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.

Court News

NOTICE OF FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER VACANCY DISTRICT OF WYOMING

The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit is accepting applications from all qualified persons for the position of Federal Public Defender for the District of Wyoming. The Federal Public Defender will head the newly established office of the Federal Public Defender Office for the District of Wyoming, effective August 25, 2025. Go to https://ca10.uscourts.gov/hr/jobs to view the position requirements and download application materials. The deadline for applications is Friday, February 21, 2025.

 

Designation of Chief Magistrate Judge

The United States District Court for the District of Colorado announces the designation of Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak as the Chief Magistrate Judge for the District of Colorado.

The chief magistrate judge is designated based on seniority and has a four-year term. In addition to the normal duties as magistrate judge, the duties of the chief magistrate judge include: coordinating and leading regular meetings of the magistrate judges; being available as a liaison between the magistrate judges and the chief district judge, the clerk of the court, the U.S. Probation Office, and other stakeholders who work with the magistrate judges; providing support and guidance to newly appointed magistrate judges; helping to ensure an even distribution of work among the magistrate judges; and meeting periodically with the chief district judge to discuss administrative matters.

 

The District of Colorado Welcomes United States Magistrate Judge Cyrus Y. Chung

United States Magistrate Judge Cyrus Y. Chung was sworn into office on January 6, 2025 by Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer. A formal investiture will be planned for a later date. Judge Chung's chambers are in C-254 of the Byron G. Rogers Courthouse, and he is assigned to courtroom C-205. His chambers telephone number is: 303-335-2761. Cases assigned to Judge Chung will be identified on the docket by his initials CYC.

 

January 9th National Day of Mourning - U.S. District Court Will Remain Open

The U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, and the Clerk's Office, will remain open during normal business hours Thursday, January 9th. Individual judicial officers may choose to close their respective chambers to honor the memory of former President James E. Carter, Jr. Any changes to scheduled hearings will be reflected in CM/ECF.

 

Magistrate Judge Prose's Chambers and Courtroom Relocation

Effectively immediately, U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Prose's chambers have moved to A532 on the 5th floor of the Arraj Courthouse. All future hearings before Judge Prose will now be heard in courtroom A502.

 

Upcoming Events

Faculty of Federal Advocates presents:

"Let's Talk About Consent: The Pros of Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction"
When: Tuesday, February 25, 2025, 12 noon-1:15 p.m.
Where: Alfred Arraj Courthouse, 901 19th Street
2 general CLE credits granted.

The position of magistrate judge has deservedly been described as "Nothing Less than Indispensable." The seven full-time magistrate judges in this district invest significant amounts of time in each of their cases conducting conferences with counsel, resolving discovery disputes, ruling on referred motions, or conducting settlement conferences. So why don't more parties in civil cases consent to magistrate judge jurisdiction? In this presentation, District Judges Charlotte Sweeney and Kato Crews will explain the critical role the district's magistrate judges play in the work and structure of the district court and the administration of justice, and the numerous benefits of magistrate judge consent jurisdiction. Attorney Ashley Larson, will also discuss the benefits of consenting from the practitioner's point of view, including how to effectively discuss the option and benefits of consent with your clients. Click HERE to register for this program.

 

Faculty of Federal Advocates presents:

"How to Safely Use AI to Excel in Law"
When: Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 12 noon-1:15 p.m.
Where: Arraj Courthouse, 901 19th Street, Denver
2 general/.6 ethics CLE credits granted.

This presentation will cover how to navigate the risks and effectively use Generative Artificial Intelligence ("GenAI") in legal practice. Click HERE to register for this program.