Opinion ID: 2509476
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Application of Laches Within Statutory Limits

Text: Although the statute provides no limitation on the time in which a postconviction challenge to a class one felony may be brought, the mere existence of a statute of limitations does not preclude the application of laches. Rather, laches and statutory limits can be co-extensive. Where this is the case we have held that the statute will be followed, O'Byrne, 120 Colo. at 578, 212 P.2d at 871, but within this limit the peculiar doctrine of courts of equity should prevail, Great West Mining Co. v. Woodmas of Alston Mining Co., 14 Colo. 90, 98, 23 P. 908, 911 (1890). Hence, laches may be invoked against a stale claim where there is otherwise no time limitation to collateral attack  unless it has been clearly abrogated by statute. Because we find the statute's silence with respect to the doctrine of laches or other common law defenses ambiguous, we look to the legislative history of section 16-5-402 and our case law to determine whether the abrogation of laches is here within the intent of the general assembly. See § 2-4-203, C.R.S. (2004); Schubert v. People, 698 P.2d 788, 793-94 (Colo.1985). Before the statute was enacted into law, both the Senate and the House Committee on Judiciary received testimony from various witnesses. Whether section 16-5-402 would preclude the application of laches was not discussed in either hearing. Rather, the bill was characterized as codifying a time limit for attacks on convictions such that if the defendant did not file within the time limit, he would be presumed to have waived his rights. Such a presumption was justified because of laches and sleeping on your rights. Concerning Amendments to the Colorado Code of Criminal Procedure: Hearing on S.B. 262 Before the Senate Committee on Judiciary, 53rd Gen. Assembly (1981) (statement of Otto Moore, Assistant District Attorney, Denver County). Testifying before the House, Moore again stated that the purpose of the proposed legislation was to provide a statute of limitations beyond which no collateral attack could be made on a judgment of conviction of a crime. Concerning Amendments to the Colorado Code of Criminal Procedure: Hearing on S.B. 262 Before the House Committee on Judicary, 53rd Gen. Assembly (1981) (statement of Otto Moore, Assistant District Attorney, Denver County). He did state that there is no statute of limitations against a class one felony. Id. In response to Representative Scherling's concern that without a limit to class one felonies, the statute would not eliminate the problem of delay, Moore responded that while the legislature could not bar collateral attacks, the intent was to establish a time frame in which a person should come in [sic] and realize the fact that he'd been unjustly convicted. Id. While this exchange does not conclusively resolve the issue before this court, we do not discern a clear intent to abrogate laches as to class one felonies. To the contrary, the proponents of the bill appear to have been motivated primarily by a strong desire to curb stale collateral attacks.