Colorado § 13-1-132 - Use of interactive audiovisual devices and communication technology in court proceedings.

§ 13-1-132. Use of interactive audiovisual devices and communication technology in court proceedings.

(1) Except for trials, when the appearance of any person is required in any court of this state, such appearance may be made by the use of an interactive audiovisual device. An interactive audiovisual device shall operate so as to enable the person and the judge or magistrate to view and converse with each other simultaneously.

(2) Notwithstanding any provision of this section, a judge or magistrate may order a person to appear in court.

(3) A full record of such proceeding shall be made.

(3.5) (a) All Colorado courts, including municipal courts, shall make any criminal court proceeding conducted in open court available for remote public viewing and listening in real time, at no charge, through an online platform, which may include a participatory web conferencing platform, and post prominently on the court's website the links for remote observation, unless:

(I) The courtroom does not have sufficient technological capability, such as a participatory web conferencing platform, to make such proceedings available to the public for remote observation;

(II) Members of the public have been excluded from the criminal proceeding by order of the court;

(III) Staffing issues limit or prevent remote observation;

(III.5) Temporary or intermittent internet or technology issues limit or prevent remote observation; or

(IV) After a request by a party, witness, or victim, or on the court's own motion, the court makes findings on the record based on the particular facts and circumstances of the case that:

(A) There is a reasonable likelihood remote observation of live proceedings risks compromising the safety of any person; the defendant's right to a fair trial, including violations of sequestration orders; or the victim's rights pursuant to section 24-4.1-302.5 (1)(a); and

(B) There is no less restrictive alternative that preserves the public interest in remote observation while mitigating the identified risk. As used in this subsection (3.5)(a)(IV)(B), "less restrictive alternative" includes allowing remote audio-only observation while disabling video observation or turning off remote observation for particular witnesses or discrete portions of the proceeding.

(b) As used in this section, "risks compromising the safety" include risks to physical and emotional safety, intimidation, and harassment.

(c) When allowing remote observation, courts shall take reasonable steps to ensure there is no audio or visual recording, including photography or screenshots of the proceedings, without explicit permission of the court. As used in this subsection (3.5)(c), "reasonable steps" must include an on-screen warning that any recording of the proceedings without a court order, including any screen capture, photograph, or audiovisual recording, is prohibited. "Reasonable steps" may also include the court issuing an additional verbal or on-screen warning and prohibiting remote observation by specific individuals whom the court has reason to believe may violate this rule.

(d) When allowing remote observation, courts shall take reasonable steps to ensure no audio or visual transmission of privileged, confidential communications occurs. To help facilitate privileged, confidential communications in the courtroom, courts shall notify parties and attorneys of the location of microphones and any ability to mute microphones. If the court becomes aware that such transmissions occurred, the court shall work with the parties and attorneys to prevent reoccurrence.

(e) If a proceeding subject to a sequestration order is made available for public remote observation, the court shall take reasonable steps to ensure compliance with the sequestration order and ensure the right to a fair trial, which may include:

(I) Announcing the sequestration order as frequently as necessary in open court;

(II) Requiring observers to identify themselves to ensure none are potential witnesses and that any observers who are forbidden from discussing the case with witnesses know of that obligation;

(III) At the request of a party, allowing the court or party to inquire of any witness, while under oath and outside the presence of the jury, if the witness watched any portion of the proceeding or discussed any portion of the proceeding with anyone prior to testifying; and

(IV) Terminating remote observation to protect the parties' right to a fair trial or to ensure compliance with the sequestration order.

(f) For criminal courts that do not have sufficient existing staff or technological capabilities to make proceedings available for remote observation as of September 1, 2023, if the court subsequently obtains such staff and capabilities, the court must comply with the provisions of this section within ninety days after obtaining such staff and capabilities.

(g) This subsection (3.5) does not apply to juvenile delinquency cases pursuant to title 19 or to cases in which a juvenile has been charged by direct filing of information or an indictment in district court pursuant to section 19-2.5-801 until the completion of a preliminary hearing and completion of any hearing requesting to transfer the case to juvenile court pursuant to section 19-2.5-801 (4).

(h) The exceptions described in subsections (3.5)(a)(I) and (3.5)(a)(III) of this section do not apply to court proceedings in which the defendant is in custody and charged with a municipal violation for which the municipal code allows a possible sentence of incarceration.

(4) The requirements of this section supersede any statute, judicial guidance, or chief justice directive limiting remote public observation of criminal courts, including chief justice directive 23-02 adopted before April 27, 2026. The supreme court may prescribe rules of procedure pursuant to section 13-2-109 to implement this section, but the rules must not narrow or conflict with the requirements of this section.

Source: L. 92: Entire section added, p. 318, § 1, effective April 29. L. 2023: (3.5) added, (HB 23-1182), ch. 426, p. 2505, § 2, effective September 1. L. 2026: IP(3.5)(a), (3.5)(a)(III), and (4) amended and (3.5)(a)(III.5) and (3.5)(h) added, (HB 26-1134), ch. 77, p. 304, § 1, effective April 27.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 23-1182, see section 1 of chapter 426, Session Laws of Colorado 2023.