Colorado Code § 27-65-113

Hearing procedures - jurisdiction
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this section
(1) Hearings before the court pursuant
to section 27-65-108.5, 27-65-109, or 27-65-110 are conducted in the same manner as other civil
proceedings before the court. The burden of proof is on the person or facility seeking to detain
the respondent. The court or jury shall determine that the respondent is in need of care and
treatment only if the court or jury finds by clear and convincing evidence that the respondent has
a mental health disorder and, as a result of the mental health disorder, is a danger to the
respondent's self or others or is gravely disabled.
(2) The court, after consultation with respondent's counsel to obtain counsel's
recommendations, may appoint a professional person to examine the respondent for whom short-
term treatment or long-term care and treatment is sought and to testify at the hearing before the
court as to the results of the professional person's examination. The court-appointed professional
person shall act solely in an advisory capacity, and no presumption is attached to the
professional person's findings.
(3) Every respondent subject to an order for short-term treatment or long-term care and
treatment must be advised of the respondent's right to appeal the order by the court at the
conclusion of any hearing and, as a result, the order may be entered.
(4) The court in which the petition is filed under section 27-65-106 or the certification is
filed pursuant to section 27-65-109 is the court of original jurisdiction and of continuing
jurisdiction for any further proceedings pursuant to this article 65. When the convenience of the
parties and the ends of justice would be promoted by a change in the court having jurisdiction,
the court may order a transfer of the proceeding to another county. Until further order of the
transferee court, if any, it is the court of continuing jurisdiction.
(5) (a) In the event that a respondent or a person found not guilty by reason of impaired
mental condition pursuant to section 16-8-103.5 (5), or by reason of insanity pursuant to section
16-8-105 (4) or 16-8-105.5, refuses to accept medication, the court having jurisdiction of the
action pursuant to subsection (4) of this section; the court committing the person or defendant to
the custody of the department pursuant to section 16-8-103.5 (5), 16-8-105 (4), or 16-8-105.5; or
the court of the jurisdiction in which the designated facility treating the respondent or person is
located has jurisdiction and venue to accept a petition by a treating physician and to enter an
order requiring that the respondent or person accept such treatment or, in the alternative, that the
medication be forcibly administered to the respondent or person. The court of the jurisdiction in
which the designated facility is located shall not exercise its jurisdiction without the permission
of the court that committed the person to the custody of the department. Upon the filing of such a
petition, the court shall appoint an attorney, if one has not been appointed, to represent the
respondent or person and hear the matter within ten days.
(b) In any case brought pursuant to subsection (5)(a) of this section in a court for the
county in which the treating facility is located, the county where the proceeding was initiated
pursuant to subsection (4) of this section or the court committing the person to the custody of the
department pursuant to section 16-8-103.5 (5), 16-8-105 (4), or 16-8-105.5 shall either reimburse
the county in which the proceeding pursuant to this subsection (5) was filed and in which the
proceeding was held for the reasonable costs incurred in conducting the proceeding or conduct
the proceeding itself using its own personnel and resources, including its own district or county
attorney, as the case may be.
(c) In the case of a defendant who is found incompetent to proceed pursuant to section
16-8.5-103 and who refuses to accept medication, the jurisdiction for the petition for involuntary
treatment procedures is as set forth in section 16-8.5-112.
(6) All adversarial proceedings pursuant to this article 65, including proceedings to
impose a legal disability pursuant to section 27-65-127, must be conducted by the district
attorney of the county where the proceeding is held or by a qualified attorney acting for the
district attorney appointed by the district court for that purpose; except that, in any county or in
any city and county having a population exceeding fifty thousand persons, the proceedings must
be conducted by the county attorney or by a qualified attorney acting for the county attorney
appointed by the district court. In any case in which there has been a change of venue to a county
other than the county of residence of the respondent or the county in which the certification
proceeding was commenced, the county from which the proceeding was transferred shall either
reimburse the county to which the proceeding was transferred and in which the proceeding was
held for the reasonable costs incurred in conducting the proceeding or conduct the proceeding
itself using its own personnel and resources, including its own district or county attorney, as the
case may be.
(7) Upon request of a legal guardian appointed pursuant to article 14 of title 15, the legal
guardian may intervene in any proceeding brought pursuant to this article 65 concerning the
legal guardian's ward and, through counsel, may present evidence and represent to the court the
views of the legal guardian concerning the appropriate disposition of the case.
(8) A lay person may submit an affidavit to the court concerning the lay person's
relationship to the respondent, how long the lay person has known the respondent, the lay
person's physical address, and the lay person's views concerning the appropriate disposition of
the respondent's case.

‹ Prev All Colorado sections Next ›


Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.