The United States District Court
District of Colorado

Hon. Regina M. Rodriguez, 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.

Civil Pro Bono Panel - Details, and Available Cases

On this page:

Forms, Guides, and Other Resources

Pro Bono Panel Overview

Appointment Procedure Timeline

Available Case List

Reports and Newsletters

 

Forms, Guides, and Other Resources:

 

Pro Bono Panel Overview:

Effective December 1, 2014, the U.S. District Court adopted Local Attorney Rule 15, titled Civil Pro Bono Representation, which implements the court's Civil Pro Bono Panel Plan. The Plan is a program consisting of volunteer attorneys willing to represent individuals of limited financial means (not strictly limited to the "indigent") in civil matters whenever requested by the Court and without compensation. As a means to assist attorneys in providing pro bono services, the Court has established a panel of attorneys who are members in good standing of the Bar of this Court and who have agreed to accept pro bono appointments to represent pro se litigants (plaintiff or defendant) in civil cases.

The following are some of the unique aspects of the Panel program:

  • Individual lawyers, law school clinical programs, law firms, or non-profit organizations can join the Panel.
  • Participants can specify how many cases they are willing to accept per year and which types of cases they are willing to accept per year when they fill out a Civil Pro Bono Panel Application.
  • If a law firm joins the program, it can assign to the individual cases that it accepts any attorney or attorneys from within the firm that it chooses, as long as the attorneys are members of this Court's bar and are in good standing.
  • Counsel may request co-counsel or a mentoring attorney be assigned to assist them.
  • The Court initiates the appointment process by granting a pro se litigant's (prisoner or non-prisoner) motion for appointment of counsel, and after the case has undergone initial review for merit through the process required under D.C.COLO.LCivR 8.1 and 28 § 1915A, cases are randomly assigned by the clerk, according to counsel's preferences. Appointed Panel members have a five-day period to run a conflict check, review the case, gain internal approval, etc., before contacting the Clerk's office and accepting or rejecting the case.
  • After a Notice of Appointment is entered into the case by the clerk, indicating the draw of the name of the appointed attorney (as an individual or as the coordinating attorney for a law firm), the attorney then has 30 days to formally enter an appearance in the case, or file a Notice Declining Appointment.
  • The Faculty of Federal Advocates (FFA) provides reimbursement of preapproved costs, derived from the Biennial Renewal Fees for district court bar members. The FFA also provides malpractice insurance upon request. For more information, please visit the FFA website HERE.
  • Attorneys are permitted -- either on a pro bono basis, or for a fee -- to represent both incarcerated individuals and "pro se" non-prisoner unrepresented parties on a limited basis, following the procedures set forth in D.C.COLO.LAttyR 2(b)(1) and D.C.COLO.LAttyR 5.

With adoption of the Civil Pro Bono Plan, the Court now seeks applicants to the Civil Pro Bono Panel – attorneys, law firms, non-profit organizations, and clinical legal education programs at law schools that are willing to accept appointment to represent pro se parties of limited financial means in civil actions may apply to join the Panel. You may submit a completed application either by mail to the Clerk of the Court, United States District Court, Attn: Attorney Services Division, Alfred A. Arraj U.S. Courthouse, 901 19th Street, Denver, Colorado 80294; or you may submit the application as a pdf document by e-mail to: COD_ProBonoPanel@cod.uscourts.gov.

Sample forms that unrepresented parties may use to submit a motion (request to the court) for appointment of counsel from the Civil Pro Bono Panel can be found on our Forms Page under the heading "Civil Pro Bono."

 

Appointment Procedure Timeline:

 

Cases Available TO ALL ATTORNEYS for Pro Bono Representation:

 

Case Number Case Name Cause of Action Plaintiff/Defendant Complaint
23-cv-00699-RMR-SBP Allen v. Marcotte et al. Cause: 42:12181 American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Plaintiff Complaint
22-cv-02334-MEH Swietlicki v. Lessar 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
22-cv-03374-CNS-STV Salim v. AUSA_SDNY Office 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
15-cv-02849-RM-JPO Ajaj v. United States of America et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
23-cv-00756-GPG-SBP Rocha v. Executive Director Colorado Department of Corrections et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
22-cv-03110-CNS-NRN Abdo v. USA 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
24-cv-00908-MEH Strumpf v. Colorado Department of Corrections 42:12101 Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Plaintiff Complaint
23-cv-01897-PAB-NRN Lewandowski v. City of Longmont, The et al 42:1983 Civil Rights Act Plaintiff Complaint
22-cv-00164-RMR-NRN Tibbels v. Miller et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
18-cv-02160-CMA-STV Martinez et al v. Stevens et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
24-cv-02231-SBP Suing v. USA et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
24-cv-02428-STV Marlow v. USA 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
24-cv-00853-RMR-SBP Johnson v. Clark et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
24-cv-01494-KAS Diaz Deleon v. Linnemeyer et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Defendants Complaint
25-cv-00154-PAB-KAS Cooper v. Adams and or Arapahoe County Sheriff Dept 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
25-cv-00492-STV Lamar v. Maul et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
23-cv-02740-GPG-SBP Abolaji et al v. St. Vrain School District et al 28:451 Employment Discrimination Plaintiff Complaint
24-cv-01146-PAB-NRN Giron v. Stancil et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
24-cv-01227-CNS-NRN Chavez v. Colorado Department of Corrections Prison Officers et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
25-cv-00063-JLK-TPO Reyes v. McDonald's Corp. IL et al 42:1983 Civil Rights Act Plaintiff Complaint
24-cv-03243-DDD-TPO Curry v. Officer Doe et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
24-cv-01883-NRN Quintano v. Fairbaine et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
24-cv-00267-SBP Bradshaw v. Meyer et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
23-cv-01055-NYW-TPO Ruiz v. Roetker et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
25-cv-00902-GPG-SBP Collier v. Dang et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
25-cv-00752-PAB-NRN Hall v. Thompson et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
24-cv-02555-DDD-NRN Harvey v. Saccamano 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
24-cv-00206-GPG-STV Martinez v. USA 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
25-cv-02930-RMR-KAS Jones v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company et al 28:1332 Diversity-Breach of Contract Plaintiff Complaint
23-cv-01211-DDD-MDB Naranjo v. Wellpath, LLC et al 42:1983(d) - Civil Rights (Death) Defendant Complaint
23-cv-01847-GPG-MDB Murray v. Wellpath, LLC et al 42:1983(d) - Civil Rights (Death) Defendants** Complaint
24-cv-01776-NYW-CYC *Limited Representation* Cunningham v. USA et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
23-cv-02555-PAB-TPO Wilson v. Colorado Department of Corrections et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
26-cv-00511-NYW-NRN Haverty v. Housing Authority of the City & County of Denver, The 42:3601 Fair Housing Act Plaintiff Complaint
25-cv-03699-RTG Latiefth (PS) v. Romero 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff*** Complaint
25-cv-03693-RTG Latiefth (PS) v. Slattery 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff*** Complaint
25-cv-03700-RTG Latiefth (PS) v. Padilla 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff*** Complaint
26-cv-02440-RTG Ellis (PS) v. State of Colorado 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff*** Complaint
26-cv-00938-RMR-RTG Echols v. Miller's Dance Studio, Inc. 29:1001 E.R.I.S.A.: Employee Retirement Plaintiff Complaint
26-cv-00307-DDD-TPO Hodge v. Retting et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
22-cv-03069-GPG-TPO Garcia v. Harrigan et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
25-cv-03939-CNS-NRN Smith v. Parker et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
25-cv-02176-SKC-KAS Knight v. USA 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
25-cv-03702-SKC-NRN Meek v. Clapp et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
26-cv-01898-GPG-KAS Painter v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company 28:1332 Diversity-Breach of Contract Plaintiff Complaint
25-cv-03129-DDD-KAS Y.S. v. John Doe 18:1030(g) - Fraud & Related Matters in Connection w/ Computers Plaintiff ****
25-cv-04048-TPO USA v. $22,500.00 seized from Bank of America account no. 435030281972 held in the name of Galaxy Metals Inc. at Bank of America, Wilmington, DE et al 18:0981 Civil Forfeiture Claimant Complaint
24-cv-01105-SKC-STV Whitehorn v. McCann et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
25-cv-02651-PAB-KAS Juarez v. Stancil et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
23-cv-01936-CNS-KAS Garcia v. Wolever et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
25-cv-01645-PAB-KAS Robinson v. USA 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
25-cv-03350-STV Peterson v. Thiel 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
26-cv-03398-RMR-NRN Gonzalez v. Polis et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
25-cv-03335-DDD-SBP Hyland v. JCOR Mechanical Inc. et al 42:2000(a)(d) - Job Discrimination (Disability Act) Plaintiff Complaint*****
26-cv-01892-RBJ-RTG Fabrizio (PS) v. Enterprise Car Rental et al 28:1332 Diversity-Breach of Contract Plaintiff*** ******
25-cv-00862-CNS-CYC Gonzalez v. Colorado Douglas County Sheriff's Office et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
25-cv-00608-SKC-SBP Ronquillo v. Bailey et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint
26-cv-03376-STV Birchfield et al v. ComCap Management LLC et al 28:1331(a) Fed. Question: Real Property Plaintiff* Complaint
25-cv-02825-CNS-TPO Pinke v. USA et al 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights Plaintiff Complaint

 

 

Please email COD_ProBonoPanel@cod.uscourts.gov for more information on the available cases.
*The Court appointed a Guardian ad Litem to represent one of the pro se Plaintiffs.
**The Court is seeking counsel for three pro se defendants.
***The Court is seeking a Guardian ad Litem to represent the pro se party.
****We are unable to share the operative application in 25-cv-03129-DDD-KAS, as it is restricted. Please contact COD_ProBonoPanel@cod.uscourts.gov if interested in this case.
*****The operative complaint contains a restricted exhibit. Please contact COD_ProBonoPanel@cod.uscourts.gov if interested in this case.
******The operative complaint cannot be uploaded due to technical constraints. Please contact the above email address to view the complaint.

 

Reports and Newsletters