Weld County Courthouse

"Stop forcing people into jury duty!! I have to work and make money and you want me to ditch work to sit around and then not even be picked for the jury? couldn't you screen jurors over the phone or zoom or something and then the people you want as jurors come in? Why can't you compensate people? $25-$50 a day is a joke! Also why not at least offer free drinks and snacks? I didn't even get a badge with my name and number, just a sticker with the single court room number. Not even a cool thing to keep. I do not support this jury duty nonsense. And then you can't even politely ask to get out of it, sure then no one would wanna do it but do you really want unhappy and unwilling people serving? Forcing people to do jury duty should be illegal. I have no other choice but to be apart of this community thus am forced to come to jury duty."

Vera Kitty

"First-time Small Claims Court filers, this is for you:
1) Fill out the JDF 250 form and take it to one of the two "CIVIL SMALL CLAIMS" windows in the Centennial Center, first floor. Just bring one copy and your checkbook. Don't bring exhibits or multiple copies - they won't get used.
2) Drive over to the Weld County Sheriff's Office (says WELD COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT ADMINSTRATION on the building) and pay a fee to have the defendant served.
3) Prepare your case. Read the "Small Claims Handout / 19th Judicial District Handout" and follow all instructions. FYI it won't matter how nice the paper you use for exhibits is, they scan everything and your actual papers will never be seen by the magistrate.
4) You are not required to list your exhibits on the JDF 72 Exhibit List form they give you.
5) On the day of your trial (always Thursday?) get there at least an hour ahead of the trial time (always 1:15p?). Go back to a CIVIL SMALL CLAIMS window and tell them you want to provide your exhibits to the court. They will scan all of your documents and take your USB thumb drive. You will not get these things back. Note: they have to remove all staples before scanning.
6) It's okay not to provide the defendant with a copy of your exhibits until the trial.
7) The well-prepared plaintiff will observe some cases before the day of your own trial. Observers are allowed. As this is written, cases are on the 2nd floor of the Centennial Center in Courtroom C.
8) The magistrate will take care of some preliminary business and then order opposing parties to go into little rooms, sit across a table from each other, and try to work out a deal. This is where your provide a copy of your exhibits to the defendant to keep. You will discuss your exhibits and the defendant's exhibits. Everyone will probably realize who has a strong case and who doesn't. Note that there's no arbiter present. It's just you and the defendant(s).
9) If you reach a deal, you will fill out a form that's there in the room stating what the agreement is. Don't worry if you don't know how to fill it out completely (we didn't). Just fill out what you can and go back to the courtroom. Of course, make it clear to the magistrate what part(s) you need assistance with. The magistrate is understanding and helpful.
10) If you did reach a deal, the magistrate will make it official. If you did not, both the plaintiff and defendant will present their cases, and the magistrate will rule.

The whole process isn't super complicated, but they don't tell you these things. I couldn't guess why; every single Small Claims participant needs to know this stuff."

Ken Sellers

"You give me the exact 21 days I need to publish a notice, that takes 21 days to publish but it took 11 days to get it. Now there's no humanly possible way to complete the task required and I have to come down there to file another form to request an extension for y'all's failure. Gotta love a bloated and useless judicial system."

Ethan Young