S_JUD_2025A 01/29/2025 04:25:41 PM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
SENATE COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY

Date

01/29/2025

Attendance
Ball	X
Carson	X
Kipp	X
Frizell	X
Roberts	X
Weissman	X
Gonzales J.	X

Time

04:25:41 PM to 05:55:45 PM

Place

Old Supreme Court

This Meeting was called to order by

Gonzales J.

This Report was prepared by

Juliann Jenson

Hearing Items	Action Taken
hSB25-024	Referred to Senate Appropriations

SB25-024 - Referred to Senate Appropriations

Attachment Tag

File Name

Attachment A

Attachment A.pdf

04:25:51 PM

Senators Frizell
and Roberts, co-prime sponsors, presented Senate Bill 25-024, concerning
judicial officers. The bill sponsors discussed reasons for increasing the
number of judges across the state.

Committee members
asked questions about training, support staff, and faciity issues.

04:35:24 PM

Chief Justice Monica
Marquez, representing Judicial, testified in support of the bill. She
discussed legislative priorities and judicial caseloads and dockets.

Erin Sokol, representing
Judicial, testified in support of the bill. She discussed caseloads, community
service, safety, and speedy trial deadlines.

Ryan Stuart, representing
Judicial, testified in support of the bill. He discussed impact of certain
state laws on the judicial system.

04:47:09 PM

Marie Moses, representing
Judicial, testified in support of the bill. She distributed a handout of
her calendar (Attachment A) and discussed the domestic court docket.

Courtney Dinnel,
representing Judicial, testified in support of the bill. She discussed
workload and the eviction docket.

04:57:34 PM

Committee members
asked questions and discussion ensued about prioritization, additional
judges and impact on plea bargains, mental health holds and probate court,
facilities/space, and remote court.

05:09:11 PM

Ms. Kaela Zihlman,
representing herself and the CBA Family Law Section, testified in support
of the bill. She expressed concerns about domestic docket backlog.

Melanie Jordan,
representing Juvenile Law Section, testified in support of the bill. She
discussed family law implications of delayed court hearings.

Melissa Thompson,
representing Office of Respondent Parents' Counsel, testified in support
of the bill. She discussed related expenses for delayed cases and termination
hearings.

Mr. George Brauchler,
representing Office of the District Attorney, testified in support of the
bill. He discussed judge shortages and the impact on district attorneys
and the criminal justice system generally.

05:31:01 PM

Mr. Matthew Baca,
representing Colorado Legal Services, testified in a neutral position on
the bill.

Anne Mangiardi,
representing Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline, testified in support
of the bill.

Cynthia Mares,
representing Colorado Judicial Institute, testified to amend the bill.

Kent Wagner, representing
Office of Judicial Performance Evaluation, testified in support of the
bill.

05:55:32 PM	Motion	Refer Senate Bill 25-024 to the Committee on Appropriations.
	Moved	Roberts
	Seconded

	Ball	Yes
	Carson	No
	Kipp	Yes
	Frizell	Yes
	Roberts	Yes
	Weissman	Yes
	Gonzales J.	Yes
	Final	YES: 6 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS

05:55:45 PM

The committee adjourned.

SB25-024 - Referred to Senate Appropriations

Colorado General Assembly