Each spring and fall, the Colorado Supreme Court and Court of Appeals travels to high schools (and sometimes colleges or law schools) around Colorado to hold Oral Arguments in appellate cases. This Courts in the Community educational outreach program gives students a firsthand look at how the Colorado judicial system works and how disputes are resolved in a democratic society.
Find out more about the program locations and the cases heard at those events.
Schools and cases TBD.
S5SA146, People of the State of Colorado v. Lulei
This case is about Miranda rights—specifically, the right to have a lawyer present when being interrogated by police. The issue is whether, after the defendant asked for a lawyer, the police violated his Miranda rights when they subsequently questioned him without a lawyer, or whether the defendant validly waived his rights when he agreed to talk.
24SC122, Mitchell v. People of the State of Colorado
This case is about selective prosecution. The defendant, who is Black, was charged as an adult with a felony murder that he was accused of committing while he was a juvenile, as was his Black co-defendant. Their non-Black co-defendants were charged as juveniles and faced significantly less serious consequences. The parties dispute whether the defendant’s race played an improper role in the prosecution’s charging decision.
24CA2075, Shive v. 24 Hour Fitness
At issue in this civil case is whether the trial court erred by granting summary judgment in favor of the appellee, 24 Hour Fitness. The appellant, Matthew Shive, asserts that summary judgment was inappropriate because (1) the exculpatory agreement Mr. Shive signed with 24 Hour Fitness was not clear and unambiguous as to premises liability claims for injury on the property’s sidewalk; (2) the exculpatory agreement is invalid as a matter of public policy; and (3) the trial court did not view the evidence appropriately when determining summary judgment.
23CA1348, People v. Griego
At issue in this criminal case is whether the trial court erred by (1) denying a for cause challenge to a juror, where the juror was an employee of Denver Code Enforcement; and (2) issuing a jury instruction regarding reasonable doubt that defendant asserts lowered the prosecution’s burden of proof.
24CA2146 Josephine Haug v. Norick’s Auto Service, Inc.
At issue in this civil case is whether the trial court erred by granting summary judgment in favor of appellee, Norick’s Auto Service. The appellant, Josephine Haug, asserts that summary judgment was inappropriate because (1) there were disputed questions of fact; and (2) that she was an invitee under the premises liability act.
24CA0408 People of the State of Colorado v. Tony Barron
At issue in this criminal case is whether the trial court erred by not enforcing a prosecutor’s revoked plea offer made to the defendant, Tony Barron.
May 15, 2025 - Falcon High School, Peyton, CO
24SC216 Hobbs v. City of Salida
At issue in this civil case is whether a local government can grant a permit allowing for increased noise limits to a private, for-profit business that is holding an event on private property. The parties disagree about whether such a permit was prohibited under the statewide Noise Abatement Act.
Opening Brief
Answer Brief - High Side
Answer Brief - Salida
Amicus Brief - Municipal League
Amicus Brief - Venue Holding
Reply Brief
23SC834 People of Colorado v. Hollis
At issue in this criminal case is whether a defendant can be required to pay restitution to a police department for money the department used to execute a controlled drug buy, and which the department never recovered. Whether the trial court properly awarded such restitution depends on whether the buy money was either an extraordinary investigative cost or “money advanced by law enforcement.”
Opening Brief
Amended Answer Brief
Reply Brief
March 26, 2025 - Northglenn High School, Northglenn, CO
24CA0683 Johnson v. Staab
At issue in this civil case is whether the trial court erred in allowing improper jury instructions, if the evidence was sufficient to support the damages awarded, and whether the statute at issue violates the equal protection clause.
Opening Brief Staab
Opening Brief Buschy
Reply Brief Staab
Reply Brief Buschy
Answer Brief
22CA0928 The People of Colorado v. Birch
At issue in this criminal case is whether the trial court erred by excluding evidence at trial, allowing improper jury instructions, and the constitutionality of appellant’s sentence.
Opening Brief
Reply Brief
Answer Brief
February 27, 2025 - Green Mountain High School, Lakewood, CO
24CA0856 Rivera v. Fort
At issue in this civil case is whether the statute of limitations was properly held to bar a civil lawsuit or whether on grounds of equitable tolling the lawsuit should have been allowed to proceed.
Opening Brief
Reply Brief
Answer Brief
22CA2106 The People of Colorado v. Kolacny
At issue in this criminal case is whether the defendant’s conviction should be reversed because the trial court erroneously allowed inadmissible evidence and testimony at the trial and the prosecution committed misconduct during closing arguments.
Oct. 24, 2024 - Colorado Law, University of Colorado Boulder
24SA21 - Nonhuman Rights Project, Inc. v. Cheyenne Mountain Zoological Society
At issue is whether five elephants that are currently housed at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo are being unlawfully detained and are entitled to release. Appellants ask the court to extend writs of habeas corpus under the common law to animals. The zoo argues that extending such protections should be up to the legislature and not the court.
Opening Brief
Reply Brief
Answer Brief
22SC982 - The People of the State of Colorado v. Jesus Rodriguez-Morelos
Jesus Rodriguez-Morelos was convicted of identity theft based on his use of a nonprofit group’s information. The Court of Appeals reversed his conviction, holding that the phrase “personal identifying information” in the identity theft statute only applies to human beings, not entities. The People now argue that identity theft can also apply to organizations because the statute refers to the information “of another,” which it defines as including persons or entities.
Opening Brief
Reply Brief
Answer Brief
Oct. 1, 2024 - Lamar High School, Lamar
22CA1591 The People of the State of Colorado v. Juan Manuel Castorena
At issue in this criminal case is whether the trial court erred by (1) admitting evidence of a photo lineup identification and (2) prohibiting the defendant from telling the jury about the witness’ prior inconsistent statement.
Opening Brief
Reply Brief
Answer Brief
23CA1535 Roddess Ekberg, Timothy Ekberg, Justin Fierstein, and Sarah Fierstein v. Jeffrey Speicher
At issue in this civil case is whether the trial court erred in a second trial by failing to properly instruct the jury and by permitting certain evidence to be admitted during that second trial. The cross-appeal asserts the trial court erred in reducing damages awarded in the second trial.
Opening Brief
Opening Answer Brief
Answer and Reply Brief
Reply Brief
Oct 3, 2024 - Walsenburg High School, Walsenburg
22CA1728, The People of the State of Colorado v. Jennifer L. Woodruff
The Appellant in this criminal case is asking the Court of Appeals to reverse conviction because they argue that several errors occurred during the trial. The People — represented by the Attorney General’s office — argue that either no errors occurred or, if they did, they do not warrant a new trial.
Opening Brief
Answer Brief
Reply Brief
23CA1908, Jaimi J. Mostellar v. The City of Colorado Springs
This is a civil case and involves the Colorado Governmental Immunity Act and whether a public entity can be sued under the act. The appellant in this case is asking the Court of Appeals to reverse the trial court’s order and dismiss the case.
Opening Brief
Answer Brief
Reply Brief
May 9, 2024, Central High School, Pueblo
23SC272, Terra Management Group LLC and Littleton Main Street LLC v. Kathleen Keaten and Delaney Keaten
Opening brief
Answer brief
22SC869, Kevin Matthew Dhyne v. The People of the State of Colorado
Opening brief (redacted)
Answer brief (redacted)
Reply brief (redacted)
March 14, 2024, Green Mountain High School, Lakewood
23CA0364, Ashley Bullington v. Courtney Barela
Opening brief
Answer brief
Reply brief
23CA1143, The People of the State of Colorado v. Brian Saltzman
Opening brief
Answer brief
Reply brief
April 2, 2024, Fort Lupton High School
cases not yet selected