Keep Colorado Constitutional

Colorado Attorney Regulation — The Numbers, The Rules, The Oversight

People v. OARC

Colorado Attorney Regulation

THE NUMBERS · THE RULES · THE OVERSIGHT

The Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel receives complaints concerning Colorado attorneys, conducts preliminary intake and investigations, and prosecutes disciplinary matters.

This page examines the publicly reported numbers, the rules governing preliminary intake, and the oversight structure responsible for attorney regulation.

OARC by the Numbers — 2025
4,624
Requests for Investigation
2025
210
Further Investigations
2025
4.54%
2025 Investigation Share
95.46%
Not Processed for Further Investigation

Note: "Not processed for further investigation" does not mean every matter was dismissed or lacked merit. The published figures do not establish the precise disposition of every remaining matter.

2019–2025: Seven Years of Data

Source: OARC Annual Reports 2019–2025.

YearRequestsFurther InvestigationsInvestigation ShareFormal Complaints
20193,4002768.12%23
20203,4242396.98%23
20213,8162656.94%27
20223,7402506.68%29
20234,4692345.24%26
20244,4312054.63%31
20254,6242104.54%33
Requests for Investigation
3,2163,6144,0124,4104,8082019202020212022202320242025Requests
3,400→4,624
+1,224+36.0%

Reported requests increased 36.0% between 2019 and 2025.

Source: OARC Annual Reports 2019–2025.

Matters Processed for Further Investigation
1942172412642872019202020212022202320242025Further Investigations
276→210
−66−23.9%

Reported further investigations decreased 23.9% between 2019 and 2025.

Source: OARC Annual Reports 2019–2025.

Annual Investigation Share
0%2%4%6%8%10%8.12%20196.98%20206.94%20216.68%20225.24%20234.63%20244.54%2025
8.12%
2019
→
4.54%
2025
DOWN 3.58 PERCENTAGE POINTS2019 – 2025

Annual throughput ratio: matters processed for further investigation divided by reported requests for investigation. This is not a matched complaint-cohort probability and does not determine whether individual complaints had merit.

Source: OARC Annual Reports 2019–2025.

2025 in One Picture

4.54%FURTHERINVESTIGATION
210 — Processed for further investigation
4.54%
4,414 — Not processed for further investigation
95.46%
4,624
Requests
→
210
Further Investigations

Source: OARC Annual Report 2025.

What Happens at Preliminary Intake?

Formal Complaints from the OARC that resulted in lawsuits filed against individual respondent lawyers after investigation
081725332019202020212022202320242025Formal Complaints
23→332019–2025

Note: Formal complaints are a distinct measure from "further investigations." These are separate stages of the regulatory process.

Source: OARC Annual Reports 2019–2025.

OARC Oversight Data — Colorado Attorney Regulation

What Happened in Late 2025?
5,000+

OARC reported it had been on track for more than 5,000 requests.

"the Office was on-track to receive more than 5,000 requests for investigation until it took its online complaint form off-line in late October."

OARC Advisory Committee Minutes — December 12, 2025

Online Complaint Form
OFFLINE
Late October 2025
"Our office's online complaint form is temporarily unavailable while we work to improve the form."

— OARC public complaint page

Phone and mail remained available.

What Standard Governs Preliminary Intake?

Rule 242.13 does not use the phrase "clear and convincing evidence." The clear-and-convincing standard appears expressly at later stages.

01
Preliminary Intake
Rule 242.13
"IF PROVED"
02
Later Regulatory Stage
Rule 242.16
"CAN BE PROVED"
Clear and Convincing Evidence
03
Disciplinary Hearing
Rule 242.30
Clear and Convincing Evidence
Burden of Proof
The Question Raised

This question has been raised directly with the Colorado Supreme Court.

Paul Chessin raised questions during the attorney-discipline rulemaking process concerning:

  • Regulation Counsel's intake discretion
  • The meaning of "if proved"
  • Review of intake determinations
  • Transparency and accountability

Who Checks OARC?

"The check on OARC's power rests with this court."

Colorado Supreme Court

In re Chessin, 2020 CO 9, ¶16

"We have exclusive authority over matters of attorney discipline."

Colorado Supreme Court

In re Chessin

"We are the only court authorized to review the case."

Colorado Supreme Court

In re Chessin

Supreme Court
"The check on OARC's power rests with this court."

In re Chessin, 2020 CO 9, ¶16

Rule 242.13(b)(3)
"The Regulation Counsel's decision ... is final."
"The complaining witness is not entitled to review or appeal of that decision."

How Is Oversight of Preliminary Intake Exercised?

What Is Publicly Measured?

Known
✓
Request Volume
✓
Further Investigations
✓
Formal Complaints
✓
Disciplinary Outcomes
Not Identified in the Public Materials Reviewed
?
Sampled Intake-Dismissal Audit
?
Intake Error Rate
?
Reversal Measure
?
Precise Disposition of All Matters Not Processed for Further Investigation

The numbers tell us what went through the gate.

They do not fully tell us how the gate performed.

Attorney Regulation Touches Every Part of the Justice System.

Criminal
Family
Civil
Probate
Property
Government
Constitutional Rights
Attorney Accountability

Effective attorney oversight is part of the accountability infrastructure of Colorado's justice system.

Without effective oversight, deception and professional misconduct can go unchecked.

Keep Colorado Constitutional

Why KCC Is Reviewing OARC

Data

What do OARC's own numbers show?

Rules

What standards govern intake?

Oversight

How is the Supreme Court's supervisory authority exercised?

Reform

What additional transparency and accountability mechanisms should be considered?

Explore the ResearchSubmit TestimonyJoin the OARC Working Group
OARC Working Group

Declaration of Participation

Submit your experience with OARC to the People v. OARC Working Group. Your declaration helps document patterns and inform accountability research.

Participant Information

OARC Complaint Information

Summary of Experience

Timeline of Events

Documents Submitted to OARC

Documents Received from OARC

Additional Information

Participation Interests

Confidentiality Preferences

Declaration

I declare under penalty of perjury that the information I have provided is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I understand this declaration may be used by the OARC Working Group of Keep Colorado Constitutional in its research and advocacy activities.