Juvenile Court of Denver

C.R.S. tit. 13, art. 8
in effect

C.R.S. § 13-8-101 Establishment

13-8-101. Establishment. Pursuant to the provisions of section 1 of article VI of the Colorado constitution, there is hereby established the juvenile court of the city and county of Denver.

C.R.S. § 13-8-102 Court of record - powers

13-8-102. Court of record - powers. The juvenile court shall be a court of record with such powers as are inherent in constitutionally created courts and with such legal and equitable powers to effectuate its jurisdiction and carry out its orders, judgments, and decrees as are possessed by the district courts.

C.R.S. § 13-8-103 Jurisdiction

13-8-103. Jurisdiction. The jurisdiction of the juvenile court of the city and county of Denver is as set forth in sections 19-1-104, 19-2.5-103, and 19-4-109 for juvenile courts, as defined in section 19-1-103.

C.R.S. § 13-8-104 Number of judges

13-8-104. Number of judges. There shall be three judges of the juvenile court of the city and county of Denver.

C.R.S. § 13-8-105 Qualifications of judges

13-8-105. Qualifications of judges. A judge of the juvenile court shall be a qualified elector of the city and county of Denver at the time of his election or selection and shall have been licensed to practice law in the state of Colorado for five years at such time. He shall be a resident of the city and county of Denver during his term of office.

C.R.S. § 13-8-106 Activities of judge

13-8-106. Activities of judge. A judge of the juvenile court shall devote his full time to judicial duties and shall not engage in the private practice of law while serving in office.

C.R.S. § 13-8-107 Term of office

13-8-107. Term of office. The term of office of a judge of the juvenile court of the city and county of Denver shall be six years.

C.R.S. § 13-8-108 Vacancies

13-8-108. Vacancies. If the office of juvenile court judge becomes vacant because of death, resignation, failure to be retained in office pursuant to section 25 of article VI of the state constitution, or other cause, the vacancy shall be filled by the governor as provided in section 20 of article VI of the state constitution.

C.R.S. § 13-8-109 Magistrates

13-8-109. Magistrates. The judges of the juvenile court of the city and county of Denver may appoint magistrates, as provided in section 19-1-108, C.R.S.

C.R.S. § 13-8-110 Clerk

13-8-110. Clerk. (1) The judges of the juvenile court shall appoint a clerk of the juvenile court pursuant to the provisions of section 13-3-105. (2) Repealed. (3) The powers and duties of the clerk of the juvenile court shall be similar to the powers and duties of the clerk of the district court. The duties of the clerk of the juvenile court shall also include such matters as may be assigned to him by law, by court rules, and by the juvenile judges.

C.R.S. § 13-8-111 Other employees

13-8-111. Other employees. The judges of the juvenile court shall also appoint, pursuant to the provisions of section 13-3-105, probation officers and such other employees as may be necessary to carry out the functions and duties of the juvenile court, including the clerk's office thereof.

C.R.S. § 13-8-112 Judges may sit en banc - presiding judge

13-8-112. Judges may sit en banc - presiding judge. The judges of the juvenile court may sit en banc for the purpose of making rules of court, the appointment of a clerk and other employees pursuant to section 13-3-105, and the conduct of other business relating to the administration of the court, including the selection of a presiding judge, as authorized by and subject to the approval of the chief justice of the supreme court.

C.R.S. § 13-8-113 Judges to sit separately

13-8-113. Judges to sit separately. In the juvenile court, each of the judges shall sit separately for the trial of cases and the transaction of judicial business, and each of the courts so held shall be known as the juvenile court. Each judge shall have all of the powers which he might have if he were the sole judge of the court, including the power to vacate his own judgments, decrees, or orders, or those of a predecessor when permitted by law, but not juvenile court orders of another judge of the juvenile court who is still in office.

C.R.S. § 13-8-114 Practice and procedure

13-8-114. Practice and procedure. Practice and procedure in the juvenile court shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of this article and title 19, C.R.S.

C.R.S. § 13-8-115 Rules of court

13-8-115. Rules of court. The juvenile court has the power to make rules for the conduct of its business to the extent that such rules are not in conflict with the rules of the supreme court or the laws of the state but are supplementary thereto. Juvenile court rules are subject to review by the supreme court.

C.R.S. § 13-8-116 Terms

13-8-116. Terms. Terms of the juvenile court shall be fixed by rule of court; but at least one term shall be held each year.

C.R.S. § 13-8-117 Seal

13-8-117. Seal. The juvenile court shall have a seal, bearing upon the face thereof the words "The Juvenile Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado".

C.R.S. § 13-8-118 Process

13-8-118. Process. The juvenile court has the power to issue process necessary to acquire jurisdiction, to require attendance, and to enforce all orders, decrees, and judgments. Such process runs to any county within the state and, when authorized by law in special proceedings or, in the absence thereof, by the Colorado rules of civil procedure in civil cases, or the Colorado rules of criminal procedure in criminal cases, may be served outside of the state. Any sheriff to whom process is directed is authorized and required to execute the same and shall be entitled to the same fees as are allowed by law for serving like process from the district court. Persons other than the sheriff or his deputies also may serve process from the juvenile court when permitted by law in special proceedings or, in the absence thereof, by the Colorado rules of civil procedure in civil cases or the Colorado rules of criminal procedure in criminal cases.

C.R.S. § 13-8-119 Venue

13-8-119. Venue. Venue in the juvenile court is described in sections 19-2.5-104, 19-3-201, 19-4-109, 19-5-102, 19-5-204, and 19-6-102.

C.R.S. § 13-8-120 Sheriff to attend

13-8-120. Sheriff to attend. It is the duty of the sheriff of the city and county of Denver to attend in the juvenile court.

C.R.S. § 13-8-121 Appearance by district attorney and city attorney

13-8-121. Appearance by district attorney and city attorney. Upon the request of the court, the district attorney shall represent the state in the interest of the child in any proceedings brought under section 19-1-104 (1)(a), C.R.S., and the city attorney shall represent the state in the interest of the child in any other proceedings.

C.R.S. § 13-8-122 Juries

13-8-122. Juries. When required, juries may be selected and summoned as provided for courts of record in articles 71 to 74 of this title. With the permission of the district court, the juvenile court may use the panel of jurors summoned for the district court of the second judicial district.

C.R.S. § 13-8-123 Judgments

13-8-123. Judgments. The judgments of the juvenile court shall be enforceable in the same manner as judgments of the district court and, when appropriate, may be made liens upon real estate or other property in the manner provided by law for judgments of the district court.

C.R.S. § 13-8-124 Appellate review

13-8-124. Appellate review. Appellate review of any order, decree, or judgment may be taken to the supreme court or the court of appeals, as provided by law and the Colorado appellate rules. Initials shall appear on the record on appeal in place of the name of the child. Appeals from orders or decrees concerning legal custody, the allocation of parental responsibilities, termination of parent-child legal relationships, and adoptions shall be advanced upon the calendar of the supreme court or of the court of appeals and shall be decided at the earliest practicable time.

C.R.S. § 13-8-125 Fees

13-8-125. Fees. The fees charged by the juvenile court and the clerk thereof shall be those provided in article 32 of this title.

C.R.S. § 13-8-126 Supervision by supreme court

13-8-126. Supervision by supreme court. The supervisory powers of the supreme court established by article 3 of this title shall extend to the juvenile court.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2024-title-13.docxFetched: 10/6/2026