Colorado State Archives

Executive Orders from the Administration of Governor Bill Owens 1999-2005

DENVER  -  Governor Bill Owens today announced the creation of the Governor's Task Force on Civil Justice Reform, co-chaired by Former Colorado Solicitor General Tim Tymkovich and Rebecca Koppes-Conway, former President of the Colorado Bar Association. During his inaugural address in January, Owens discussed the importance of exploring ways to improve the quality and affordability of civil justice in Colorado.

"This task force will assist in making Colorado's judicial system more efficient for citizens," said Gov. Owens. "The system has become overcrowded with frivolous lawsuits. This task force will help streamline the system for all Coloradans."

The 60-member task force will develop recommendations for the Governor aimed at making our state court system more accessible and responsive to taxpayers throughout Colorado. The task force will target civil justice reform in the following five areas:

1. Examine how alternative dispute resolution, such as arbitration, mediation and summary trial techniques, might be better utilized by our court system;

    

2. Analyze the State's Administrative Law Judge system and how it can be improved;

    

3. Investigate the role that judicial magistrates play in our court system and how they can be more effectively used;

    

4. Determine how the rapid growth in litigation by parties unrepresented by attorneys in lawsuits is affecting the quality of justice in Colorado;

    

5. Explore the possibility of establishing a Business Court System in Colorado aimed at improving the quality of commercial dispute resolution.

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