CO HB1288

Courts must require potential jurors to complete written questionnaires prior to voir dire if either party submits a written request; questionnaires must include demographic information at minimum, with parties negotiating additional questions in good faith

Minimum voir dire time requirements for criminal cases: 20 minutes per party for petty offenses/municipal violations, 30 minutes for misdemeanors, and 1 hour for felonies or misdemeanors involving unlawful sexual behavior or domestic violence

Civil cases guarantee each party at least 1 hour for voir dire

Parties may request additional voir dire time by demonstrating good cause; courts must grant equal extra time to both parties if approved, but may terminate extra time if examination becomes repetitive, irrelevant, or abusive

Effective July 1, 2026, applying to trials commencing on or after that date