Template for requesting public records in Colorado

Writing a public records request (CFOIC advice).

“Sunshine Laws”: CFOIC’s online guide to Colorado’s open-government laws.

CFOIC Tip Sheet – Getting information from criminal justice records

CFOIC Tip Sheet – Topic specificity requirements for executive session announcements

CFOIC Tip Sheet – Getting your hands on government data and docs (prepared for NICAR 2016)

CFOIC Tip Sheet – How to Get Your Hands on Public Records

Law Summary – Colorado Open Records Act: Office of Legislative Legal Services

Law Summary – Open Meeting Requirements: Office of Legislative Legal Services

Colorado Open Meetings Law: FAQ for state public bodies published by the Office of Legislative Legal Services, November 2018

Colorado Open Records Act: Current through 2020 legislative session

Colorado Archives Law: Current through 2012 legislative session

Colorado Reporter’s Shield Law: C.R.S. 13-90-119, privilege for a newsperson

Access to Colorado Judicial Branch Administrative Records: 2015 Colorado Supreme Court rules (amended 2018)

Access to Colorado Court Records: 2005 directive from Colorado Supreme Court chief justice (amended April 2016)

Court fees and costs: 2006 directive from Colorado Supreme Court chief justice (amended March 2021)

Request for Expanded Media Coverage: Colorado Judicial Branch

ACLU Guide to Using Colorado’s Open Records.Laws: Published in 2010 by the ACLU of Colorado

General Assembly CORA Policy: Office of Legislative Legal Services

Guidelines for Releasing Documents Prepared for Legislators: Office of Legislative Legal Services

FAQs of Responding to CORA Requests: Office of Legislative Legal Services

Homeowners association records: Colorado Division of Real Estate

State law regarding homeowners’ associations: Legislative Council

HOA Information and Resource Center: Colorado Division of Real Estate

Open Government Guides: Information on each state’s open-records and open-meetings laws prepared for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

Reporter’s Privilege Compendium: Information on the reporter’s privilege – the right not to be compelled to testify or disclose sources and information in court – in each state and federal circuit, prepared for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

Colorado Revised Statutes & Constitution: Free public access to law database maintained by LexisNexis.

Colorado Revised Statutes & Constitution: Downloadable pdfs from state Office of Legislative Legal Services.

Sample FOIA request letters: From the National Freedom of Information Coalition.

FOIA Wiki: Free and collaborative resource on the federal Freedom of Information Act provided by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

FOIA Tips and Tricks to Make You a Transparency Master: From MuckRock

FOIA and Finding Data: From Journalist’s Toolbox (Society of Professional Journalists).

A Journalist’s Guide to the Federal Courts: Published by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts.

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press: Nonprofit that provides legal assistance to journalists.

Student Press Law Center: Advocate for student First Amendment rights.

National Freedom of Information Coalition: Nonprofit organization of state and regional FOI affiliates.

MuckRock: Public records request service and clearinghouse for documents.

Brechner Center for Freedom of Information: FOI research center at the University of Florida.

Knight First Amendment Institute: Center on freedom of speech and the press at Columbia University.

100 Key Ethics & Media Law Resources for Journalists: From journalismdegree.org.

GovernmentAttic.org: Electronic copies of thousands of federal government documents obtained under FOIA.

FOIA.gov: Reports and data on Freedom of Information Act activities for federal agencies.

A guide for accessing public records for the first time: From Syracuse University.

Colorado Press Association: Membership and advocacy association of newspapers and online news organizations.

Colorado Broadcasters Association: Membership and advocacy association of broadcasters.

Public Notice Colorado: Uploaded public notices from newspapers in Colorado (Colorado Press Association).

Public Data Online

Videos

DIY FOI