Judicial branch presses Joint Budget Committee for 29 new judges, courthouse and IT funding

Chief Justice Ronda Marquez told the Joint Budget Committee that the judicial department is requesting resources to reduce an acute workload problem, including a judge bill seeking 29 new judges over two years and ongoing funding for information technology and collections programs.

The chief justice said Colorado’s courts employ about 4,000 people, including roughly 400 judges and magistrates, handle “well over half a million cases” each year, and supervise about 65,000 people on probation. She said judges are working “relentless hours,” and the judge request is geared toward providing relief in districts with the greatest needs rather than fully staffing every court.

The department’s top priorities include additional judges, investment in critical IT infrastructure (including a new virtual court system and replacement of an aging case-management system), and funding to sustain the collections program that returned more than $120 million to victims and programs in fiscal 2024. Steve Vasconcellos, state court administrator’s office, told the committee the department was careful with ARPA dollars and that its only request that partially…