Other/Miscellaneous Request Template (Appointments; ROW; Code Changes; Zoning Action, etc.)
Date Submitted: 9-16-21
Requesting Agency: County Court
Division:
Subject Matter Expert Name:
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Name: Kristin Wood |
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Email: kristin.wood@denvercountycourt.org |
Item Title & Description:
(Do not delete the following instructions)
These appear on the Council meeting agenda. Initially, the requesting agency will enter a 2-3 sentence description. Upon bill filling, the City Attorney’s Office should enter the title above the description (the title should be in bold font).
Both the title and description must be entered between the red “title” and “body” below. Do not at any time delete the red “title” or “body” markers from this template.
title
A bill for an ordinance increasing the number of county court judges from eighteen to nineteen.
Amends section 14-2(a) of the Denver Revised Municipal Code to increase the number of county judges from eighteen to nineteen. The Committee approved filing this item at its meeting on 9-28-21.
body
Affected Council District(s) or citywide? Citywide
Executive Summary with Rationale and Impact:
Detailed description of the item and why we are doing it. This can be a separate attachment.
Over the course of the last thirty-five years, the Denver County Court has experienced a significant increase in annual filings and legislative impacts that have exponentially increased the workload of the Denver County Court. As a result of this impact, the Court submitted a bill request on October 14, 2019, seeking two additional judges; one for budget year 2020 and one for budget year 2021.
On December 2, 2019, City Council passed an ordinance increasing the Denver County Court from seventeen to eighteen judges for budget year 2020.
As part of the Court’s American Recovery Program request, the Court sought funding for a nineteenth judge to address the case filing increase and legislative impacts mentioned above, in addition to addressing current and future backlog as a result of COVID-19. ARPA funding for a nineteenth judge was approved by City Council and the Court will not need additional funding in support of this request for 2022. The effective date of this ordinance will be November 1, 2021.
When citizens access the criminal justice system, they have a reasonable expectation that their time will be respected, and their case heard, that diversion options and specialized programming are explored and constitutional rights, such as the right to speedy trial, are met. A nineteenth judge will help us fulfill these access to justice rights and expectations.
Address/Location (if applicable):
Legal Description (if applicable):
Denver Revised Municipal Code (D.R.M.C.) Citation (if applicable):
Draft Bill Attached?