Teller County District Court
Colorado district courts are trial courts of general jurisdiction. In Teller County, district court operates through Teller County Combined Court at the Teller County Courthouse in Cripple Creek. The county is part of the 4th Judicial District with El Paso County. District court hears civil cases in any amount, domestic relations, felony criminal matters, juvenile matters, probate, mental health, and appeals from county court. County court hears limited civil cases, misdemeanors, traffic infractions, protection orders, small claims, and felony complaints that may later be bound over to district court.
The Colorado Judicial Branch judges-and-staff page lists William Moller as District Court Judge for the 4th Judicial District, Teller County, Division 11, and Elizabeth McClintock as County Court Judge for Division T. It also lists Erin Sokol as District Court Chief Judge for the 4th Judicial District and Sheila Griffin as Clerk of Court and Jury Commissioner. Local case questions go to tellerclerkgeneral@judicial.state.co.us or 719-689-7360.
| Court/Office | Role | Address | Phone/Email |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teller County District Court / Combined Court | Felony, civil, domestic, probate, juvenile, mental health, appeals from county court | 101 West Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek, CO 80813 | 719-689-7360; tellerclerkgeneral@judicial.state.co.us |
| Teller County County Court / Combined Court | Misdemeanor, traffic infractions, small claims, civil under $25,000, protection orders, felony complaints | 101 West Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek, CO 80813 | 719-689-7360 |
| Teller Clerk of Court | Court records, filings, jury, clerk functions | 101 West Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek, CO 80813 | Sheila Griffin, 719-689-7360 |
District vs County Court
The correct Teller County court depends on the case type. District court is the higher trial court for larger civil claims, felony criminal cases, family and probate cases, juvenile matters, and mental health proceedings. County court handles lower-dollar civil disputes, misdemeanors, traffic infractions, small claims, protection orders, and early felony complaints. Municipal courts in Woodland Park and Cripple Creek handle city ordinance, municipal traffic, and local criminal violations.
| Topic | District Court | County Court | Municipal Court |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil scope | Civil cases in any amount | Civil cases under $25,000 and small claims | City code and ordinance matters |
| Criminal scope | Felony cases after filing or bind-over | Misdemeanors and felony complaints | Municipal criminal violations |
| Family/probate | Divorce, domestic relations, probate, juvenile, mental health | Generally no general divorce or probate role | No district-court domestic or probate role |
| Traffic | Some serious or related criminal matters | State traffic infractions and offenses | Municipal traffic and ordinance tickets |
Teller District Case Flow
A district court case reaches the record system through filing, court review, hearings, orders, and final disposition. Civil, criminal, domestic, probate, and juvenile matters do not move in the same way, but each creates a docket trail. The public docket may show dates and events; the case file may contain pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, decrees, sentencing documents, letters, or notices depending on case type.
Felony flow: Arrest or complaint › advisement or county-court stage › filing or bind-over › arraignment › motions and pretrial hearings › plea or trial › disposition › sentencing › appeal or post-conviction activity.
Civil flow: Complaint or petition › service › answer or response › motions › conferences or mediation › trial or settlement › judgment › collection, satisfaction, or appeal.
Probate flow: Petition or application › notice › appointment or letters › inventory and claims › reports or accountings › orders › closing, discharge, or continuing supervision.
Search District Court Records
Use the Colorado Judicial Branch docket search for Teller County public docket information. The search form supports judicial district, county, courthouse, court type, division, date range, case number parts, party names, business names, attorney names, and attorney bar number. Teller is in the 4th Judicial District, and the Teller County Courthouse is the local courthouse value. At least one filter in addition to date is required.
- Select Teller County, Teller County Courthouse, or 4th Judicial District.
- Choose District Court when the matter is felony, civil, divorce, probate, juvenile, or mental health.
- Add date range plus a party, attorney, case class, or case-number part.
- Record the case number, division, date, and event information from any docket result.
- Use the Clerk of Court or record/document request form for copies, certified records, or older documents.
District Court Local Notes
Teller's local court page includes several practical details. Probate non-appearance hearings are set at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesdays, with probate questions routed to 719-689-6926. Self-represented litigant coordinator walk-in hours are published for Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday/Friday morning windows, with limited afternoon access by call-ahead. Division 11 setting dates are Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m., and Division 11 Rule 120 hearings are Mondays at 8:30 a.m.
The courthouse location page lists jury and collections contacts. Jury line is 719-689-7366, and collections can be reached at 719-452-5303 or 04collections@judicial.state.co.us. Teller in-person collections payments are handled at the courthouse Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Some services are centralized through the 4th Judicial District, so a payment or probation question may route outside the local clerk counter.
Self-represented parties should use the court's published coordinator contact rather than assuming the clerk can give legal advice. The research identifies Lori McLeod as the Self-Represented Litigant Coordinator contact, with phone 719-689-6912 and email lori.mcleod@judicial.state.co.us. Probation questions may also route through the 4th Judicial District probation contact at 719-452-5900 or 04probation@judicial.state.co.us.
Federal Court Is Separate
Teller County state district court records are not federal court records. Federal civil, criminal, bankruptcy, habeas, and federal-question cases are handled through the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Colorado, and PACER/CM/ECF. Teller County does not hold those files. Federal images in the manifest belong here as comparison material because they show separate federal access systems, not Teller state court case files.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado is the official source for federal trial court records in Colorado.
Use it only when the matter is federal, not when the case belongs to Teller County District Court.
The PACER Colorado District Court lookup identifies the federal CM/ECF court for District of Colorado filings.
PACER access is account-based and separate from Colorado Judicial Branch docket access.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Colorado handles bankruptcy records statewide.
Bankruptcy cases should not be requested from the Teller Clerk of Court.
The general PACER court lookup helps users identify the correct federal CM/ECF system.
That lookup is useful when deciding whether a record is state, federal district, or federal bankruptcy.
PACER also lists a Colorado Bankruptcy Court lookup page for bankruptcy CM/ECF access.
Use bankruptcy lookup for federal bankruptcy filings, not Teller probate or civil cases.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator is separate from Teller jail and court records.
BOP records concern federal custody and do not replace Teller County criminal court records.