HB 17-1132: Judicial Disqualification in Civil Actions

• Establishes a statutory process allowing parties to file motions to disqualify judges in district, county, juvenile, and probate court civil cases based on grounds specified in Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure Rules 97 and 397.

• Requires disqualification motions to be filed within 21 days after judge assignment or the appearance giving rise to the disqualification claim, but no later than 91 days before trial.

• Limits parties to filing only one disqualification motion per action and prohibits filing a second motion based on the same disqualification grounds.

• Mandates judges rule on timely motions within 63 days in a written signed order, and grants denied parties interlocutory review rights with petitions filed in the Court of Appeals (district court judges) or District Court (county court judges) within 7 days.

• Takes effect July 1, 2017 and applies to motions filed on or after that date.