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House Judiciary advances bill restoring jury-trial right in eviction cases, adopts limits to curb burden on courts
Summary
House Bill 12‑35 would restore a defendant’s right to request a jury trial in forcible-entry-and-detainer (eviction) cases, clarify service and filing timelines, and allow judges to strike jury demands that do not present a material factual dispute. The committee approved the bill, with two amendments, and sent it to Appropriations.
DENVER — The House Judiciary Committee voted to send House Bill 12‑35 to the Appropriations Committee with a favorable recommendation after a lengthy hearing that included dozens of witnesses for and against the measure.
Sponsor Representative Veil Bacon said the bill responds to a Colorado Supreme Court request for statutory clarity after uncertainty about the availability of jury trials in eviction (forcible entry and detainer) proceedings. ‘‘The purpose of this bill is to answer that question for the court,’’ Bacon said, adding the measure would ‘‘restore fairness’’ by allowing tenants the chance to request a jury trial in disputed possession cases.
The bill would codify a tenant’s right to demand a jury trial when an eviction involves disputed questions of fact. It also sets specific procedural safeguards: service would require three documented attempts; a tenant would have 10 days to file an…
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