The United States District Court
District of Colorado

In response to recent disclosures of widespread breaches of both private sector and government computer systems, federal courts are adding new security procedures to protect highly sensitive documents filed with the courts. General Order 2021-1 outlines the procedures this Court has adopted for the filing of certain highly sensitive documents. The full text of General Order 2021-1 is available here.

Under the Rules Enabling Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2071-75, the following changes to the Federal Rules of Appellate, Bankruptcy, and Civil Procedure, and the Federal Rules of Evidence, took effect December 1, 2020:
-Civil Rule 30;
-Evidence Rule 404;
-Appellate Rules 35 and 40; and
-Bankruptcy Rules 2002, 2004, 8012, 8013, 8015, and 8021.

For more details, see the official submissions to Congress by the Chief Justice of all the rule amendments, available HERE.

Additionally, please be aware that there are no District of Colorado local rule revisions in effect.

Effective December 1, 2020 U.S. District Judges Philip A. Brimmer, Christine M. Arguello, William J. Martínez, and R. Brooke Jackson have published revised criminal and civil practice standards. They are listed under the respective judicial officer HERE. Please refer to the Judicial Practice Standards page for other revisions which may have been made recently.

At its March 2020 session, the Judicial Conference of the United States approved inflationary adjustments to various fees on the appellate, district, and bankruptcy court miscellaneous fee schedules, including an inflationary adjustment to the Administrative Fee for Filing a Civil Action, Suit or Proceeding in a District Court. As a result, the overall filing fee of a civil action has been raised to $402.00. These changes become effective December 1, 2020. For a complete list of current fees, visit the Schedule of Fees page HERE.

This order supersedes General Order 2019-6 and adopts standard conditions for Probation and Supervised Release and modifies mandatory condition #3 for Probation and Supervised Release as it pertains to drug testing. The full text of GO 2020-20 is available HERE.

Please visit the Bills of Costs - Guide and FAQs page HERE for the Bill of Costs Form, Instructions, and a comprehensive Hearing Officer’s Guide that explains all aspects of the procedures set by Local Civil Rule 54.1 – Taxation of Costs.

The Judges of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado take great pleasure in announcing the reappointment of part-time United States Magistrate Judge Gordon P. Gallagher to a third term of four years effective October 12, 2020. A Merit Selection Panel comprised of Colorado attorneys and lay persons recently solicited comments from the public relative to Judge Gallagher's job performance. The Panel returned a unanimous recommendation to the Court for his reappointment.

FROM THE BENCH: THE IMPACT OF MCGIRT AND THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC ON OKLAHOMA FEDERAL COURTS - U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul J. Cleary (N.D. Okla.)
When: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 12 NOON - 1:00 p.m. CST [11:00 am Mountain Standard Time]
Where: Webinar
One hour of free CLE credit

Learn about the effects of the recent landmark U.S. Supreme Court opinion in McGirt v. Oklahoma on the federal courts in Oklahoma, as they experience significant changes and unprecedented logistical challenges as a result of the decision while simultaneously striving to keep the courts open and operational during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Join fellow federal practitioner colleagues in the 10^th Circuit as they discuss these developments. See full announcement here.

To register, visit the Federal Bar Association's Zoom link here.

In the Trenches with the Pro Bono Panel: How to Litigate a Pro Se Plaintiff's Section 1983 Claim from Appointment to Verdict – Magistrate Judge Kristen L. Mix; Kevin L. Homiak, Esq., Homiak Law, LLC; and Andrew D. Ringel, Esq., Hall & Evans, LLC
When: Thursday, January 28, 2021, 12 NOON - 1:15 p.m.
Where: Webinar
2 General CLE credits approved

U.S. Magistrate Judge Mix and experienced litigators will explain the law and procedural issues in Section 1983 litigation. In furtherance of the FFA's goal to provide training to lawyers who take pro bono cases through the U.S. District Court's Civil Pro Bono Panel, this webinar is being provided at no cost to registrants.
To register, visit the Faculty of Federal Advocates website here.

Observations from Litigating a COVID-19 Pilot Program Civil Trial - Andrew K. Lavin, Esq., Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP; Robert M. Liechty, Esq., Robert M. Liechty, PC; Anna M. Reinert, Esq., Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP
When: Thursday, February 04, 2021, 12 NOON - 1:15 p.m.
Where: Webinar
2 General CLE credits approved

This presentation is focused on conducting trial during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado. It includes a discussion of firsthand experiences with COVID-19 protocols and restrictions from counsel who tried a case against each other before the Honorable William J. Martinez. The goal of this presentation is to facilitate attorneys' abilities to adapt to trial settings with masks, social distancing, and other restrictions and to discuss the importance of counsel cooperation.

To register, visit the Faculty of Federal Advocates website here.