CITY ATTORNEY

Denver City Charter subtit. B, art. VI

in effect

Denver City Charter, art. VI, § 6.1.1 Attorney of the City and County of Denver.

§ 6.1.1 - Attorney of the City and County of Denver. The Attorney of the City and County of Denver shall be the officer in full charge and control of the Department of Law. The City Attorney shall be an attorney-at-law admitted to practice in the State of Colorado and shall have a minimum of five years' experience in the active practice of law. The City Attorney shall be nominated and, by and with the consent of City Council, appointed by the Mayor. The City Attorney shall be the appointing authority for all employees of the Department of Law. (Charter 1960, A10.2; Charter 1904, § 33; amended September 9, 1980; Ord. No. 428-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02; Ord. No. 536-20, § 1, 7-13-20, elec. 11-3-20)

Denver City Charter, art. VI, § 6.1.2 Special counsel.

§ 6.1.2 - Special counsel. The City Attorney, with the approval of the Mayor, may employ special counsel. Such special counsel shall serve under the direction of the City Attorney, and compensation shall be paid from the appropriation of the Department of Law. When disputes arise between units of City government, and such disputes cannot be resolved short of litigation, the City Attorney shall determine which of said units, in his or her opinion, is legally correct, and the other party to the dispute shall be advised to retain special counsel for representation at its own expense, or subject to approval of City Council, the expense shall be paid from the appropriation of the Department of Law. (Charter 1960, A10.5; Charter 1904, § 36; amended September 9, 1980; Ord. No. 428-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02; Ord. No. 676-02, § 1, 8-26-02, elec. 11-5-02)

Denver City Charter, art. VI, § 6.1.3 Functions of the Department of Law.

§ 6.1.3 - Functions of the Department of Law. The Department of Law shall exercise all functions of the City and County of Denver as to: (A) Representing the City and County of Denver, or any officer acting in his or her official capacity, or any employee acting within the scope of his or her employment, or any duly appointed member of a board or commission acting within the scope of his or her duties, in all civil litigation where the City and County of Denver, or said officer or said employee has been made a party; (B) Serving as counsel and legal advisor of the Mayor, the City Council or any committee or member thereof, the Auditor and heads of all departments, boards, commissions and officers concerning any legal matters affecting the City's interest; (C) Preparing and approving as to form all contracts, deeds, bonds and other legal instruments to be executed in the name of or made to or with the City and County of Denver; (D) Drafting such legislation and rendering such formal opinions as may be requested by the Mayor, the City Council, the Auditor or any other officer of the City and County, acting in his or her official capacity; (E) Conducting the functions assigned to County attorneys by the general statutes of the State; (F) Appearing in behalf of the people of the City and County of Denver in all actions and proceedings involving the alleged violation of any Charter provision, ordinance or rule and regulation of the City and County of Denver. (Charter 1960, A10.1; Amended May 17, 1916; amended September 9, 1980; Ord. No. 428-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02; Ord. No. 843-21, § 1, 8-16-21, elec. 11-2-21)

Denver City Charter, art. VI, § 6.1.4 Institution of suits.

§ 6.1.4 - Institution of suits. When directed by the Mayor or City Council in writing, the City Attorney shall institute any suit, action or proceeding on behalf of the City and County or any agency thereof, when such suit, action or proceeding would be consistent with the ethical canons of the legal profession. (Charter 1960, A10.3; added September 9, 1980)

Denver City Charter, art. VI, § 6.1.5 Dockets and records.

§ 6.1.5 - Dockets and records. The City Attorney shall maintain official documents of all cases of the City and County rendered in State or Federal court, properly indexed and numbered, which shall include records of proceedings in such cases, copies of briefs, written opinions and official correspondence, except for those cases involving the alleged violation of any Charter provision, ordinance, or rule and regulation of the City and County of Denver. (Charter 1960, A10.6; Charter 1904, § 34; amended September 9, 1980; Ord. No. 428-02, § 1, 6-3-02, elec. 8-13-02)

Denver City Charter, art. VI, § 6.1.6 Annual report.

§ 6.1.6 - Annual report. The City Attorney shall issue an annual report concerning the activities and functions of the Department of Law. (Charter 1960, A10.7; Charter 1904, § 35; amended September 9, 1980)

Source: City and County of Denver, Revised Municipal Code and Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/co/denver/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIHORU_SUBTITLE_BCH_ARTVICIATFetched: 10/27/2026