2017 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 19 - Children's Code
Article 3 - Dependency and Neglect
Part 2 - General Provisions
§ 19-3-202. Right to counsel and jury trial
(1) At the first appearance of a respondent parent, guardian, or legal custodian, the court shall fully advise the respondent of his or her legal rights, including the right to a jury trial, the right to be represented by counsel at every stage of the proceedings, and the right to seek the appointment of counsel through the office of respondent parents' counsel established in section 13-92-103, C.R.S., if the respondent is unable to financially secure counsel on his or her own. The court shall fully explain to the respondent the informational notice of rights and remedies for families prepared pursuant to section 19-3-212 and shall recommend that the respondent discuss such notice with his or her counsel. Further, the court shall advise the respondent of the minimum and maximum time frames for the dependency and neglect process, including the minimum and maximum time frames for adjudication, disposition, and termination of parental rights for a child who is under six years of age at the time the petition is filed in a county designated pursuant to section 19-1-123. Nothing in this section limits the power of the court to appoint counsel prior to the filing of a petition for good cause.
(2) The petitioner, any respondent, or the guardian ad litem may demand a trial by jury of six persons at the adjudicatory hearing under section 19-3-505 or the court, on its own motion, may order such a jury to try any case at the adjudicatory hearing under section 19-3-505.
