Public Education Spotlight Program - Our Courts Colorado

Our Courts Colorado

In 2007, the Colorado Judicial Institute and Colorado Bar Association created Our Courts, which provides non-partisan information programs about the courts to adult audiences. Since making its first presentation in October 2007, Our Courts has given presentations to more than 120 audiences totaling more than 4,500 audience members. Its success has resulted in inquiries from courts in other states, and in August 2008, Our Courts received a letter from Justice Sandra Day O’Connor commending it on its “remarkable” success.

Our Courts currently has two presentations, one about the federal courts and the other about the state courts. It is working on presentations describing how criminal and civil cases proceed.

Our Courts has more than 90 speakers, including state and federal judges and lawyers, throughout the state. These speakers have completed training about the presentations’ content, ethical issues, and responding to audience questions.  

Our Courts is funded by grants from the Colorado Judicial Institute, the Colorado Bar Association, the Colorado Bar Foundation, and the Denver Bar Association. It functions in collaboration with the state and federal courts in Colorado and in partnership with eleven national and statewide entities and colleges and universities. It reaches out to potential audiences through:

• Community leadership programs  

• Business and economic development associations

• Labor, trade, and professional associations 

• Service organizations 

• Community colleges, undergraduate and graduate institutions, and trade schools 

• Other community organizations

If you would like to learn more about Our Courts, visit its website at www.ourcourtscolorado.org.