Colorado Celebrates Treatment Court Month: Honoring the Impact of Problem-Solving Courts Across the State

DENVER– The Colorado Judicial Department is proud to recognize May as Treatment Court Month, joining communities nationwide to celebrate the life-changing work of Problem-Solving Courts. These innovative courts, including Adult Drug Courts, Juvenile Treatment Courts, DUI Courts, Wellness Courts, Veterans Treatment Courts, and Family Treatment Courts, are transforming the justice system by addressing the root causes of criminal justice involvement through a collaborative, treatment-focused approach.

Throughout the month of May, Colorado’s Problem-Solving Courts will celebrate Treatment Court Month with team member recognition events, community engagement activities, and highlighting participant and alumni stories that remind us of the courage it takes to change and the community it takes to support that change.

Since the establishment of Colorado’s first Problem-Solving Court, the state has expanded to support 70 problem-solving courts across 20 judicial districts. These courts bring together judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, probation officers, treatment providers, child welfare agencies, and community partners to support individuals on their journey of recovery, rehabilitation, and accountability.

Problem-Solving Courts are a powerful example of how justice and compassion can work together. They provide structure, support, and access to treatment for individuals struggling with substance use and mental health challenges, and they continue to improve lives, strengthen families, and enhance public safety across Colorado.

Research shows that treatment courts significantly reduce recidivism and substance use, improve family reunification outcomes, and save taxpayer dollars by reducing incarceration costs. Most importantly, they offer participants the opportunity to rebuild their lives.

That opportunity is captured in the words of Colorado Problem-Solving Court alumni, whose stories speak to the power of recovery, resilience, and transformation:

One graduate reflected on the transformation that began with just one small step:

“I graduated Larimer County Drug Court in January of 2020. I was addicted to meth and opiates. I wanted to get better but didn’t know how. Drug court helped me—bit by bit. I got clean, found a job, and learned how to live a life of not just sobriety but in recovery.”

Another shared the resilience they found through accountability and support:

“Drug court saved my life. I lost everything except my life. Drug court taught me a new way to live, with structure, accountability, and daily purpose. Today, I’ve been sober for four years, got married (to a fellow graduate), and just bought a house. This is the happiest I’ve ever been.”

About Colorado Problem-Solving Courts:

Colorado’s Problem-Solving Courts are dockets within the state’s judicial system that provide treatment and intensive supervision for individuals with behavioral health challenges. Grounded in research, guided by evidence-based practices, and supported by a multidisciplinary team approach, these courts offer participants a path toward stability, healing, and lasting change.

For more information on Colorado’s Problem-Solving Courts or to learn how to support this work, visit: https://cjpu.colorado.gov/problem-solving-courts

4th Judicial District announces Two District Court vacancies 

Commission sets date to select nominees 

The 4th Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet on May 21, 2025, at El Paso County Judicial Building, 270 S. Tejon St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903, to interview and select nominees for appointment by the governor to the office of district judge for the 4^th Judicial District (El Paso and Teller Counties). The first vacancy was created pursuant to SB25-024 and is effective July 1, 2025. The second vacancy will be created by the resignation of Hon. David A. Gilbert and is effective July 12, 2025. 

To be eligible, the applicant must be a qualified elector of the 4th Judicial District at the time of investiture and must have been admitted to the practice of law in Colorado for five years. The current annual salary for this position is $198,798. The initial term of office of a district judge is a provisional term of two years; thereafter, the incumbent district judge, if retained by the voters, has a term of six years. 

Application forms are available from the office of the ex officio chair of the nominating commission, Justice Maria Berkenkotter, 2 E. 14^th Ave., Denver, CO 80203, and the office of the Court Executive, Scott Sosebee, 719-452-5000/Deputy Court Executive, Bridget Collins, 719-452-5000. Applications are also available on the court’s home page at https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/careers/judge-opportunities

The completed application must be e-mailed to the address listed in the instructions below no later than May 5, 2025, by 4:00 p.m. Late applications will not be considered. Any person wishing to suggest a candidate to fill the vacancy may do so by letter to be submitted to any member of the nominating commission, with a copy to the ex officio chair, no later than April 28, 2025, by 4:00 p.m.

The members of the nominating commission for the 4th Judicial District are:

Kathleen Cefus of Divide; Michael Allen of Monument; and Stella Hodgkins, C. Onye Ikwaukor, Roland Rainey, and Misty Plowright, all of Colorado Springs.

Editor’s Note: Contact information for the nominating commission members: 

• Stella Hodgkins, stella.hodgkins@gmail.com
• C. Onye Ikwaukor, onye44@gmail.com
• Kathleen Cefus, ekcefus@msn.com
• Roland Rainey, rojune28@yahoo.com
• Misty Plowright, misty.plowright@gmail.com
• Michael Allen, mtallen@mikemoranlaw.com

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Colorado Judicial Department Opens Application Process for

Family Violence Justice Fund grants

Grants provide funding for nonprofit organizations providing civil legal services to low-income people experiencing family violence.

DENVER—The Colorado Judicial Department has opened the application period for fiscal year 2025-26 grants from the Family Violence Justice Fund. The grants provide funding to Colorado nonprofit organizations that help low-income people who are experiencing family violence. 

Successful grant recipients must have experience providing legal services, including legal representation, to eligible persons in areas such as protection orders, divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, or other judicial actions where legal services are necessary to protect the client’s interests related to family violence. Grants are awarded to qualifying organizations based on a geographic, need-driven formula that considers the number of low-income individuals who may require services in each county or city across the State.

Funding available for the upcoming grant cycle is expected to be $2.1 million. In fiscal year 2024-25, twelve organizations received grants totaling $2.1 million.

Application links, rules, and other information about the grant program may be found at https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/financial-services/family-violence-justice-fund-grant-program. Applications must be received through the Office of the State Court Administrator’s grant management system, AmpliFund, by 5 p.m. on April 30th, 2025. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Please direct questions to FamilyViolenceJusticeFund@judicial.state.co.us.

Colorado Judicial Department Opens Application Process for Eviction Legal Defense Fund grants

Grants provide funding for nonprofit organizations that provide civil legal services to indigent individuals facing eviction 

DENVER—The Colorado Judicial Department has opened the application period for fiscal year 2025-26 grants from the Eviction Legal Defense Fund. The grants provide funding to Colorado nonprofit organizations that assist low-income individuals who are experiencing eviction or are at immediate risk of eviction. 

Successful grant recipients must have experience providing legal services, including legal representation, to eligible persons facing eviction proceedings, actions for monetary damages, lease violations, or other judicial actions where legal services are necessary to protect the tenant's interests. Grants are awarded to qualifying organizations based on a geographic, need-driven formula that considers the number of forcible entry and detainer filings (i.e., eviction actions) in each county or city and county across the State.

Funding available for the upcoming grant cycle is expected to be $1.1 million. In fiscal year 2024-25, six organizations received grants totaling $1.1 million.

Application links, rules, and other information about the grant program may be found at https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/financial-services/eviction-legal-defense-fund-grant-program. Applications must be received through the Office of the State Court Administrator’s grant management system, AmpliFund, by 5 p.m. on April 30th, 2025. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Please direct questions to evictionlegaldefensefund@judicial.state.co.us.

Recovery “Drug” Court Program Graduates 12 Participants

Colorado Springs, CO - On Thursday, February 13, 2025, 12 participants will be recognized for completing the 4^th Judicial District Recovery “Drug” Court program in El Paso and Teller counties initiated in January 2001 as the second drug problem-solving court in Colorado. The graduation ceremony is set for 3:30 p.m. at the Terry R. Harris Judicial Complex in Colorado Springs, 270 S. Tejon Street, in the Jury Assembly Room W 113.

This achievement marks a significant milestone for the graduates, who have demonstrated unwavering commitment to their recovery journey. The Recovery “Drug” Court is a rigorous problem-solving treatment court designed for individuals who have encountered the criminal justice system as a result of substance use. Throughout the program, participants have exhibited sustained abstinence from controlled substances and alcohol, actively participated in any required treatment, and fulfilled educational and employment objectives outlined by the Recovery “Drug” Court’s clinical team. They have also undergone frequent performance reviews by the Recovery “Drug” Court Magistrate, the Honorable Gregory K. Duncan.

“We are honored and excited to celebrate the graduation of 12 amazing men and women from the Recovery Court program,” said El Paso County District Magistrate Gregory K. Duncan. "I am so proud of our graduates and look forward to celebrating this milestone on their road to recovery.”

Since the program's start in 2001, the 4th Judicial District Recovery “Drug” Court has been modeled after evidence-based problem-solving drug courts, which have proven effective in handling criminal cases. The substantive goal is to divert non-violent, substance-abusing felony offenders into a comprehensive, judicially supervised program of urinalysis monitoring and case management, to include referral and follow-up with employment, educational, and other self-improvement goals.

The media are invited to attend. The use of cameras must be approved in advance, and all people being photographed must give their consent to be photographed. Please contact Robert Burrs, Recovery Court Program Manager, at 719-452-5209 if you want to bring a camera or for more information.

Model Criminal Jury Instructions Committee Releases Annual Update

Denver, CO – The Colorado Supreme Court Model Criminal Jury Instructions Committee has released its annual update to Colorado’s model jury instructions for use in criminal trials.

The model jury instructions may be found online at: https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/model-criminal-jury-instructions-committee.

They include instructions concerning all offenses defined in Title 18 of the Colorado Revised Statutes (the Criminal Code), along with instructions addressing select offenses defined in other titles of the Colorado Revised Statutes (including Title 42, Vehicles and Traffic). This annual update incorporates 2024 legislation, as well as caselaw published since the release of the prior edition.

Users may download Word and PDF versions of the instructions, which feature hyperlink capabilities for ease of use. For any questions regarding the instructions, users are encouraged to contact the committee at mcjic@judicial.state.co.us.

Notice of Public Hearing and Request for Comments

Colorado Rules of Family Procedure

Denver, CO—The Colorado Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing on the proposed Colorado Rules of Family Procedure for May 13, 2025, at 3:30 p.m. The Court requests written public comments from any interested person on the proposed rule.

Public comments may be submitted in letter format addressed to:

Colorado Supreme Court, 2 E. 14th Avenue, Denver, CO 80202.

The deadline to submit comments is April 25, 2025, by 4 p.m.

If submitting a public comment by email, please attach your comment as a separate document to your email in Word or PDF format. Comments and speaking requests may be emailed to supremecourtrules@judicial.state.co.us. Written comments received by the deadline will be uploaded after the comment period closes.

The deadline to request to speak at the public hearing is May 1, 2025, by 4 p.m.

The proposed rules for the Colorado Rules of Family Procedure include the Rules:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, 12, 13, 15, 16-1, 16-2, 16-3, 16-4, 16-5, 16-6, 17, 24, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 45, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60, 62, 66, 69, 70, 98, 103, 107, 121 1-2, 121 1-4, 121 1-5,121 1-8, 121 1-9, 121 1-10, 121 1-11, 121 1-12, 121 1-15, 121 1-16, 121 1-17, 121 1-21, 121 1-22, 121 1-25, 121 1-26, 122, 123, 124, Form 35.4, and Form 35.5

You can find a copy of the proposed rules online at: https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/supreme-court/adopted-proposed-rule-changes?topic=78&wrapped=true

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The Colorado Judicial Branch works to provide equal access to justice, contribute to public safety, and strengthen the rule of law across Colorado. Together, our courts and probation departments are committed to impartial and timely dispute resolution, support for families, litigants, and victims, client rehabilitation, and meaningful community engagement.

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO –Those worried about an outstanding arrest warrant and unsure of how to clear it have a free resource to assist them in resolving their case. This Friday, Dec. 6, the 4th Judicial District will host the Second Chances Warrant Clearance and Community Resource Day for El Paso and Teller counties, where participants can come and work with community partners to have their outstanding warrants cleared.

Second Chances will be held on Dec. 6, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the El Paso County Courthouse (270 S. Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80903). The courts, public defenders, and district attorneys for the 4^th Judicial District will come together to help people clear their warrants, including those for probation violations, and connect with resources to move forward and resolve their legal matters successfully.

Offenses eligible for warrant clearance include municipal, misdemeanor or traffic offenses, class 4 drug felonies, and class 5 and 6 felonies. Ineligible offenses include any warrants for the Victim Rights Act, felonies, assault, domestic violence, unlawful sexual behavior, child abuse, careless driving involving death cases, and juveniles with no parent or guardian present.

For questions about Second Chances or to verify eligibility, contact the Office of the Colorado Public Defender at 719-475-1235. For municipal warrants, contact the court at 719-385-6153. For more information, visit coloradojudicial.gov/courts/trial-courts/el-paso-county.

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – The Fourth Judicial District is proud to celebrate the first anniversary of Division CARE (Court Assisted Recovery from Eviction), Colorado’s only eviction recovery program of its kind. Launched as a pilot program with grant funding from the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) on Nov. 27, 2023, Division CARE has significantly impacted the lives of tenants and landlords by addressing housing insecurity and stabilizing the local community. 

On average, the Fourth Judicial District sees nearly 750 eviction cases filed each month. The program has steadily grown to provide assistance to 100 of those cases every month. This translates into over 13% of all monthly Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED) filings being successfully connected to essential resources, frequently resulting in cases being dismissed before trial can even occur. These efforts have helped participants avoid eviction, secure stable housing, and access mediation or legal assistance. 

“Division CARE has proven that innovative, collaborative approaches can make a difference in reducing housing instability,” said Magistrate Andrea Paprzycki, the program’s founder. “By working with community partners, we have turned a critical challenge into an opportunity to restore dignity and hope for individuals and families facing eviction.” 

One program participant shared, “For the very first time in my life, I do not feel like I have to carry the weight of the world all by myself, and I am so very grateful for you and for my judge yesterday who told me about this program.”  

As Colorado faces housing affordability challenges, Division CARE serves as a model for other districts and jurisdictions considering similar programs. 

The Fourth Judicial District serves El Paso and Teller counties and is committed to providing fair and accessible justice for all.  

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The Colorado Judicial Branch works to provide equal access to justice, contribute to public safety, and strengthen the rule of law across Colorado. Together, our courts and probation departments are committed to impartial and timely dispute resolution, support for families, litigants, and victims, client rehabilitation, and meaningful community engagement.

Governor to appoint new district court judge

The Fourth Judicial District Nominating Commission has nominated three candidates for a district court judgeship created by the retirement of the Hon. Monica J. Gomez, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Nominees Theodore Paul McClintock of Colorado Springs, Michael A. Watts and Sarah Elizabeth Zane of Monument were selected by the commission on Aug. 21, 2024.

Under the Colorado Constitution, the governor has 15 days from Aug. 22, 2024, to appoint one of the nominees as district court judge for the Fourth Judicial District (El Paso and Teller counties).

Comments regarding any of the nominees may be sent via e-mail to the governor at gov_judicialappointments@state.co.us

Editor’s Note: Contact information for the three nominees

• Theodore Paul McClintock. 101 N. Cascade Ave., Suite 100A, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. 719-520-3968
• Michael A. Watts. 101 N. Cascade, Suite 420, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. 719-884-2853
• Sarah Elizabeth Zane. 270 S. Tejon Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80902. 719-452-5533