletonsaid he has not seen more Pueblo jury trials than what he believesto be averageduring 2020 or2021. (CCC): an affordable online mediation program available throughout Colorado. Here, we've been conducting court business the entire time. are sitting for hearings, including evidentiary hearings, and The work has continued, its just slowed down, Sarche said. We dont want to have victims of justice waiting for longer than they need to, but because of this historic pandemic, we do need to release some of the pressure on the time clock a little bit, Roberts said. Shelly Bradbury is the courts reporter at the Denver Post. Mondaq uses cookies on this website. There are just too many variables to get a real clear idea of how long its going to take to get through cases on the criminal docket statewide, he said, adding that cases that require a speedy trial will be bumped to the top of the list. As courts face unprecedented trial backlog, Colorado lawmakers debate bill to help Over the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a serious delay in the court system. suspended at least until January 4, 2021. away from the civil cases and being used to push through criminal It also raises concerns of a. We have to. For the May trial of accused STEM school shooter Devon Erickson, officials in the 18th Judicial District plan to rent out hotel space in order to call in 600 potential jurors without violating COVID-19 social distancing requirements. Across the state, 93% of felony cases filed in 2018 have been closed, while only 80% of cases filed in 2020 and 60% of cases filed in 2021 have been closed, according to the data. The weighting As most juries contain 6 or 12 jurors, depending on the type of court, plus alternate jurors, the practice was not an easy one to implement in a court room, there's only so much space to socially distance 12 or more people, and a crowd of several dozen jurors would be nearly impossible to seat with adequate distance. State courts have been open on a limited basis, judge by judge and circuit by circuit. Judges have instead declared mistrials which delays the trial for 90 days or extended speedy trial deadlines by six months, a move the state Supreme Court allowed during the pandemic under some conditions. 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Other states have suspended their speedy trial mandates in response to the pandemic. Colorado Newsline maintains editorial independence. clients. While we do have a huge backlog 14 months of cases crammed into three months we are quickly resolving cases by people who are facing their upcoming trials and have come to terms with the need to enter a plea agreement, he said. Shed like to see prosecutors reduce the backlog by offering more favorable plea deals to defendants a power only prosecutors wield. That means the district attorneys office like defense attorneys must prepare for all of the cases, straining resources. On Feb. 18, 2021, Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Brian Boatright issued his first State of the Judiciary speech, noting that the state had a backlog of more than 14,600 cases, with over 10,000 belonging in criminal court. Yes, we have been offering some dispositions of cases that we wouldnt normally offer because we just have to deal with the crushing workload, McCann said. If we get a vaccine around the beginning of the year, my hope would be that the court system would return to near normal. Since then, the order has been extended four times and expired on Monday. Shelly Bradbury is the courts reporter at the Denver Post. Home Courts. Those conversations have been extremely productive. DEIJ Policy | Ethics Policy | Privacy Policy. We need this to enable us to match you with other users from the same organisation. The backlog is no longer growing. In Eagle, Summit, Clear Creek and Lake counties, Fifth Judicial District Attorney Heidi McCollum expects her district, which has been holding trials since the beginning of March, to be caught up on its backlog by about August. However, McCann insists the lighter plea bargains have not been offered on any of the serious, violent crimes involving victims. Typically, the state conducts only about 2,700 jury trials annually. Water Courts Denver Juvenile Court Denver Probate Court. Originally Published by Jones & Keller, December 2020. Statewide backlogs in the competency process that predated the COVID-19 pandemic were exacerbated over the last two years as staffing shortages and capacity restrictions further limited the number. Those conversations have been extremely productive. would be that the court system would return to near normal. But ultimately, prosecutors decide how cases will be prioritized. Colorado's courts will face an unprecedented backlog of cases next year with reduced staff and resources because of budget cuts prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. Denver, however, are retired people who might not be comfortable Trial Courts. Not only lawyers but also judges are learning to work House Bill 1309 would allow for a delay to the speedy trial process of up to three months for someone who is in pre-trial detention and up to six months for someone who is out on bond. Over the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a serious delay in the court system. Im not a sky falling type of guy, but in a few months I think were going to see cases that have been delayed that are going to likely face dismissal, said Michael Dougherty, the district attorney for the states 20th Judicial District, which encompases Boulder County. is almost laughable how many trials have been reset to the first The jury trial that attorney Jonathan Booker started last week was a long time coming. To hear that its going to be delayed is devastating, but to hear that it might get dismissed altogether because of a right afforded to the defendant that isnt exactly afforded to the survivor is even worse, said Emily Tofte Nestaval, the executive director of the nonprofit Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center. Ninth Circuit Decision Clears The Way For California Employers To Require Arbitration Agreements, One Step Forward For Arbitration Agreements, Two Steps Back For Non-Disparagement Provisions, Illinois Supreme Court Dramatically Expands Liability By Ruling Each Scan Of A Biometric Identifier Is A Separate Violation, Navigating the Cross-Border Highway: A Roadmap for Canada-U.S. Estate Planning and Administration, Luxembourg Tax and Transfer Pricing Update 2023, Dealing With Workplace Conflict - The Increasingly Important Role Of ADR, Harnessing Innovation To Improve The Quality Of Arbitrator Decision-Making - A Neutral's Perspective On The Evolution Of Resolving Construction Disputes. Moe Clark is a freelance journalist and former Colorado Newsline reporter who covered criminal justice, housing, homelessness and other social issues. but court is in session, running virtually on a Webex platform, Vote in our annual food bracket challenge. Another argument Gorman makes against the bill is that for misdemeanor crimes, its possible for a person to spend longer in jail waiting for trial than any potential jail sentence they would face if convicted. It's hard to bring jurors into this scenario. In Boulder, District Attorney Michael Dougherty gave closing arguments in a jury trial Thursday in a vehicular homicide case. Some judges The first quarter 2021 very the weighting would not be published, broadcast,,! Constitutionally take precedence, will also be made a priority, he added tools like Quick Check in. & Arbitration from United States on the case 2020 and the trial was Delayed by.. August 6, 2020 work colorado court backlog continued, its just slowed down, Sarche said to staff a with... Is just for authors and is never sold to third parties fade,... Virtually on a Webex platform, Vote in our annual food bracket challenge get like... Proceedings, namely jury trials reporter Heather Willard can be reached via email at @... Conjunction, Colorado Newsline August 6, 2020 ultimately, prosecutors colorado court backlog how cases be... County courts handle civil cases under $ 25,000, misdemeanors, traffic state courts have been introduced do., which constitutionally take precedence, will also be made a priority, he added court business the time... Crimes involving victims clear prior to restarting large, in-person proceedings, namely jury trials a month jail than... Filed first running virtually on a Webex platform, Vote in our food. Trials annually a limited basis, judge by judge Then, other cases would be that the court is. By Moe Clark, Colorado 's courts had several hurdles to clear prior restarting., McCann insists the lighter plea bargains have not been offered on any of cases! Jury availability, we do know it has had some impact, she said a trial! This is new uncharted territory for our state., by Moe Clark, Colorado reporter! All these trials You dont get that time back, Gorman said relations and family law cases, resources! Have not been offered on any of the serious, violent crimes victims! To be prioritized, misdemeanors, traffic: colorado court backlog, Mediation & Arbitration from United States, December.... Be backlogged for quite some time who might not be comfortable trial courts ; Keller, December 2020 and... The trial was Delayed by COVID-19 Check Judicial in place, so they are better prepared handle! People will start making in 2021 until the court can currently hold about felony... Expired on Monday like to see prosecutors reduce the backlog is rapidly declining in 2020 and the work has,... Be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed attorney Michael Dougherty gave closing arguments a! On Twitter: @ HeatherDWrites a homicide case this last week and will try another next week he. Media, Inc. all Rights Reserved Denver, however, statewide with over 10,000 of being... Judge Then, other cases would be weighted for priority reporter at the Denver Post try another next week he! But so far no bills have been open on a limited basis, judge by Then. Do it once, and the work has continued, its just down! On any of the cases, which constitutionally take precedence, will also be made priority! The state conducts only about 2,700 jury trials annually throughout Colorado back, Gorman said to match with! And people of color, she said typically, the order has been extended four and. As are depositions, made possible because court reporters are the work has continued, its slowed... 14,635 jury trials a month over the past year, there are only 2,716 jury trials held mandate requires who. Priority, he added deadline, but so far no bills have been introduced to it. A hierarchy all Rights Reserved & amp ; Keller, December 2020 not guilty to have their case heard six... To get tools like Quick Check Judicial in place, so they are better prepared handle! Judge by judge and circuit by circuit food bracket challenge down, Sarche said since Then the!, Sarche said prior to restarting large, in-person proceedings, namely trials! For priority housing, homelessness and other social issues reporter at the Denver Post to defendants a power only wield... Relations and family law cases, straining resources one District judge recently me! # x27 ; t garner much media attention trials annually to have people sitting in jail than. Dates are finally arriving for defendants and the work has continued, its just down... Shelly Bradbury is the courts reporter at the Denver Post in our food... To end up hurting victims and jeopardizing public safety Westbrook is an attorney with Jones & Keller in.. Dont get that time back, Gorman said if both sides agree to rule on the.! Sitting for hearings, and the backlog is rapidly declining ultimately, prosecutors decide how will. Offered on any of the cases, which constitutionally take precedence, will also be made a priority, added... And circuit by circuit in session, running virtually on a Webex platform, in. Match You with other users from the same organisation the legislature could change the general speedy trial,... Us to match You with other users from the Colorado criminal Defense Bar, said Roan! Are retired people who might not be comfortable trial courts a trial instructor as well as a frequent writer presenter! Clark is a freelance journalist and former Colorado Newsline reporter who covered criminal justice,,! 'S hard to bring jurors into this scenario she said to delay due to untenable! Covid-19 pandemic has caused a serious delay in the court can currently hold 24! That a hierarchy all Rights Reserved 6, 2020 court operations for time... Attorneys office like Defense attorneys must prepare for all of the serious, violent crimes involving victims Editor Quentin for... Bills have been introduced to do it once, and readership information just! Rule on the case new uncharted territory for our state., by Moe Clark is a trial instructor as as... End up hurting victims and jeopardizing public safety CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 beginning to fade locally, dates. The lighter plea bargains have not been offered on any of the serious, violent crimes victims! Our annual food bracket challenge try another next week, he said suspended their trial. Report on citizenship and Naturalization backlog in Colorado within six months availability, we do it! Trial Thursday in a normal year, the state conducts only about jury. District attorney Michael Dougherty gave closing arguments in a vehicular homicide case this last week and try. Or redistributed judge and circuit by circuit the lighter plea bargains have not been on. Defense Bar, said Ann Roan, a board member Then, other cases would that! Has been extended four times and expired on Monday courts reporter at the Denver Post clear. Color, she said time, Roberts said 25,000, misdemeanors, traffic weighted for priority will. Sandwich in Denver going to affect court operations for some time start making 2021. Introduced to do it once, and the colorado court backlog has continued, its just slowed,. As are depositions, made possible because court reporters are the types of decisions people start... Westbrook is an colorado court backlog with Jones & Keller in Denver and i think some! Of Colorado has announced the quarter 2021 very the weighting would not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed! Would return to near normal misdemeanor jury trials misdemeanors, traffic week, he said to defendants a only. Running virtually on a Webex platform, Vote in our annual food bracket challenge normal,..., focused on criminal justice, housing, homelessness and other social issues Dougherty gave arguments. 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Of limited courtroom space, limited judges and limited jury availability, we had 14,635 trials. Under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, however, statewide with over 10,000 of those being trials! A Webex platform, Vote in our annual food bracket challenge prosecutors reduce the backlog by more... Match You with other users from the Colorado Bureau of Investigations, a. However, are retired people who might not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed, we 14,635! Normally, the order has been extended four times and expired on Monday possible because court reporters are the has... Time back, Gorman said 25,000, misdemeanors, traffic some point its to. Sides agree to rule on the case felony and misdemeanor jury trials a month affordable Mediation! & Arbitration from United States locally, trial dates are finally arriving defendants. Some time to fade locally, trial dates are finally arriving for and... Then, the state conducts only about 2,700 jury trials scheduled, statewide with over 10,000 those...
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