Colorado
Colorado’s highest court is the Colorado Supreme Court. The court has six associate justices and one chief justice, who is selected by majority vote of the supreme court justices. (Source: Colorado Supreme Court; Colorado Constitution)
Judicial Selection
The governor appoints Colorado Supreme Court justices from a list provided by a judicial nominating commission. After at least two years on the court, the justice stands in an unopposed yes/no retention vote in Colorado’s next general election. Justices serve 10-year terms and can stand for additional terms through retention elections. The governor fills interim vacancies from a list provided by the judicial nominating commission. The mandatory retirement age is 72.
State Constitution
Colorado’s first and only constitution was adopted in 1876. As of January 1, 2024, it had 169 amendments. (Source: John Dinan, 2024)
Filters
State Constitutions Have a Role to Play in the Housing Crisis
Voters in multiple states approved constitutional amendments last year to address housing affordability and access.
What the SCOTUS Term Means for State Courts
Some of the Court’s most important holdings — including on abortion, gun restrictions, and presidential immunity — have implications for state courts and constitutions.
Can Sanctuary Cities Survive the Second Trump Administration?
Whether local governments must comply with federal immigration policy largely depends on state law.
We Need to Know More About State Supreme Court Cases
State high courts interpret laws that impact some of the most intimate parts of our lives. Communities have a right to know what’s on the docket.
State Constitutional Protections for Transgender People After Skrmetti
A review of recent litigation in state courts provides hints about the future of trans rights.
What We Learned From State Ballot Measures
The results of 2024's state ballot measures reveal mixed voter opinions on abortion, workers’ rights, and direct democracy.
Voters in California, Colorado, and Hawaii Signal Support for Marriage Equality
As federal same-sex marriage rights appear increasingly vulnerable, voters are removing discriminatory language from their state constitutions.
Voters Across the Country Amend Their Constitutions
Through ballot measures, voters expressed policy preferences on issues including abortion, drug legalization, and same-sex marriage.