Pilot Program to Create and Locate a Clinic to Assist Pro Se Litigants
The U.S. District Court provides the following notice and opportunity for public comment about the December 6, 2017 approval of a pilot program. The pilot program directs the creation, location, and operation of a clinic to assist pro se litigants in the Alfred A. Arraj United States Courthouse beginning on or after March 1, 2018.
Under this program, the Colorado Bar Association (CBA) will partner with the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado (Court) to pilot a pro se assistance project consisting primarily of operation of a pro se clinic. With a grant from the Court, the CBA will hire an experienced staff attorney to provide consultations, brief advice about drafting pleadings, discovery, answers to discovery, motions and oppositions to motions for non-prisoner pro se litigants at the Court. This staff attorney will work with the CBA’s Internet Technology Department to create and maintain a website with legal information for pro se litigants with U.S. District Court cases. As CBA staff, the attorney will use resources of the CBA, including supervision, malpractice insurance, a benefits package, computer hardware and connectivity, and a cloud-based case management system and support. An advisory committee, consisting of representatives of the Colorado Lawyers Committee, lawyers experienced in federal court cases, and a court representative will provide technical consultation in federal law and procedure.
The Court will initially fund this program using the Court's attorney admission fees, and thereafter, by a $50 biennial assessment collected from attorneys. Collection of the new fee will commence in 2018.
A thirty-day comment period will commence with the date of the Public Notice issued December 13, 2017, with comments due no later than the close of business hours of the office of the clerk [5:00 p.m. Mountain Time] on Friday, January 12, 2018. Comments should be submitted by electronic mail to the following address: LocalRule_Comments@cod.uscourts.gov; or by U.S. mail to: Legal Officer, U.S. District Court, Alfred A. Arraj U.S. Courthouse, 901 19th Street, Denver, CO 80294.
Pilot Program to Create and Locate a Clinic to Assist Pro Se Litigants in the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse
Press Release regarding Pro Se Clinic
Pilot Program to Locate a Full-time Magistrate Judge In the Pueblo Jury Division
To provide improved federal court access for the residents of Southeastern Colorado, the United States District Court for the District of Colorado is pleased to announce the adoption of a Pilot Program to relocate a full-time magistrate judge to the Court's Colorado Springs facility located at 212 N. Wahsatch Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80903. The Court is concluding renovations to this facility and it is anticipated that Magistrate Judge Kathleen M. Tafoya will relocate to the Colorado Springs courthouse the week of February 5, 2018.
Download Pilot Program to Locate a Full-time Magistrate Judge In the Pueblo Jury Division (JD4).
PILOT PROGRAM IMPLEMENTING PROPOSED LOCAL PATENT RULES
June 11, 2014 - The United States District Court for the District of Colorado on June 4, 2014, formally adopted a Pilot Program that Implements Proposed Patent Rules. The Pilot Program is designed to facilitate the efficient management of patent cases through the use of local rules collaboratively developed with members of the local patent bar and with input from public comment. Patent cases will follow the procedures and deadlines set forth in the Pilot Project Local Patent Rules beginning August 1, 2014. This Pilot Program has been extended by the Court for an additional six months.
The details of the Pilot Program are attached and can also be found at the U.S. District Court’s website HERE, or can be obtained at the office of the Clerk of the Court at the Alfred A. Arraj U.S. Courthouse Annex located at 901 19th Street, Denver, Colorado 80294.
Download LOCAL PATENT RULES PILOT PROJECT
Download PROPOSED SCHEDULING ORDER IN A PATENT CASE (PDF)
Download PROPOSED SCHEDULING ORDER IN A PATENT CASE (DOCX)
PILOT PROGRAM FOR DIRECT ASSIGNMENT OF CIVIL CASES TO FULL TIME MAGISTRATE JUDGES
January 7, 2015 - In January 2014, the United States District Court for the District of Colorado announced formal adoption of a Pilot Program for the direct assignment of civil cases to the full time magistrate judges. The Pilot Program requires the parties in cases assigned directly to a magistrate judge to indicate, through the filing of a Consent Form by a date certain, whether they accept or decline consent. Cases began being assigned to full time magistrate judges on February 3, 2014. This Pilot Program has been extended for an additional six months by the Court.
The details of the Pilot Program are attached and can also be found at the U.S. District Court’s website HERE, or can be obtained at the office of the Clerk of the Court at the Alfred A. Arraj U.S. Courthouse Annex located at 901 19th Street, Denver, Colorado 80294.
Download PILOT PROGRAM FOR DIRECT ASSIGNMENT OF CIVIL CASES TO FULL TIME MAGISTRATE JUDGES
Download CONSENT FORM (PDF)
Download CONSENT FORM (Word)
PILOT PROGRAM TO IMPLEMENT A TERM OF COURT IN DURANGO PILOT PROJECT PROTOCOL
On May 9, 2013, the U.S. District Court adopted a Pilot Program which directs the implementation of a Term of Court in Durango, Colorado. The Pilot Program provides that a United States District Judge for the District of Colorado shall sit in Durango, Colorado, every other month for the time reasonably necessary to conduct any trial, hearing, or other proceeding scheduled in Durango for that term of court.
Durango Term of Court Pilot Project Protocol (Corrected)
Durango Term of Court Schedule (2014-2015)
COURT APPROVAL OF PILOT PROGRAM CREATING A CIVIL CASE PRO BONO PANEL
Announced Wednesday, June 12, 2013
The United States District Court for the District of Colorado announces formal adoption of a pilot program that creates a panel of attorneys who have agreed to accept pro bono appointments to represent pro se litigants of limited financial means in civil cases before this Court. On June 5, 2013 the District Court approved revisions to the Civil Pro Bono Pilot Program Plan that were made in consideration of and in response to public comments.
Download CIVIL PRO BONO PILOT PROGRAM PLAN
Download APPLICATION FORM for CIVIL PRO BONO PILOT PROGRAM
Download SAMPLE NOTICE DECLINING APPOINTMENT FORM