Category Archives: Colorado Appeals

Speedy Trial Rights in Colorado Criminal Appeals

C.R.S. § 18-1-405(1) requires that, if a defendant is not brought to trial within six months of the entry of his not guilty plea, the charges must be dismissed. The statutory language is “mandatory and leaves no room for court discretion.” Carr v. District Court, 543 P.2d 1253, 1254, 190 Colo. 125 (Colo. 1975). This […]

What is a Colorado Direct Appeal?

In Colorado, a direct appeal is an appeal from a trial court decision, filed immediately following entry of judgment within the trial court. On direct appeal, Colorado appellants may only argue alleged legal errors made by the lower court. Commonly alleged trial court errors include the improper admission of evidence, an incorrect jury instruction, or […]

Should My Trial Attorney Write My Appeal?

After going through the lengthy trial process, most litigants presume that their trial level attorney will handle the appeal. After all, who knows the case better than he or she does? In reality, however, most trial level attorneys will not handle appeals as a rule. Think of it this way: you wouldn’t seek out an […]

Will the Colorado Court of Appeals Reconsider my Case?

If you lose your case in the court of appeals, there is a mechanism through which you can ask the court of appeals to reconsider its order, prior to requesting review from the state supreme court. This is a called a motion for reconsideration. In most cases, a motion for reconsideration is not appropriate. A […]