The United States District Court
District of Colorado

Under D.C.COLO.LAttyR 15 - Civil Pro Bono Representation, the Standing Committee on Pro Se Litigation is responsible for implementing the Civil Pro Bono Panel Program and for reporting annually to the court on the status of the program. The 2019-2020 Annual Report of the Civil Pro Bono Panel is now available HERE for the court's, the bar's, and the public's review. Please also visit the Civil Pro Bono Panel page for more information about the Program.

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.

Out-of-Court Resolutions: Best Practices in a Post-Pandemic World - U.S. Magistrate Judge Nina Y. Wang, Moderator, U.S. District Court, District Of Colorado; Judge Elizabeth A. Starrs, Judicial Arbiter Group, Inc.; Douglas B. Tumminello, Esq., Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie, LLP; Wesley Parks, Esq., Parks Mediation
When: Tuesday, April 20, 2021 12:00 PM - 1:15 p.m.
Where: Webinar
2 General CLE credits requested

This CLE will address: The ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape of out-of-court resolutions; how to prepare for, and conduct, successful remote mediations, arbitrations, and settlement conferences; and best practices.
To register, visit the Faculty of Federal Advocates website here.

New to Federal Practice: What You Need to Know - U.S. District Judge Christine Arguello; U.S. Magistrate Judges Kathleen Tafoya and Scott Varholak; Clerk of Court Jeffrey Colwell and Other Court Staff; U.S. Bankruptcy Court staff; and a panel presentation by experienced practitioners
When: Thursday, April 29, 2021 12:00 PM- 3:00 PM
Where: Webinar
3 General CLE credits approved

The FFA is pleased to offer a practical and informative program specifically designed for attorneys who have been admitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado for less than five years and those attorneys who are adding a federal component to their legal practice.
To register, visit the Faculty of Federal Advocates website here.

Stress Hardiness in Uncertain Times - COLAP - Amy Kingery, Assistant Director, Colorado Lawyer Assistance Program (COLAP)
When: Thursday, May 13, 2021, 12:00 PM - 1:15 p.m.
Where: Webinar
2 CLE credits requested

This presentation will help attorneys and legal professionals understand the neurobiology and neurophysiology of stress and provide tools for building resiliency and managing stress during these difficult and changing times. Learn about free and confidential assistance available through the Colorado Lawyer Assistance Program (COLAP) along with other resources.
To register, visit the Faculty of Federal Advocates website here.