Colorado courts are playing a prominent role in dealing with matters that directly and significantly impact families. In 2008 there were more than 66,000 domestic relations and juvenile cases filed in Colorado district courts*. Associated with each of these cases is a family and/or child in crisis or transition.
The CJI Family Law Committee engages in activities designed to assist and inform the courts in identifying and meeting the needs of all family members.
Activities of the Family Law Committee include:
- The publication of “A Voice of Their Own: Youth Perceptions of How They Are Represented In Court Decisions Regarding Foster Care and Other Placements” in late 2007. The report is the result of a research project based upon interviews and groups discussion with 58 volunteer teens who had appeared in numerous court proceedings. The complete report is available for download to the right.
- A second report in the series, dealing with the experiences of the respondent parents involved in dependency and neglect cases is currently being finsihed and is scheduled for publication in early 2010.
- The Committee is investigating the effectiveness of financial reporting devices currently used in domestic cases.
- Members of the committee are working on a project to clarify the instructions on Colorado's parenting plan forms.
- Members of the CJI Family Law Committee successfully supported legislation to improve the representation of children before the courts and work with the CJI Public Policy Committee to monitor proposals and issues appearing before the legislature.
- Co-sponsorship of conferences designed to help all interested parties better understand the impact of the judicial system on families.
- Developing partnerships with judicial districts, research firms, community organizations and others to study and help establish specialty courts and innovative family treatment programs.
The CJI Family Law Committee is chaired by Yvonne Englard Zuber. For more information on the committee, please send us an email or call 303-766-7501.
*Annual statistics reports for Colorado court filings are available from the Colorado Judicial Department website or by clicking here.
