Colorado legal term
Trial counsel in Colorado Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Colorado legislative session
In Colorado criminal law, “Trial counsel” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Colorado criminal code.
What does “Trial counsel” mean in Colorado criminal law?
"Trial counsel" means the attorney who represents the defendant with regard to the class 1 felony charge: For the purposes of any guilty plea; before trial; at trial; at the penalty phase hearing; for the purposes of a motion for new trial; for the purposes of postconviction review if the defendant chooses to continue with trial counsel for purposes of postconviction review; and for the purposes of direct appeal if the defendant chooses to continue with trial counsel for purposes of direct appeal. (C.R.S. § 16-12-203)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.