The Amicus Briefs Committee is responsible for representing the CBA’s interests in pending matters before Colorado’s appellate courts. The Committee reviews applications requesting the CBA to sign onto amicus briefs before Colorado’s appellate courts and makes a formal recommendation to the CBA’s Executive Council on whether the Bar should involve itself in ongoing proceedings.
 
The Committee accepts applications from a wide host of individuals and organizations, including: (1) Sections and Committees of the Bar; (2) local bar associations; (3) any constituents of the Bar; (4) trade organizations or interests groups; (5) the legislature or administrative agency; (6) on request from a court; or (7) any other person.
 
It is important to note that the Committee does not write briefs itself; rather, it is up to the individual or organization requesting that the CBA sign onto a brief to draft the brief, subject to the Committee’s edits. It is not a requirement to have the amicus brief written before requesting the Committee to vote on a proposed brief. Instead, the individual or organization requesting the CBA to sign onto an amicus brief must provide some or all of the information laid out in Section 7.2 of the Committee’s bylaws. The CBA will not co-sign an amicus brief alongside another party.
 
If the Committee votes in favor of filing an amicus brief on behalf of the CBA or any its Sections, Committees, or constituents, the Committee will make a recommendation to the Executive Director, who will put the recommendation before the Executive Council.
 
The specific points of consideration that the Committee weighs when making its recommendation to the Executive Council are laid out in the Committee’s guidelines. The Committee takes a particular interest in requests that are (1) consistent with the core values and policies of the CBA; (2) matters of public interest; (3) matters of interest to lawyers or the legal profession; and (4) matters of interest to the lawyers participating in, or represented by, the Section, Committee, or other constituent of the CBA on behalf of which the amicus brief is to be filed.
 
If you would like to submit a request for the Committee to review a request for an amicus brief to be filed on behalf of the CBA or if you have questions regarding the Committee’s work, please reach out by emailing us at [email protected].

Policies & Procedures