There are more than 215 Municipal Courts in Colorado and every one of them has their own rules and procedures.  They have the power to enact their own set of laws and rules for their city as long as it does not conflict with Colorado State law.

If you have been charged with a municipal court offense, the good news is that such offenses are typically considered the least serious offenses in Colorado. That does not mean they do not have serious consequences. You still need the best criminal defense attorney who understands the intricacies of Municipal Law.

Beck Law represents hundreds of clients in Municipal Court throughout Colorado.  We are very familiar with the different procedures/policies of many of the City Courts.  Some of the Municipal Courts we practice in include cities of, Brighton, Longmont, Thornton, Denver Westminster, Boulder, Commerce City, Arvada, Wheatridge, just to name a few.

CHARGES AND PENALTIES

Municipal offenses are initiated by a city or municipality (City Attorney). County and district court cases are initiated by the State of Colorado (District Attorney). Generally, municipal court offenses mirror state offenses but may have different sentencing guidelines. Municipal crimes are misdemeanors or petty offenses and are never felonies. As with a State case, Municipal court violations can be initiated by summons or warrant/arrest.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MUNICIPAL AND STATE CRIMINAL CASES

One difference is in the speedy trial rule. In the Colorado District and County courts, a defendant must be tried by the state within 6 months of their entry of a not guilty plea. Under municipal court procedure, a defendant must be tried within 91 days.

Another difference is that in municipal court, a defendant is not automatically entitled to a jury trial.  A defendant must affirmatively request a jury trial, in writing within 21 days from the date that a person entered a not guilty plea and pay a fee (usually $20-$25). They must also designate whether they want a jury of 3 or 6 jurors.  If the defendant fails to do so, any trial will be held to a court — not a jury. This is different from the State Court where a defendant is constitutionally entitled to a jury trial.  If they are charged with a misdemeanor, they are entitled to a jury of 6 people.  If it is a felony charge, the jury is 12 people.

Each municipality may also have different penalties for the same offense.  However, the maximum penalty in every Municipal Court is a fine of $2,650 and/ 364 days in county jail. Every person requires a criminal defense attorney who understands each city’s code.

YOU STILL NEED THE BEST CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY FOR MUNICIPAL CRIMES

Just because you are charged with a municipal offense, as opposed to a crime in County or District court, does not mean that your case may not be serious or does not require an experienced criminal defense attorney to help you navigate the legal system. Convictions for municipal offenses can result in jail sentences and/ large fines. If you are on probation in State court, a conviction for a municipal offense can revoke your probation.  A conviction for a municipal offense can remain on your permanent criminal record and impact on your ability to obtain employment and housing.

If you’ve been charged with a municipal ordinance violation in Colorado, it’s imperative to understand that these charges, procedures, policies and penalties of that particular jurisdiction.  Call Beck Law to get you the best possible outcome.