Colorado § 16-3-403 - Right to consult with attorney.
Full text of Colorado Colorado Revised Statutes § 16-3-403 — Right to consult with attorney., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 16-3-403. Right to consult with attorney.
A person committed, imprisoned, or arrested for any cause, whether or not the person is charged with an offense, is allowed to consult with an attorney-at-law of this state or the attorney's authorized representative whom the person desires to see or consult, alone and in private at the place of custody, as many times and for a period each time as is reasonable. Except where extradition proceedings have been completed or are not required by law, when a person is about to be moved beyond the limits of this state, the person to be moved is entitled to a reasonable delay for the purpose of obtaining counsel and benefiting from the laws of this state for the security of personal liberty.
Source: L. 72: R&RE, p. 203, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 39-3-403. L. 2025: Entire section amended, (HB 25-1049), ch. 331, p. 1717, § 3, effective August 6.
ANNOTATION
Annotator's note. Since § 16-3-403 is similar to repealed laws antecedent to CSA, C 48, § 560, relevant cases construing those provisions have been included in the annotations to this section.
Language of this section and § 16-3-404 does not confer a statutory right to private attorney-client consultation which is broader than the corollary constitutional right. People v. Dehmer, 931 P.2d 460 (Colo. App. 1996).
Under this section any person restrained of his liberty for any cause whatever has the right to consult counsel. Ingles v. People, 92 Colo. 518, 22 P.2d 1109 (1933).
And the person denied rights of such paramount importance must of necessity be the person aggrieved, for this section cannot well be held to refer to any other. McPhail v. Delaney, 48 Colo. 411, 110 P. 64 (1910).
Commitment to state hospital does not deny right. The commitment of a defendant adjudged not guilty by reason of insanity to the state hospital cannot be construed to deny the right given by this section. Ingles v. People, 92 Colo. 518, 22 P.2d 1109 (1933).
Only remedy for violation of statutory provision is the fine provided for in § 16-3-404 (2). People v. Parsons, 15 P.3d 799 (Colo. App. 2000).
Source: official Colorado text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Colorado § 16-3-403
What does Colorado Revised Statutes § 16-3-403 cover?
Section 16-3-403 ("Right to consult with attorney.") is part of the Colorado Revised Statutes, the codified statutory law of Colorado. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Colorado § 16-3-403?
A common citation format is "Colorado Revised Statutes § 16-3-403" (Colorado). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Colorado law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Colorado official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Colorado attorney.
How does Colorado § 16-3-403 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Colorado can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Colorado.