news
Colorado Judicial Branch
Mary J. Mullarkey, Chief Justice
Gerald Marroney, State Court Administrator
________________________________________________________________________
Aug. 18, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Karen Salaz
303/837-3633
1-800-888-0001 Ext. 633
Mandatory e-filing ordered in 12th Judicial District civil cases
E-filing required in district court cases beginning Sept. 1, 2004
Mandatory e-filing of court documents is coming to the Twelfth Judicial District
(Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Rio Grande, Mineral and Saguache counties). Beginning
Sept. 1, 2004, all pleadings, motions, briefs, exhibits and other documents filed in district
court civil cases must be filed electronically.
“Colorado courts launched the first statewide electronic filing service in January
2001,” says 12th Judicial District Chief Judge John Kuenhold. “E-filing provides the
courts with an efficient, cost-effective tool to help us conduct our business.”
The system, powered by LexisNexis File and Serve, enables attorneys to file
documents with the courts and electronically serve other attorneys in the case from any
Internet-connected personal computer. Once a document has been filed, courts can
review, accept or reject, and store the documents online. Notifications are instantaneous.
The information contained in the electronic filing is also automatically
downloaded into the court’s electronic case management system. This saves data entry
on the court side.
The total system allows electronic filing of legal documents for civil, domestic
relations, probate and water court cases in all Colorado district courts however the
mandatory e-filing procedure being implemented in the Twelfth Judicial District is now
only required in district court civil cases.
All documents relating to a single pleading or paper may be filed electronically as
a single transaction. For example, a motion, exhibits and related affidavits may be filed
under a single transaction.
Parties who are not represented by an attorney will continue to file documents in
the traditional paper format, and the Clerk of Court will scan and upload certain paper
filed documents to LexisNexis File and Serve.
Sealed and suppressed cases are exempt from the mandatory filing requirement
for district court civil cases. Documents and exhibits submitted to the Court under seal
must be filed in paper format.
During the phase of implementation of electronic filing, the Clerk of the Court
will continue to maintain a complete paper file on all cases.
“E-filing gives the courts a tool to more effectively and efficiently handle the
huge volume of documents filed in cases,” adds Kuenhold. “As the number of cases
increases it is important that we utilize all of the tools available to us.”
Editor’s note: A full copy of the Order: Mandatory E-Filing District Court Civil Cases, Chief
Judge Administrative Order 2004-1 is available at http://www.courts.state.co.us/district/12th/efilimg.pdf
The LexisNexis File & Serve web site, lexisnexis.comifileandserve, provides additional information
regarding electronic filing computer requirements, fees, service of documents and training opportunities
This information is provided as an e-mail service of the Colorado State Judicial Branch, Office of State Court Administrator, 1301
Pennsylvania Street, Suite 300, Denver, Colo. 80203. To discontinue this service or update your e-mail address, please respond to this
message with your name, contact information and any comments.