The Office of Administrative Courts (OAC) is Colorado's centralized administrative court system.  Most States and the federal government have established similar specialized legal processes within the executive branch.  This structure enables both agencies and citizens to have certain disputes resolved while avoiding the time and expense of litigation in district court. In 1976, the General Assembly created Division of Administrative Hearings as a central panel of administrative law judges ("ALJs") to decide workers' compensation, human services, licensing, and a variety of other cases.  

What's New at OAC. .  . .  . . . .

• THE INDEPENDENT ETHICS COMMISSION:  

  Information on the Independent Ethics Commission is now available throught the Colorado Portal - http://www.colorado.gov/ethicscommission

  RULE MAKING NOTICE:  

  July 7, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. in Conference Room 2a, 633 17th Street, Denver, Colorado.  For more information Click Here.

• Upcoming Meetings - All meetings will take place at 633 17th Street, Denver.   
  Friday June 13 at 11:00 a.m. in Conf. Room 2A, Monday July 7 at 9:00 a.m. in Conf. Room 2A, Friday July 11 at 10:00 a.m. in Conf. Room 2A, Monday August 4 at 10:00 a.m.in Conf. Room 2A  Click Here.
  
• Fremont County Commissioner Larry Lasha has been named as the 5th Member of the Independent Ethics Commission.  Mr. Lasha is a political independent and a retired Colorado Springs firefighter. 
  

•  The Colorado Bar Association's Workers' Comp Section has updated their list of member.  To view the list, Click Here.

• New Procedure for Medicaid Hearing Transcripts.  The Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (HCPF) now requires a written transcript for Medicaid hearings that are being appealed.  Click Here.

• SENATE BILL 07-258, Section 7, P. 259, L. 1 (Typographical Error) Statutory authority to petition to review an order of an administrative law judge is found at §8-43-301. Section 7 of SB-258, P. 258, L. 1 & P. 259, L. 27, provides: "The request shall be a prerequisite to review under Section 8-43-201." OAC believes that the reference to subsection 201 is a typographical error and that the General Assembly intended to reference subsection 301.

• WORKERS' COMPENSATION CHANGES:
  SB 07-258 was signed by Governor Ritter on May 30, 2007.   The Bill became effective upon his signature.  As a result we have a new "Application for Hearing and Notice to Set" form, Click Here.  Please use this form from now on.  Please note that hearings will now be set within 100 days of the date of the setting.  The Available Settings page has been updated,  Click Here.

• The OAC is now offering hearings in Loveland Colorado.  For information on the new Loveland location, Click Here.  For available hearing dates in Loveland, Click Here. 

• For information regarding the establishment of OAC's Magistrate Program, Click Here

• Chief Judge Directive 20 - Western Slope Hearings Policy  Click Here

• There is a new fillable Entry of Appearance form for Workers' Comp cases.  Also, most of the Workers' Comp Forms have been revised and converted into a fillable format.  Click Here  For assistance with the forms, contact Donna Childers.

• A revised Guide for Non-Lawyers in  non-Workers' Comp Cases is now available.  Click Here

• To view the Director's Policy pertaining to Use of Force and Firearms, Click Here

• To view the rules for Workers' Compensation Hearings effective January 1, 2006, Click Here

• To view the forms for Workers' Compensation Hearings, Click Here

• To view the Chief Judge Directive No. 2 titled  Objections to Documentary Evidence Based on Late Submission and Unfair Surprise Click Here.

• Director’s Policy on Announcement of Judicial Assignments.  Click Here

• Director's Policy Regarding limits on Facsimile Filings.  Click Here