Rule Change 2023(14)

Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure

November 13, 2023

Editors’ Note: Rule Change 2023(14) as published by the Court contains forms that were omitted from this printing due to size limitations. The forms for documents described in Rule Change 2023(14) are available at https://www.courts.state.co.us/userfiles/file/Court_Probation/Supreme_Court/Rule_Changes/2023/Rule%20Change%202023(14).pdf.

Rule 10. Form and Quality of Pleadings, Motions and Other Documents

(a)–(c) [NO CHANGE]

(d) General Rule Regarding Paper Size, Format, and Spacing. All documents filed after the effective date of this rule, including those filed through the E-Filing System under C.R.C.P. 121(1-26), shall meet the following criteria:

(1) Paper. Where a document is filed on paper, it shall be on plain, white, 8 ½ by 11 inch paper (recycled paper preferred).

(2) Format. All documents shall be legible. They shall be printed on one side of the page only (except for E-Filed documents).

(I) Margins. All documents shall use margins of 1 ½ inches at the top of each page, and 1 inch at the left, right, and bottom of each page. Except for the caption, a left-justified margin shall be used for all material.

(II) Font. No less than twelve (12) point font shall be used for all documents, including footnotes.

(III) Case Caption Information. All documents shall contain the following information arranged in the following order, as illustrated by paragraphs (e) and (f) of this rule, except that documents issued by the court under the signature of the clerk or judge should omit the attorney section as illustrated in paragraphs (e)(2) and (f)(2). Individual boxes should separate this case caption information; however, vertical lines are not mandatory. On the left side:

Document title (the document title may instead be included as a centered line at the bottom of the caption).

Court name and mailing address.

Name of parties.

Name, address, and telephone number of the attorney or pro se party filing the document. Fax number and e-mail address are optional.

Attorney registration number.

On the right side:

An area for “Court Use Only” that is at least 2 ½ inches in width and 1 ¾ inches in length (located opposite the court and party information).

Case number, division number, and courtroom number (located opposite the attorney information above).

Centered at the bottom of the caption:

Document title (the document title may instead be included as the top line on the left side of the caption).

(3)–(4) [NO CHANGE]

(g)–(h) [NO CHANGE]

(i) State Judicial Pre-Printed or Computer-Generated Forms. Forms approved by the State Court Administrator’s Office (designated “JDF” or “SCAO” on pre-printed or computer-generated forms), forms set forth in the Colorado Court Rules, volume 12, C.R.S., (including those pre printed or computer-generated forms designated “CRCP” or “CPC” and those contained in the appendices of volume 12, C.R.S.), and forms generated by the state’s judicial electronic system, “ICON,” shall conform to criteria established by the State Court Administrator’s Office with the approval of the Colorado Supreme Court. Such forms, whether preprinted or computer-generated, shall employ a form of caption similar to those contained in this rule, and 1 inch left margin, ½ inch right and bottom margins, and at least 1 inch top margin, except that for forms designated “JDF” or “SCAO” the requirement of at least 1 inch for the top margin shall apply to forms created or revised on and after April 5, 2010.

COMMENTS

2001 [Amendment]

[1] This rule sets forth forms of case captions for all documents that are filed in Colorado courts,

including both criminal and civil cases. The purpose of the form captions is to provide a uniform and consistent format that enables practitioners, clerks, administrators, and judges to locate identifying information more efficiently. Judges are encouraged in their orders to employ a caption similar to one of the options found in paragraphs (e) and (f).

[2] [RESERVED]

[3]–[4] [NO CHANGE]

Amended and Adopted by the Court, En Banc, November 13, 2023. Effective immediately.

By the Court:

Richard L. Gabriel

Justice, Colorado Supreme Court