Court Cases

The ACLU of Colorado filed an amicus brief arguing that Colorado’s Sexually Violent Predator designation is punishment.

The ACLU of Colorado filed an amicus brief urging the Colorado Supreme Court to conclude that Colorado state protections preempt municipal sentencing schemes that punish identical conduct more harshly and such schemes violate Colorado’s longstanding equal protection guarantee. On December 22, 2025, the Court held that municipalities may not authorize harsher sentences than state law allows for an identical offense.

The ACLU of Colorado filed an amicus brief with Spero Justice and Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel arguing that Colorado’s habitual sentencing scheme is unconstitutional.

In two cases involving DHS workers’ interrogations of parents in jail, the Colorado Supreme Court held that the DHS workers were not acting as agents of law enforcement so Miranda warnings were not required.