ADOPTION OF LOCAL RULE D.C.COLO.LAttyR 2(b)(1) AND LAttyR 5(a)-(b) ALLOWING LIMITED REPRESENTATION OF ALL PRO SE PARTIES IN CIVIL ACTIONS
The U.S. District Court has broadened the scope of limited representation, to allow such representation for ALL unrepresented parties. The U.S. District Court continues to generally not permit the Colorado state court practice of limited representation unless counsel follow the Court's particular procedural requirements.
Accordingly, both pro se parties and counsel should be aware of the procedure set in place by the U.S. District Court, and that it differs from that set by the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure (C.R.C.P. 11(b) and Colorado Rule of Civil Procedure 121 § 1-1(5)). The U.S. District Court requires counsel to follow three procedural steps to successfully enter, practice, and withdraw from a case when acting as counsel on a limited representation basis.
Please note that when filing the Motion to Provide Limited Representation, the attorney will use the Court's CM/ECF system to file the motion, the entry of appearance when granted leave, and the motion to withdraw. The pro se party will continue to receive notices of filings concurrently with the limited representation attorney's receipt of notice during the period of limited representation. This is to provide the pro se party with all filings in the case, in recognition of the fact that the attorney's limited representation task may not be relevant to all activities in the case. After the attorney's withdrawal motion is granted, his CM/ECF noticing will be switched off.
Sample forms for limited representation are available on the District Court's Forms website page under Attorney/Law Student and Civil Pro Bono. Sample forms for pro se parties to request appointment of limited representation by counsel are available under the Self Representation (Pro Se) section of the Forms page.