Overview of the Colorado Judicial Branch

This memorandum provides an overview of the Colorado Judicial Branch, also referred to as the Judicial Department when described as part of the state budget. Established in Section 1 of Article VI of the Colorado Constitution, and further governed by Title 13 of the Colorado Revised Statutes and the Colorado Court Rules, the branch is responsible for administering a court system to resolve disputes and enforce civil and criminal laws. The branch has evolved over time to include other duties beyond courts, such as providing representation and support for indigent offenders and justice-involved families, supervising offenders on probation, and overseeing other justice-related programs. The state’s General Fund provides a significant portion of funding for the branch, but fees and fines also support and fund other functions. This memorandum will use the terms Judicial Branch and Judicial Department interchangeably.