CO Bar Legal Research 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which set of court rules governs civil procedure in Colorado state district courts?
- Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure (Correct answer)
- Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
- Colorado Appellate Rules
- Colorado Rules of County Court Civil Procedure
Correct answer: Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure
The Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure (C.R.C.P.) govern civil actions in Colorado state district courts.
Question 2: Where are Colorado statutes officially codified?
- Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.) (Correct answer)
- Colorado Code Annotated
- Colorado Compiled Laws
- Colorado General Statutes
Correct answer: Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.)
Colorado's statutory law is codified in the Colorado Revised Statutes, cited as C.R.S.
Question 3: A researcher finds a Colorado Court of Appeals opinion marked 'not selected for official publication.' What is its precedential effect?
- It is not binding precedent but may be cited for persuasive value under C.A.R. 32(f) (Correct answer)
- It is fully binding on all lower courts
- It may never be cited in any Colorado court
- It is binding only within the district where it arose
Correct answer: It is not binding precedent but may be cited for persuasive value under C.A.R. 32(f)
Unpublished Colorado Court of Appeals opinions are not binding precedent but may be cited as persuasive authority under Colorado Appellate Rule 32(f).
Question 4: Which regional reporter publishes decisions of the Colorado Supreme Court?
- Pacific Reporter (P.3d) (Correct answer)
- Northwestern Reporter
- Atlantic Reporter
- Southwestern Reporter
Correct answer: Pacific Reporter (P.3d)
Colorado appellate decisions are published in West's Pacific Reporter, currently in its third series.
Question 5: To determine whether a Colorado Supreme Court case is still good law, a researcher should first:
- Use a citator such as Shepard's or KeyCite (Correct answer)
- Read the case syllabus
- Check the Colorado Register
- Search the session laws
Correct answer: Use a citator such as Shepard's or KeyCite
Citators like Shepard's and KeyCite reveal subsequent history and treatment showing whether a case remains good law.
Question 6: Colorado administrative agency regulations are compiled in which publication?
- Code of Colorado Regulations (CCR) (Correct answer)
- Colorado Administrative Register only
- Colorado Revised Statutes
- Federal Register
Correct answer: Code of Colorado Regulations (CCR)
Final Colorado agency rules are codified in the Code of Colorado Regulations (CCR), maintained by the Secretary of State.
Question 7: Which source is primary authority for a Colorado legal issue?
- A Colorado Supreme Court opinion (Correct answer)
- A law review article on Colorado law
- A legal encyclopedia entry
- A practice treatise on Colorado litigation
Correct answer: A Colorado Supreme Court opinion
Court opinions, statutes, and regulations are primary authority, while articles, encyclopedias, and treatises are secondary.
CO Bar Legal Research 2
Which set of court rules governs civil procedure in Colorado state district courts?