JUDGES

COLAP Is Your Judicial Assistance Program

Judicial Officers across Colorado confidentially contact COLAP for their own needs, and out of concern for others. Judges are often in the best position to recognize problematic behavior, suffering, or impairment in lawyers practicing in their courtroom, colleagues, staff, and family members. Judicial Officers also contact COLAP for support with their own well-being concerns including stress management, secondary trauma, and a wide range of behavioral health needs.

Research shows that judges can be hesitant to seek assistance due to the inherent exposure to trauma, the isolation of your work, heavy dockets, and the importance of maintaining a strong reputation. Judicial Officers are more likely to suffer in silence because of the insular nature of their work, or due to privacy concerns. Rest assured that all contact with COLAP is privileged and confidential per Rule 254, so you can safely call COLAP for confidential assistance.

Whether it is for yourself or someone you are concerned about, or you would like us to give a free ethics CLE presentation on a well-being topic in your court, district, Inn of Court, or local bar, calling COLAP can be the start to finding a solution.

Reasons Judges Contact COLAP

Request a well-being presentation (ethics CLEs) or workplace culture consultation for their district, team, or staff
Concerns about a lawyer, a colleague, staff, or a family member
Request a therapy referral for yourself, spouse/partner, child, or family member
Feeling stressed or overwhelmed, or dealing with secondary trauma or burnout
Persistent fatigue and low energy

Difficulty concentrating or focusing
Increased irritability or impatience
Health or sleep difficulties
Escalating behavioral health concerns, including mental health, substance use, and addiction issues
Traditional coping strategies are no longer working
Thinking of making a career change or retiring
Interest in personal and professional resources

WHAT TO EXPECT

A specialized and licensed clinician, experienced in working with judicial officers and their families, will schedule your free and confidential consultation. We provide education, practical strategies based on evidence and research-based techniques, tailored resources, and collaborative support in planning your next steps. During the consultation, COLAP staff will:

Ask about your concerns to learn more and get a complete understanding of the personal and professional issues that might be contributing to the situation,
Provide education, when appropriate, to help facilitate understanding about the issues and concerns you identify,
Identify resources that may be beneficial to you and the legal professional in your life, and
Help strategize a plan for supporting both you and the member of the legal community you are concerned about.

Resources Specific to Judges

Colorado Judicial Wellbeing

Judicial Stress & Resiliency National Survey Results

Confidentiality

All communications with COLAP are privileged and held in the strictest confidence.

Members of the legal community can be reluctant to seek assistance for behavioral health, well-being, and career-related issues. The Colorado Supreme Court addressed this concern by making COLAP a separate and independent agency.

In addition, pursuant to Rule 254, the court mandated that all communications with COLAP are “privileged and held in the strictest confidence.”

COLAP is prohibited from disclosing any information without a signed release from the individual it pertains to, and information shared with COLAP cannot be used as evidence in complaints, investigations, or in legal or disciplinary proceedings. Reaching out to COLAP cannot negatively impact your license, career, or personal relationships; but not reaching out might.