The United States District Court
District of Colorado

United States Magistrate Judge Timothy P. O'Hara was sworn into office on October 15, 2024 by Chief Judge Philip A. Brimmer. A formal investiture will be planned for a later date. Judge O'Hara's chambers are in C-452 of the Byron G. Rogers Courthouse, and he is assigned to courtroom C-402. His chambers telephone number is: 303-335-2740. Cases assigned to Judge O'Hara will be identified on the docket by his initials TPO.

The United States District Court for the District of Colorado announces proposed amendments to its local rules and invites public comment. The proposed amendments can be found by visiting the local rules page on the U.S. District Court website, under the "Local Rules of Practice Open for Comment" column, HERE. All comments must be submitted no later than Friday, October 25, 2024. Please e-mail comments to LocalRule_Comments@cod.uscourts.gov and be sure to identify the specific local rule amendment to which your comment(s) relate.

CM/ECF will be unavailable from 7:00AM to approximately 7:00PM on Saturday, October 26, 2024, to perform scheduled maintenance.

The United States District Court has selected three new members for appointment to the Committee on Conduct and appointed a new chairperson and vice-chairperson beginning on October 1, 2024. The Court is appreciative to all members of the bar that expressed interest in serving on the Committee. More information about the Committee and its membership may be found on the Attorney Discipline page of the court's website HERE.

The Court hereby rescinds entry requirements to courthouses and the U.S. Probation Office in the District of Colorado. The full order is available here.

Pursuant to General Order 2022-7, attorneys who practice in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado will be required to pay a $60 biennial fee every two years. For this collection fee period, payments must be submitted between Oct. 1^st and Dec. 31^st, 2024. Attorneys will pay the biennial fee through the court's CM/ECF system.

Keep in mind the following terms and conditions:

The fee is NOT yet available to be paid in CM/ECF, so please do not contact the court at this time. Payment instructions and additional details will be provided on this webpage over the coming months.

"Two Judges, One Case: The Referral Relationship Between District and Magistrate Judges"
When: Thursday, October 17, 2024, 12 noon-1:15 p.m.
Where: Arraj Courthouse, 901 19th Street, Denver
2 general CLE credits granted.

Practicing in federal court can seem daunting for many reasons, let alone having two judges assigned to the case each with their own set of practice standards and expectations. Join District Judge S. Kato Crews and Magistrate Judge N. Reid Neureiter as they discuss how two judges facilitate the administration of justice when assigned to a single case. They will shed light on the working relationship between district and magistrate judges and how these judges manage their dockets in their differing roles. Click HERE to register for this program.

"Smells Like Upjohn in Here: Privileged Communications with Current and Former Employees"
When: Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 12 noon-1:15 p.m.
Where: Arraj Courthouse, 901 19th Street, Denver
2 general CLE credits granted.

John Lebsack and Ben Lebsack will review the distinction between attorney-client privilege and attorney confidentiality obligations under Colo. RPC 1.6 and 1.9(c). They will review the elements of attorney-client privilege, how the privilege arises in the employment context, then examine the conditions that could make communications with former employees privileged. Click HERE to register for this program.

Courtroom A-201, Alfred A. Arraj U.S. Courthouse
United States Bankruptcy Judge Michael E. Romero
The U.S. District Court conducts ceremonies for those individuals requesting a name change as part of their naturalization process to become a U.S. Citizen. All questions regarding the naturalization process should be directed to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at 1-800-375-5283, 12484 E Weaver Pl, Centennial, CO 80111, or contact the USCIS here.

"Federal Bench-Bar Roundtable"
When: Friday, November 1, 2024, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Where: Westin Denver, 1672 Lawrence Street
4 general CLE credits granted.

This program offers a unique opportunity to engage in a series of roundtable discussions between Federal District Judges, Magistrate Judges, Federal Bankruptcy Judges, and federal court practitioners. The half-day session will include three rounds of discussions at tables with a federal judge at each. The discussions will be topics relevant to pre-trial and trial issues. Click HERE to register for this program.

"Two-Thirds Turnover in the Magistrate Judge Ranks: What it Means for the Future of Settlement Conferences in the District of Colorado"
When: Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 12 noon-1:15 p.m.
Where: Arraj Courthouse, 901 19th Street, Denver
2 general credits granted.

In less than two and a half years, six of the nine magistrate judge positions in the District of Colorado have or will have been filled with new judicial officers, including the imminent retirement of Chief Magistrate Judge Michael Hegarty in January 2025. Settlement conferences have been a staple in the District of Colorado for years. But what does this recent turnover in the magistrate judge ranks mean for the future of settlement conferences? Join Judge Hegarty on November 13, 2024 as he provides his perspective on this topic based on a survey he conducted of the current magistrate judges. Judge Hegarty will discuss: (i) trends regarding the usage of settlement conferences among civil practitioners in the District of Colorado, (ii) the general philosophical views regarding the efficacy of Court-sponsored settlement conferences among the current magistrate judges, (iii) practices and procedures for requesting a settlement conference before a magistrate judge, and (iv) best practices for attorneys and clients engaging in settlement conferences, among other topics. Click HERE to register for this program.

"View from the Bench: Magistrate Judge Kathryn Starnella Reflects on Her First Year"
When: Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Where: Arraj Courthouse, 901 19th Street, Denver
2 general CLE credits granted.

Join us for a conversation with Judge Kathryn Starnella as she talks about her transition from the Colorado Attorney General's Office to the federal bench. Judge Starnella will discuss tips for practicing in her courtroom and how to effectively advocate for your client, and will take time to answer attendees' questions. Click HERE to register for this program.