About State Government Agency Appeals

An appeal of a state government agency decision or action is called a judicial review. In a judicial review, a judge looks at the decisions and actions of a state government agency. The decisions and actions reviewed may be related to things like denying benefits or, if you were a state government employee, a hiring or firing decision. 

Examples of state government agencies include the Department of Human Services or the Department of Revenue.

Review §24-4-106, C.R.S. (Colorado Revised Statutes). This statute is Colorado law.

How to Start an Appeal

You may begin your appeal of a state government agency decision in the district court of any county. It may be more convenient to give the paperwork to the court in the county where you live or in the county where the state government agency is located. Use the courts locator to find the correct court location.

The person appealing the state government agency decision, called the Appellant, must give the appeal paperwork to the district court within 35 days after the state government agency decision or action becomes effective.

Forms and Paperwork Required

Download and fill out the State Government Agency Appeal forms using the forms link above.

Paperwork Tips

Tips for completing JDF 610 Complaint for Judicial Review Pursuant §24-4-106, C.R.S. and Request for Stay and Designation of Record:

• Follow the prompts to fill in the blanks on the Complaint form.
• The Complaint form tells the court and the state government agency that you are filing an appeal.
• The Designation of Record section on the form tells the clerk which paperwork and records from the state government agency should go to the judge looking at your appeal.
• Make a copy of this form for the state government agency and send it to them by mail.

Tips for completing JDF 601 District Court Civil (CV) Case Cover Sheet for Initial Pleading of Complaint, Counterclaim, Cross-Claim, or Third Party Complaint:

• Follow the prompts to fill in the blanks on the Cover Sheet form.
• The Cover Sheet form tells the court and the state government agency whether or not your appeal is governed by C.R.C.P. 16.1.
• In section 2, please indicate if C.R.C.P. (Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure) 16.1 applies to your case. You may want to look at the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure in the Colorado Revised Statutes so you check the appropriate box(es) on the form.
• The statutes can be accessed online and can often be found at your local library. The court rules are usually the last few books in the set of statutes.

How to Submit Paperwork to the Court

1. Decide where (which courthouse) to deliver your paperwork. Your appeal case belongs in the district court of any county. It may be easiest to give the paperwork to the district court in the county where you live. Another option is to give the paperwork to the district court in the county where the state government agency is located. Use the courts locator to find the correct county or district court.
2. Give the county or district court the completed forms.
3. Pay the filing fee. If you do not think you can afford the filing fee, fill out form JDF 205 Motion to File Without Payment and Supporting Financial Affidavit and JDF 206 Finding and Order Concerning Payment of Fees to request a waiver of the filing fee, or visit our File Without Payment section for complete information.
4. Mail a copy of the Complaint for Judicial Review Pursuant §24-4-106, C.R.S. and Request for Stay and Designation of Record to the state government agency.
   • Complete JDF 1313 Certificate of Service, telling the court how you provided a copy of the Complaint to the state government agency.
   • Give the completed JDF 1313 to the court.

After Paperwork Is Filed

Once all of the deadlines have passed for giving paperwork to the court, the district court judge will look at the paperwork, state government agency file (if requested), and transcript. No new hearing will be held. The district court judge will create a written ruling or order.

You and the state government agency will receive a copy of the ruling or order. Unless there is further review by the Supreme Court or Court of Appeals, after final ruling or order on the appeal by the district court judge, the judgment on appeal will be sent to the state government agency for action as directed by the district court judge.