Jefferson County Court Records
Per Section 3.03 of the Chief Justice Directive 5-01, a court record is any record that contains an audio or video recording, index, calendar, docket, register of actions, certified transcript, order, decree, judgment, minute and order, related to a court proceeding. These records are usually maintained by a Clerk of Court, probation department, or the Department's Court Records Management System (CMS).
The management of court records in Jefferson County is the responsibility of the Clerk of Court. The Clerk provides valuable guidance to the public on how to find court records on a person. The court clerk has the authority to withhold certain court records or conceal certain information in court records that are not subject to the public disclosure requirements of Colorado Revised Statutes/Rules, Supreme Court Rules, Chief Justice Directives, and local administrative orders/directives.
The documentation of the proceedings of a court case is vital to upholding accountability and transparency, which are core values of the justice system. The court records can be used for both educational and legal research purposes. It serves as a historical record and a reference point and will be consulted should a case appeal be in view. Hence, court records are considered part of Jefferson County Public Records and disseminated to interested and eligible members of the public.
Are Court Records Public in Jefferson County?
Yes. Pursuant to the Colorado Open Documents Act (CORA), court records in Jefferson County are open to inspection by the public. Interested parties may access these records at will at the Clerk of Court's office, provided it is done following the provisions outlined by the Chief Justice Directive 5-01 on public access to court records and is within the Clerk of Court's operational hours.
Certain records, such as sealed, protected, suppressed, and restricted records, are classified. Such documents are only open to a selected few. These records may contain sensitive information that may be kept from the public to protect the party's privacy, the privacy of juveniles, or even national security. The records will only be available for examination by the public by court order. Records on adoption, dependency, neglect, judicial bypass, juvenile delinquency, mental health, paternity, probate-protected proceedings, relinquishment, and truancy records are also only disclosed pursuant to a court order or if permitted in Section 4.40 of Chief Justice Directive 5-01. A court record is kept from the public if the Chief Justice Directive policy, court rule, court order, or federal or state statutes prohibit access to such records.
What Do Jefferson County Court Records Contain?
Court records in Jefferson County contain various information, ranging from general information found in all court records, such as name, age, and sex, to case-specific information. For instance, the content of a civil case record will differ from that of a criminal case record. The content of the record may also differ per case. Generally, court records in Jefferson County contain the following information:
- The name(s) of the party(ies) involved
- Age
- Sex
- Decree
- Case number
- Case type
- Date and time of proceedings
- Transcripts
- Exhibits
- Indexes
- Evidence
- Pleadings
- Motions
- Orders
- Docket
- Calendar
- Judgment
- Minute order
- Register of actions
- Electronic information
- Audio or video recording
Jefferson County court records do not include notes by court reporters and judicial officers; records received and maintained by government and non-government agencies to which the court has access but are not clearly defined as court records (Section 3.03(a) of Chief Justice Directive 5-01). Additionally, records kept solely for the administrative purposes of the Colorado state's Judicial branch, as stated by Rule 2 of Chapter 38 of the Colorado Court Rules (PAIRR 2), are not included in the content of court records.
Where to Conduct a Jefferson County Case Lookup
A court record search can be performed in Jefferson County at the 1st Judicial District Court, Colorado Supreme Court, and Court of Appeals. These records are typically generated during court proceedings. Some court records may be available to the public, while others are confidential.
How to Conduct a Jefferson County Case Records Search
The Jefferson County Clerk of Court is the primary repository for court records. Individuals must contact the Clerk of Court's office to obtain an official copy of a court record. Requests can be made in person, by email at jeffcorecordrequest@judicial.state.co.us, or by mail. Mail requesters must send the court a completed Records Request Form with the necessary fees. Physical visits to the court's record counter must be done between stipulated hours (Monday through Thursday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.). The record search request form can be filled and dropped at the designated area for visits outside operational hours.
Alternatively, requesters can conduct a Jefferson Couty case records search through third-party vendors approved by the Colorado Judicial Branch. Most of these vendors provide access to individuals and organizations, while a minority offer services to organizations only. The cost of accessing court records through third-party websites varies per vendor. An official copy of a court record cannot be obtained online; it can only be obtained in person at the court.
The Jefferson County District Court has a Docket Search tool that can be utilized to obtain general information about active court cases within the county. The docket search does not display detailed information about a case, such as the disposition of the case, judgment amount, and court orders. This information can only be obtained by contacting the local court.
Jefferson County Civil Court Case Records
Civil court case records in Jefferson County contain details of litigations of civil cases (family issues, property disputes, landlord-tenant issues, contract disputes, and personal injury) heard in the county court. The County Civil Court handles civil court cases below $7,500, while the District Civil Court handles lawsuits above $25,000.
The Court Clerk generates and keeps records of all civil cases in the county. Civil court records are publicly available and can be obtained in person, by email, or by mail. The Court Clerk determines the cost of obtaining a civil court record. Alternatively, civil court case records in the county can be obtained online through commercial websites. The service fees charged differ by site.
Jefferson County Criminal Court Case Records
Criminal court case records are legal documents containing information on criminal cases heard in a Jefferson County Court. Such cases include felony and misdemeanor cases. The Clerk of Court maintains records of criminal cases in Jefferson County. Criminal court records can be retrieved online, by email, mail, or in person at the Clerk of Court's office. Online requests can be made through approved third-party vendors.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
Per Section 4.20 of the Chief Justice Directive 5-01, individuals can access certain public court records remotely. Here is how to get court records online for free at Jefferson County:
- Visit the Colorado Judicial Branch's official website
- Click the "Courts" menu at the top bar of the homepage
- Click "Courts by County" on the left navigation plane
- Scroll down and select "Jefferson"
- Click Dockets on the left navigation plane, leading to the Docket Search tool.
- Conduct a search by case number, division, date range, party last name or company name, party first name, and attorney bar number.
The search results will reveal date, appearance, name, hearing type, case number, location, and division. The docket search is limited to one week of data.
Courts in Jefferson County
The Jefferson Combined Court is the only court found in the county. Below is the address and contact information of the court:
Jefferson Combined Court
100 Jefferson County Parkway
Golden, CO 80401
Phone: (720) 772-2500
