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)
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New Mexico Supreme Court Adopts New Separation-of-Powers Approach to Disbursing Federal Funds
A recent decision could have a significant impact on how, and how fast, federal money is used to help people in the state.
Why State Constitutions Matter on Election Day
Two new explainers examine voting rights under state constitutions and how state courts oversee ballot initiatives.
Voting Rights Under State Constitutions, Explained
All but one state constitution affirmatively establishes a right to vote.
Colorado Supreme Court Upholds Controversial Google Keyword Warrant
The decision marks the first time a supreme court has addressed the constitutionality of warrants asking search companies to identify everyone who ran a given search.
A Brief History of Colorado’s Constitution
Colorado’s constitutional history provides an ambivalent promise of human rights and social equality.
Administrative Deference in Colorado
The Colorado Supreme Court has declined to adopt the federal courts’ approach to deference.
Scholarship Roundup: Back to School Edition
Recent articles address access to justice, administrative law, the law of democracy, and state constitutional law.
The Supreme Court and the States
This term, the justices considered cases with widely varying outcomes and major implications for state courts.