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Creation of the 23rd Judicial District

If you’ve lived in Douglas County very long, you have seen the growth in our county and across the Denver Metro Area. The 18th Judicial District – comprised of Arapahoe, Douglas, Lincoln and Elbert counties – has grown more than any other judicial district in Colorado and now serves more than 1 million people.

In 2020, House Bill 20-1026 became law creating the 23rd Judicial District.

The new 23rd Judicial District was created by the departure of Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties out of the 18th Judicial District. Starting in 2025, the 18th Judicial District will include only Arapahoe County. In November 2024, voters in the new 23rd Judicial District will elect a new District Attorney. The new DA will be sworn in on Jan. 14, 2025, officially creating the first new judicial district in the State of Colorado since 1965. This new judicial district, while smaller, will still be among the five largest judicial districts in the state.

Transitioning into a new District

  • Local officials began advocating for a new judicial district in 2018, and House Bill 20-1026 passed with bipartisan support during the 2020 Legislative session.
  • A 2022 State Constitution ballot measure allowed for the one-time reassignment of seven judges to the new 23rd Judicial District.
  • Three bills passed in the 2024 session allow for the creation of boards and committees in the 23rd Judicial District, including a Crime Victims Compensation Board and Fund, a Victims and Witnesses Assistance and Law Enforcement Board and Fund, a Drug Offender Treatment Board and a local Juvenile Services Planning Committee.
  • In the 2023 Legislative session, County officials in all four affected counties lobbied for and received one-time State funding to assist in the transition.
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What to Expect

What does this mean for our community? The creation of the 23rd Judicial District allows for prosecutorial decisions and resources to focus on crime occurring in only Douglas, Elbert, and Lincoln counties.

This new judicial district will also give residents of the district a stronger voice in District Attorney and judicial retention elections. The new judicial district will also allow a more tailored, locally focused approach to criminal case adjudication. This could include expanded juvenile and adult diversion programming, and specialty “problem-solving” courts focused on the needs of Veterans and families, substance use treatment, or management of mental health conditions.