IN UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
COMPASSIONATE RELEASE DISTRICT COURT GENERAL
UNDER SECTION 603(b) OF THE ORDER 2020 - 7
FIRST STEP ACT OF 2018
Pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 3006A(a)(1) and (c), the Office of
the Federal Public Defender for the District of Colorado (“Federal Public Defender”) is hereby
appointed to represent any defendant convicted in this District, who was previously determined
to have been entitled to appointment of counsel or who is now indigent, to decide whether the
defendant is eligible to petition the Court for compassionate release under Section 603(b) of the
First Step Act of 2018, 18 U.S.C. §§ 3582(c) and (d), and, where appropriate, to file a motion
for compassionate release.
Should the Federal Public Defender conclude that it cannot undertake the representation
described in this Order, whether due to conflict or capacity, a member of the Criminal Justice
Act Panel shall be appointed to represent the defendant.
In the case of a defendant who was previously represented by a member of the Criminal
Justice Act Panel (“CJA”), and where the CJA counsel expresses a willingness to represent the
defendant in pursuing compassionate release, CJA counsel is hereby appointed under this Order
to determine whether the defendant is eligible to petition the Court for compassionate release
under Section 603(b) of the First Step Act of 2018, 18 U.S.C. §§ 3582(c) and (d), and, where
appropriate, to file a motion for compassionate release.
The Clerk’s Office shall promptly notify the Federal Public Defender of all pro se
motions seeking compassionate release. These pro se filings will be reviewed by the Federal
Public Defender and timely addressed in the manner described above.
For purposes of determining eligibility and preparing compassionate release motions,
the Court directs the United States Probation Office for the District of Colorado to disclose
Presentence Investigation Reports, Judgments in a Criminal Case, and Statements of Reasons
to the Federal Public Defender, CJA counsel, or privately retained counsel.
All requests for compassionate release shall be filed in the original criminal case. In the
event that the presiding judge in the original proceeding is no longer serving as a judge in this
District, the case shall be reassigned on a random basis under D.C.COLO.LCrR 50.1.
Dated at Denver, Colorado this 21st day of April, 2020.
BY THE COURT:
___________________________
PHILIP A. BRIMMER
Chief United States District Judge
