Rule 1 Scope

Here's a plain English summary of this rule:

These rules set out the steps that must be followed in criminal cases in Colorado courts. They apply to every criminal case handled in a court of record, which means courts that keep an official written record of what happens in a case.

There is one exception. Rule 54 spells out specific situations where these general rules don't apply. If your case falls into one of those situations, different procedures may control instead.

For most people involved in a criminal case in Colorado, this rule simply confirms that these procedures are the standard playbook the court and both sides must follow, from the start of a case through its end.