Colo. R. App. P. 3.1 (2026)

(a) Notice of Appeal. Appeals from orders and awards of the Industrial Claim Appeals Office will be in the manner and within the time prescribed by statute. Self-represented litigants in unemployment cases may use JDF 664 to file a combined notice of appeal and opening brief.

(b) Record. On appeal from orders and awards entered upon review of cases determined by the Industrial Claim Appeals Office, the record of the proceedings will be arranged in chronological order. The record shall be properly paginated and fully indexed by the agency.

(c) Briefing. 14 days after filing of the record, the appellant must file an opening brief. Within 14 days after service of the opening brief, the appellee may file an answer brief. Within 7 days after service of the answer brief, the appellant may file a reply brief. If a self-represented litigant files a combined notice of appeal and opening brief, then the answer brief is due 14 days after filing of the record. Briefs must comply with the provisions of C.A.R. 28 and C.A.R. 32.

(d) Priority of Industrial Claim Appeals Office Cases. All appeals from the Industrial Claim Appeals Office will have precedence over any civil cause of a different nature pending in said court, and the court of appeals will always be deemed open for the determination thereof, and will be determined by the court of appeals in the manner as provided for other appeals.

(e) Contents of Notice of Appeal from the Industrial Claim Appeals Office Directly to the Court of Appeals. The notice of appeal must set forth:

(1) A caption that complies in form with C.A.R. 32. In the caption:

(A) The case title;

(B) The party or parties initiating the appeal;

(C) All others who have appeared as parties to the action before the agency; and

(D) The agency case number.

(2) A brief description of the nature of the case including:

(A) A general statement of the nature of the controversy (not to exceed one page);

(B) The order being appealed and a statement indicating the basis for the appellate court’s jurisdiction;

(C) Whether the order resolved all issues pending before the agency;

(D) Whether the order is final for purposes of appeal; and

(E) The date of the certificate of mailing of the final order.

(3) An advisory listing of the issues to be raised on appeal;

(4) The names of counsel for the parties, their addresses, telephone numbers, and registration numbers;

(5) An appendix containing a copy of the order being appealed and the findings of the agency, if any; and

(6) A certificate of service in compliance with C.A.R. 25 showing service of a copy of the notice of appeal (with attachments) on the Industrial Claim Appeals Office panel in workmen’s compensation cases, and on the Division of Employment and Training in unemployment insurance cases, and on all other persons who have appeared as parties to the action before the agency.

Cross references: For statutory provision relating to appellate review of workers’ compensation decisions, see part 3 of article 43 of title 8, C.R.S.

Source: Entire rule amended June 4, 1987, effective January 1, 1988; IP(d)(1) amended June 1, 2000, effective July 1, 2000; (b) amended and adopted December 14, 2011, effective January 1, 2012, for all cases pending on or filed on or after January 1, 2012, pursuant to C.R.C.P. 1(b); (d)(1)(A) amended and effective March 23, 2023 (Rule Change 2023(05)).

Amended by Rule Change 2025(02), adopted January 9, 2025, effective immediately.