Opinion ID: 2509032
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Municipal Courts

Text: The procedures governing municipal courts are generally found in article 10 of title 13 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. § 13-10-103, 5 C.R.S. (2003). Section 13-10-102, 5 C.R.S. (2003), sets out the definitions for the governing provisions and provides that a `[m]unicipal court' includes police courts and police magistrate courts created or existing under previous laws or under a municipal charter and ordinances. § 13-10-102(1). It then further defines a  [q]ualified municipal court of record (emphasis added) as a municipal court established by, and operating in conformity with, either local charter or ordinances containing provisions requiring the keeping of a verbatim record of the proceedings and evidence at trials by either electric devices or stenographic means, and requiring as a qualification for the office of judge of such court that he has been admitted to, and is currently licensed in, the practice of law in Colorado. § 13-10-102(3). These definitions provide crucial distinctions that apply throughout the article governing municipal courts.