Colorado Revised Statutes

Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-1-403 (2026)

Legal assistance and supporting services

✓ current as of July 2026
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All indigent persons who are charged with or held for the commission of a crime are entitled to legal representation and supporting services at state expense, to the extent and in the manner provided for in articles 1 and 2 of title 21, C.R.S.

Source: L. 71: R&RE, p. 398, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 40-1-503. L. 81: Entire section amended, p. 928, § 2, September 1. L. 96: Entire section amended, p. 1016, § 4, effective May 23. L. 2014: Entire section amended, (HB 14-1363), ch. 302, p. 1264, § 11, effective May 31.

Cross references: For other provisions concerning legal counsel for the indigent, see § 16 of art. II, Colo. Const., and Crim. P. 44.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 19 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1975–2025 · leading case: People v. Cardenas, 62 P.3d 621 (Colo. 2002).
People v. Cardenas, 62 P.3d 621 (Colo. 2002). · cites it 19× “Defendant relies on section 18-1-403, 6 C.R.S. (2002), in support of his argument that out-of-court interpreting services must be provided.”
Sanchez-martinez v. People, 250 P.3d 1248 (Colo. 2011). · cites it 2× “§ 18-1-403, C.R.S. (2010); see U.S. Const.”
Ake v. Oklahoma, 470 U.S. 68 (1985). · cites it 2× “402 (1980)); Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-1-403 (Supp. 1984); State v.”
People v. Orozco, 210 P.3d 472 (Colo. Ct. App. 2009). · cites it 2× “" If section 18-1-403 encompassed all of the authority on the subject, we would have to affirm the trial court's ruling.”
Hodges v. People, 158 P.3d 922 (Colo. 2007). · cites it 2× “Section 18-1-403 provides: [A]ll indigent persons who are charged with or held for the commission of a crime are entitled to legal representation and supporting services at state expense, to the extent and in the manner provided for in articles 1 and 2 of title 21, CRS.”
King v. People, 728 P.2d 1264 (Colo. 1986). · cites it 4× “[5] Section 18-1-403, 8B C.R.S. (1986), expressly recognizes the right of an indigent accused to legal representation at state expense.”
People v. Banks, 924 P.2d 1161 (Colo. Ct. App. 1996). · cites it 8× “Nor do I dispute that § 18-1-403 was available for review in the direct appeal.”
People v. Stroud, 356 P.3d 903 (Colo. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 2× “2002), the supreme court held that section 18-1-403 required a defendant to be represented by a public defender or an alternate defense counsel if he or she wanted the state to pay the costs of his or her attorney and support services. 18 However, as of July 2008, Chief Justice…”
People v. Garcia, 981 P.2d 214 (Colo. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 2× “Under §18-1-403, C.R.S.1998, an indigent defendant is entitled to legal representation and supporting services at state expense.”
People v. Fueston, 717 P.2d 978 (Colo. Ct. App. 1986). · cites it 2× “except a prosecution based upon inconsistent statements pursuant to § 18-8-505, falsity of a statement may not be established solely through contradiction by the uncorroborated testimony of a single witness.”
People v. Danley, 758 P.2d 686 (Colo. Ct. App. 1988). · cites it 2× “If counsel was convinced that defendant was unable to afford such additional experts, counsel was required to consider whether he should seek to withdraw from the case and have the services of the public defender made available to the defendant or, at least, to consider whether…”
People v. Marquiz, 685 P.2d 242 (Colo. Ct. App. 1984). · cites it 2× “Defendant’s first contention is that the trial court violated his constitutional rights to equal protection and effective assistance of counsel, and his statutory right under § 18-1-403, C.R.S. (1978 Repl.Vol. 8), by delaying the appointment of an investigator to aid defendant’s…”
— Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-1-403(3) — 1 case
People v. Banks, 924 P.2d 1161 (Colo. Ct. App. 1996). “Nor do I dispute that § 18-1-403 was available for review in the direct appeal.”
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