Opinions from both the Colorado Supreme Court and the Colorado Court of Appeals, stretching back as far as 1864, can now be accessed online at no cost, as announced by the state’s judicial department on Tuesday. This progress is a direct result of House Bill 22-1091, also known as the Justice Gregory Hobbs Public Access to Case Law Act. The Act, named after the former justice who spearheaded efforts to enhance the provision of justice via court access, was approved by Colorado’s General Assembly in early 2022.
Dedicated funds of $100,000, sourced from the law, have been employed to update the judicial department’s IT infrastructure. The upgrade was implemented to support the online publication of precedential cases, with the aim of democratizing legal knowledge by making it freely accessible to everyone. As stated by Supreme Court Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright, the new site offers everyone the ability to “make decisions about their own legal matters or simply seek to study the law” by providing free and straightforward access, unearthing a wealth of legal opinions issued by Colorado’s appellate courts.
For comprehensive access to the Colorado Supreme Court and the Colorado Court of Appeals’ published opinions, visit the dedicated website. Further information about House Bill 22-1091 can be found on the Colorado General Assembly’s website. More details about the launch of this important initiative by Colorado’s judiciary are available at the original announcement.