SB 25-024: Judicial Officers - Colorado

Revised (03/12/2025) → PA1 (02/14/2025) · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to change the effective dates for judicial appointments and to add new judicial districts. The Senate version (PA1) moved several judicial appointment effective dates from 2025 to 2027, added a new section for the Second Judicial District, and increased judge counts in several districts. The House version (Revised) kept the original 2025-2026 effective dates and did not include the Second Judicial District addition.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded in the Senate version to include the Second Judicial District, while the House version maintains the original scope limited to existing judicial districts.

TIMELINE

Effective dates for judicial appointments in the Fourth, Seventh, Eighteenth, and Seventeenth judicial districts were changed from 2025-2026 to 2027 in the Senate version.

SCOPE

A new provision was added to create and appoint judges for the Second Judicial District in the Senate version.

REQUIREMENT

New provisions were added to increase the number of judges in the Fourth, Eighth, and Seventeenth judicial districts in the Senate version.

The number of judges in the Second Judicial District was set to 28 in the Senate version.

New provisions were added to increase county judges in Adams and Arapahoe counties effective July 1, 2026.

Rerevised (03/13/2025) → Revised (03/12/2025) · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill text was updated from a 'Rerevised' version to a 'Revised' version, indicating it has progressed through the legislative process. The most significant substantive change is the addition of new sections establishing the number of judges for the Twenty-third Judicial District (nine judges) and modifying the County Judge provisions in Jefferson County to include nine judges, both effective July 1, 2025, subject to available appropriations.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly defines the number of judges for the Twenty-third Judicial District and modifies the number of county judges in Jefferson County, expanding the judicial capacity in these areas.

REQUIREMENT

Added Section 7 establishing that the Twenty-third Judicial District will have nine judges effective July 1, 2025, subject to available appropriations.

Modified Section 8 to specify that the number of county judges in Jefferson County is nine, subject to available appropriations.

TECHNICAL

Removed House sponsorship list and reading status information as the bill moved through the legislative process.

Final Act (03/19/2025) → Rerevised (03/13/2025) · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision primarily updates the bill's metadata and formatting while maintaining the same substantive policy changes regarding judicial staffing increases and office location flexibility. The core legislative content remains unchanged, with the same provisions for increasing judges in various districts and allowing Arapahoe county judges to maintain offices outside the county seat.

Scope change

No substantive scope change; the bill continues to apply to Colorado judicial districts and county courts with the same staffing adjustments and office location provisions.

TECHNICAL

Added header information including session details, bill number, sponsor lists, and reading history that were missing from the previous version.

Reorganized bill structure with proper section numbering and formatting consistent with legislative standards.

Included a bill summary section explaining the judicial staffing increases and office location changes in plain language.

Deleted the original NOTE section about bill signature status and legislative history references.

Updated page numbering and formatting markers to reflect the revised version status.

Signed Act (03/24/2025) → Final Act (03/19/2025) · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill establishes the number of judges for various judicial districts and counties in Colorado, effective July 1, 2025 and 2026. The changes include adding new judge positions in the Fourth District (increasing from 25 to 26 judges), modifying the Seventh District provision, and updating county judge allocations across multiple counties including Jefferson, Adams, and others. These changes affect judicial staffing levels and require corresponding budget appropriations.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on judicial officer positions and appropriations, with no change to its fundamental applicability across Colorado's judicial districts.

REQUIREMENT

Added 26 judges for the Fourth Judicial District effective July 1, 2025 (previously 25 judges)

Modified the Seventh District provision to reference paragraph (a) instead of paragraph (2)

Added judge positions for multiple counties effective July 1, 2026, including Mesa County (4 judges), Eagle County (2 judges), and others

TECHNICAL

Removed page 5 footer content including signatures and legislative status notes

Reengrossed (02/26/2025) → Signed Act (03/24/2025) · 5 edits · Mar 24, 2025

MODERATE

This bill was amended to increase the number of judges in various judicial districts and counties, with some changes taking effect in 2025 and others in 2026. The bill also allows Arapahoe County judges to maintain offices outside the county seat and includes new funding allocations for the judicial department and state public defender's office for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include specific county-level judge allocations and updated funding amounts for judicial operations and public defender services.

TIMELINE

Judge count increases for the Fourth Judicial District were split into two phases: 25 judges effective July 1, 2025, and 26 judges effective July 1, 2026.

REQUIREMENT

Arapahoe County district judges are now permitted to maintain offices outside of the county seat, whereas previously they were required to maintain offices within the county.

Added requirement that one Boulder County judge must maintain a courtroom in Longmont at least three days per week, and Eagle County Court must conduct business in the Roaring Fork River drainage area.

FISCAL

Added $2,638,326 for the judicial department and $621,337 for the state public defender's office for the 2025-26 fiscal year, with specific allocations for personnel, operations, and capital improvements.

SCOPE

Expanded judge count provisions to include specific allocations for county judges in multiple counties (Jefferson, El Paso, Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Pueblo, Denver, Larimer, Douglas, Mesa, Weld, Eagle, and La Plata) with phased increases for some counties.

Engrossed (02/25/2025) → Reengrossed (02/26/2025) · 4 edits · Feb 26, 2025

MODERATE

This bill was reengrossed to include additional co-sponsors and updated the effective date for judge staffing increases in several judicial districts from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2026. The changes also reduced the number of judges in the 18th judicial district from 20 to 19, likely reflecting budget adjustments or staffing priorities.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on judicial district staffing, but the timeline for implementation was accelerated by one year for most districts, and the 18th district was adjusted downward.

TIMELINE

The effective date for increasing judges in the 7th, 11th, and 18th judicial districts was moved from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2026, accelerating implementation by one year.

REQUIREMENT

The number of judges for the 18th judicial district was reduced from 20 to 19, potentially reflecting budget constraints or revised staffing needs.

TECHNICAL

Additional co-sponsors were added to the Senate sponsorship list, expanding the bill's legislative support.

The bill header was updated from 'ENGROSSED' to 'REENGROSSED' to reflect the inclusion of amendments adopted in the House of Introduction.

Introduced (01/08/2025) → Engrossed (02/25/2025) · 7 edits · Feb 26, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add an Appropriations committee to Senate oversight and update the bill title to include an appropriation provision. The substantive changes significantly expand judicial staffing across Colorado by increasing district court judges in multiple judicial districts and county court judges in several counties, with specific effective dates ranging from 2025 to 2027. The amendments also allow district judges in Arapahoe County to maintain offices outside the county seat and repeal and reenact county judge provisions to clarify staffing numbers.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from solely increasing judicial positions to also include an appropriation provision, and the applicability was broadened to include additional judicial districts and counties not previously covered.

TIMELINE

Added new effective dates for judicial position increases, including 2026 and 2027 effective dates for several districts.

REQUIREMENT

Added new subsections increasing the number of district court judges in the fourth, seventh, eighteenth, and seventeenth judicial districts.

Added new subsections increasing the number of county court judges in Douglas, La Plata, Larimer, Mesa, Weld, Eagle, Adams, and Arapahoe counties.

Modified Arapahoe County requirements to allow district judges to maintain offices outside the county seat.

Repealed and reenacted county judge provisions to clarify the number of county judges in various counties.

FISCAL

Added appropriation language to the bill title and throughout the text to fund the new judicial positions.

SCOPE

Added Appropriations committee to Senate oversight responsibilities.

Judicial Officers

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