Colorado Judicial Department Publishes New Annual Report

March 21, 2025, DENVER—Featuring an emphasis on increased visibility into how the state courts operate, the Colorado Judicial Department is proud to announce a new Annual Report for the fiscal year 2023–24. This new initiative provides information on the state court system and its operations and highlights significant projects, achievements, and activities during the fiscal year. The report details progress in several key areas, including workplace culture, case filings, and collections programs. 

Workplace Culture Initiative: One of the most significant areas outlined is the focus on workplace culture within the Judicial Department. For example, pages 18 and 19 in the report show how the Department has initiated significant changes in policy and practice through the Workplace Culture Initiative (WCI). Since summer 2023, the Department has focused on increasing collaboration among employees, fostering an exemplary workplace driven by employee input, and improving overall employee well-being. This initiative reflects the Department’s mission, vision and values and a fundamental philosophy that a positive work environment is essential for the courts to serve the public efficiently and fairly. 

Court Case Filings and Drug Offense Classification Changes: Information on the total number of case filings in the state’s district and county courts, showing the volume and types of cases Colorado's state courts handle, appears on pages 12 and 13 of the report. The report also discusses recent changes in drug offense classifications and the direct impact on county courts. The reclassification of drug-related offenses, mentioned in the last paragraph of page 13, which resulted in a 140% increase in county court cases filed in the fiscal year 2023-2024, demonstrates the county courts' flexibility in responding to new laws or pressing public needs.  

Collections Program and Office of Restitution Services: The report also offers fiscal and program information on the Collections Program and the Office of Restitution Services (page 23). This section includes a breakdown of funds collected and distributed to various state departments and programs and reflects the Department’s dedication to recovering and distributing restitution to victims. The financial picture shows the impact collections and restitution have on essential victim and community services. 

The supplemental 2024 Annual Statistical Report, which is also created annually, is available for deeper dives into case volume statistics and financial information. This document provides precise caseload numbers for the Colorado Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, district courts, county courts, water courts, and probation, as well as detailed financial data for the Judicial Department. The Annual Statistical Report is available from coloradojudicial.gov/court-services/research-and-data. 

The Department remains committed to transparency, efficiency, and continuously improving its interactions with the people of Colorado. The new Annual Report reflects that commitment to the communities it serves. The Annual Report can be found online at coloradojudicial.gov/annual-report. 

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