The United States District Court
District of Colorado

Hon. Philip A. Brimmer, Chief Judge
Jeffrey P. Colwell Esq., Clerk of Court

Our mission is to serve the public by providing a fair and impartial forum that ensures equal access to justice in accordance with the rule of law, protects rights and liberties of all persons, and resolves cases in a timely and efficient manner.

Attorney Admission Information

[FOR ANSWERS REGARDING E-FILING LOG-IN DIFFICULTIES AND OTHER PROBLEMS VISIT HERE OR SEND AN E-MAIL TO cod_cmecf@cod.uscourts.gov.]

[TO CHANGE YOUR CONTACT INFO. (E-MAIL, ADDRESS, AND PHONE NUMBER) SEE THESE ATTACHED INSTRUCTIONS: CLICK HERE]

Attorneys seeking to practice before the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado must become members of the bar by completing an Application for Admission to the Bar of the U.S. District Court. Per the local rules of the court, admission requires the following:

  • An active license in the highest court of a state, federal territory, or District of Columbia; and
  • Good standing in all courts and jurisdictions wherein admitted.

See District of Colorado Local Rule LAttyR 3 – Requirements for Bar of the Court (a) Application. Applications for admission to the Court’s Bar are submitted through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) at www.pacer.uscourts.gov, under "Manage Your Account/Register for an Account." This application will also permit you to register for the Court’s Case Management/Electronic Case Filing (CM/ECF) system. Please contact the Attorney Services Division of the Clerk's Office (cod_attorneyservices@cod.uscourts.gov, 303-335-2466) if you have any questions about attorney admissions.

Payment of the Bar/ECF application fee is made through Pay.gov (Pay.gov is a program of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service) and is $234.00.

  • Are you new to federal court electronic filing and need to establish a PACER account? Click here for step-by-step instructions on establishing a PACER account.
  • Are you new to the District of Colorado and already have a PACER account? See New Attorney Admissions Instructions below, skip to "Already have PACER Account" section.]
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    If you have been ADMINISTRATIVELY REMOVED from our Bar and wish to reapply for admission, you must submit a new Bar/ECF application through PACER (PLEASE FOLLOW THE SECOND SET OF INSTRUCTIONS under “Completing the Attorney Bar Application On PACER” below). To determine if you have been ADMINISTRATIVELY REMOVED, check your bar status on the "Attorney Status" page. If your bar record states the following: “Admission Status: Admin Removal” you are no longer a bar member and must re-apply for admission.

     

    Completing the Attorney Bar Application On PACER

    If You Are NEW to the District of Colorado and DO NOT Have a PACER Account:
    In accordance with Local Attorney Rule LAttyR 3, new applicants to the U.S. District Court Bar are directed to file an application on-line at www.pacer.uscourts.gov - but first, follow ALL the directions below.

    Before logging onto PACER:

    • Please read the New Attorney Admission Request Instructions.
    • The attorney must read and meet the requirements of Local Attorney Rule LAttyR 3.
    • The attorney must complete the USDC Colorado Attorney Admission Application Form and save to their desktop.
    • The Attorney Admission Application Form contains a declaration where the attorney swears under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Therefore, there is no need to prepare or attach an affidavit.
    • The attorney must type their name as they wish to be designated on the USDC Colorado Bar Certificate (and which will match the attorney's name on the online PACER bar application form) (complete only the name section, the first blank line) and save to their desktop.
    • There is no need to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing from the state or federal courts in which the applicant is admitted.

    After completing or obtaining the forms, log onto PACER.uscourts.gov using your individual PACER account. Do not use a shared or firm account.

    • New applicants to the Bar are directed to file an application on-line at PACER.uscourts.gov, attach pdf versions of the Attorney Admission Application, and Bar Certificate. Please carefully read the instructions on the PACER form at:
      • PACER.uscourts.gov > Manage My Account > Maintenance > Attorney Admissions/E-File Registration > District > Colorado > Attorney Admission
    • Complete the requested information in PACER.uscourts.gov.
    • After the electronic submission is made in PACER, court staff will review the application.
    • If the application is not complete, staff will reject the application and state reasons for the rejection. You will receive an e-mail from court staff, at the e-mail address under which you registered.
    • If the application is complete and in order, staff will send the applicant an e-mail with a link to pay the attorney admission fee.
    • There is no swearing-in ceremony in the District of Colorado. Your application, declaration therein, confirmation that you have read and understand the federal rules of procedure, local rules, CM/ECF procedures, and the court staff's verification of your "In Good Standing" status in other jurisdictions provides the appropriate formality and gravity for the occasion.
    • The District of Colorado does not allow pro hac vice admission.
    • The District of Colorado does not require a sponsor for your admission.
    • When the attorney receives the final confirmation e-mail from court staff that the attorney has been admitted, the electronic bar certificate that was uploaded during the process will be e-mailed with the court’s stamp and seal.
    • Court staff will activate your District of Colorado ECF access in your individual PACER account. Once your account has been activated you may file electronically in this district.

    New Attorney Admission Request Instructions
    USDC Colorado Attorney Admission Application Form
    USDC Colorado Bar Certificate

     

    If You Are NEW to the District of Colorado and DO Have a PACER Account – Or, if you have been ADMINISTRATIVELY REMOVED, follow the directions below:
    In accordance with Local Attorney Rule LAttyR 3, new applicants to the U.S. District Court Bar are directed to file an application on-line at www.pacer.uscourts.gov - but first, follow ALL the directions below.

    Before logging onto PACER:

    • Please read the New Attorney Admission Request Instructions.
    • The attorney must read and meet the requirements of Local Attorney Rule LAttyR 3.
    • The attorney must complete the USDC Colorado Attorney Admission Application Form and save to their desktop.
    • The Attorney Admission Application Form contains a declaration where the attorney swears under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Therefore, there is no need to prepare or attach an affidavit.
    • The attorney must type their name as they wish to be designated on the USDC Colorado Bar Certificate (and which will match the attorney’s name on the online PACER bar application form) (complete only the name section, the first blank line) and save to their desktop.
    • There is no need to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing from the state or federal courts in which the applicant is admitted.

    After completing or obtaining the forms, log onto PACER.uscourts.gov using your individual PACER account. Do not use a shared or firm account.

    • As an upgraded PACER account holder, go to PACER at pacer.uscourts.gov and Select Manage My Account > Log in > Select the Maintenance tab > Select Attorney Admission/E-File Registration > Select U.S. District Courts from drop down list in Court Type box > Select Colorado District Court from drop down list in Court box. Select Next > Select “Attorney Admissions and E-File,” the first of four blue tabs listed. At this point, follow the instructions at Step 1a, page 4 of the New Attorney Admission Request Instructions.
    • New applicants to the Bar are directed to file an application on-line at PACER.uscourts.gov, attach pdf versions of the Attorney Admission Application, and Bar Certificate.
    • Complete the requested information in PACER.uscourts.gov.
    • After the electronic submission is made in PACER, court staff will review the application.
    • If the application is not complete, staff will reject the application and state reasons for the rejection. You will receive an e-mail from court staff, at the e-mail address under which you registered.
    • If the application is complete and in order, staff will send the applicant an e-mail with a link to pay the attorney admission fee.
    • There is no swearing-in ceremony in the District of Colorado. Your application, declaration therein, confirmation that you have read and understand the federal rules of procedure, local rules, CM/ECF procedures, and the court staff's verification of your "In Good Standing" status in other jurisdictions provides the appropriate formality and gravity for the occasion.
    • The District of Colorado does not allow pro hac vice admission.
    • The District of Colorado does not require a sponsor for your admission.
    • When the attorney receives the final confirmation e-mail from court staff that the attorney has been admitted, the electronic bar certificate that was uploaded during the process will be e-mailed with the court’s stamp and seal.
    • Court staff will activate your District of Colorado ECF access in your individual PACER account. Once your account has been activated you may file electronically in this district.

    New Attorney Admission Request Instructions
    USDC Colorado Attorney Admission Application Form
    USDC Colorado Bar Certificate

     

    Completing Other Bar / E-Filing Application Forms

    Federal Agency / U.S. Department of Justice / Federal Public Defender Attorneys - For federal agency attorneys applying for U.S. District Court bar admission the bar admission fee is waived. Federal Agency / U.S. Department of Justice Attorneys must, however review the "Federal Attorney Admission Instructions" below, and choose one of three options that applies to their individual circumstances. Please note that a Federal Agency attorney and can only seek a waiver of the fee if the attorney is employed by the United States Government and serving in a legal capacity OR is or appointed as Appellate CJA Counsel for appeal purposes only by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. *** NOTE *** The federal attorney fee waiver DOES NOT APPLY to district court Criminal Justice Act Panel attorneys, nor to state or local government attorneys.

  • Federal Attorney Admission Instructions

    • Multi-District Litigation/Rule 45/10th Circuit CJA Appeal Attorneys - Pursuant to Rule 2.1(c) of the Judicial Panel for Multi-District Litigation Rules of Procedure, every member in good standing of the Bar of any district court of the United States is entitled to practice before the Panel - provided, however, that the attorney has established and maintains a CM/ECF account with any United States federal court. Any attorney of record in any action transferred under 28 U.S.C.§1407 may continue to represent his or her client in any district court of the United States to which such action is transferred. Parties are not required to obtain local counsel. The attorneys in the cases transferring to the District of Colorado as part of the MDL shall register for e-filing in the District of Colorado following the MDL Admission Instructions below, followed by completing the PACER online application and select the "Multi-District " tab. MDL attorneys in cases transferred to the District of Colorado do NOT have to apply for admission, though their provisional bar status will be revoked on conclusion of the MDL transfer case. These MDL Instructions and online PACER MDL tab also apply to attorneys not admitted in the District of Colorado but needing to appear in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(f), as well as to Criminal Justice Act attorneys appointed by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in an appeal of District of Colorado criminal case. See instructions below for more details.

  • Multi-District Litigation Admission Instructions

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    WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER APPLYING FOR ADMISSION

    1. After submitting your application and supporting materials through PACER, you will receive an email confirmation.
    2. District of Colorado clerk’s office staff will review your application.
      • If your application is not approved, you will be notified as to the basis for rejection and will receive further direction as to how you may resolve the issue(s).
    3. If your application is approved, you will receive an email containing a link so that you can pay the attorney admission fee.
    4. Once payment has been processed, you will receive an email notification along with a certificate of bar admission. You are now ready to file electronically in this district.

     

    Important Bar Admission and Related Documents and Forms

     

    Frequently Asked Bar Admission Questions

    Are there different types of attorney admissions in the District of Colorado?
    Generally, no. There is no temporary or pro hac vice admission in the District of Colorado – full bar admission is required. Federal agency attorneys who are employed in a legal capacity, as an attorney, for that agency, are not required to pay a bar admission fee as a new bar member, and federal attorneys do not have to pay the bar renewal fee every two years (see below) while they are employed as a federal attorney. On return to private practice, bar renewal or bar admission fees are required. Attorneys who need to make appearances in MDL cases, or are litigating subpoena controversies under Fed. R. Civ. P. 45(f), or Criminal Justice Act attorneys appointed by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in an appeal of District of Colorado criminal case, are all waived from the requirement of obtaining bar admission and paying admission or renewal fees – see E-filing Registration Only Instructions above. For further details, contact the Court’s Attorney Services division at (303) 335-2466 or via email at cod_attorneyservices@cod.uscourts.gov.

    Are there annual dues requirements?
    Annual dues, no. Biannual (every two years), yes. Renewal fee dues of $60.00 are collected every two years, from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 – the Biennial Renewal Fee. The next Biennial Renewal Fee collection period is Oct. 1 – Dec. 31, 2024. Bar members will be notified in the summer of 2022 about the payment collection process. Proceeds of the fee are given in their entirety by grant from the U.S. District Court to the Federal Pro Se Clinic for staffing and operational expenses.

    Are there continuing legal education requirements?
    No. There are no continuing legal education requirements in the District of Colorado - other than what is required in your active licensing jurisdiction.

    Must I be a member of the Colorado Bar?
    No. The attorney may be a member of any court of a state, federal territory, or the District of Columbia. Bar membership from a foreign country is permissible, but bar membership from a U.S. state, federal territory, or the District of Columbia must first be obtained and documented.

    Must I have a sponsor for membership who is a member of the U.S. District Court or Colorado Bar?
    No. When applying for bar admission, ignore the question regarding a sponsor, and also the question regarding federal court bar admissions. Do fully complete and answer the question on state bar membership(s).

    Must I provide a Certificate of Good Standing from other courts in order to apply for bar admission?
    There is no need to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing from the state or federal courts in which the applicant is admitted, unless court staff contact you and ask you to provide such information in the event of a question that arises in your application submission.

    How long does membership last?
    Membership is valid until terminated by the Court. Attorney’s bar membership will be terminated by means of administrative removal if they do not pay the mandatory Biennial Renewal Fee.

    Does the Court accept pro hac vice applications?
    No, since 2002, the Court does not accept pro hac vice applications – full bar admission is required.

    Is the US District Court for District of Colorado a NextGen Court?
    Yes, the Court went "live" with NextGen on August 2, 2021.

    What does "Administrative Removal" mean, and how do I become reinstated with the U.S. District Court?
    Attorneys who failed to pay past biennial renewal fees are removed from the attorney roll and are no longer considered to be in good standing with the court. In order to be reinstated, an attorney must submit a new Bar/ECF application through PACER (AFTER following the instructions on our Attorney Admission Information page). Payment of the Bar/ECF application fee is made through Pay.gov and is currently $234.00.

    Other Frequently Asked Questions – visit the Attorney FAQ page HERE.