C.R.C.I. 11

(a) The final hearing of all cases shall be informal, the object being to dispense justice

promptly and economically. The Judicial Officer shall ensure that evidence shall be offered

and questioning shall be conducted in an orderly and expeditious manner and according to

basic notions of fairness. Those basic notions of fairness illustrated by the Colorado Rules

of Evidence shall serve as a guide to the Judicial Officer and parties, but those rules shall

not be strictly applied. The Judicial Officer may call and question any witness consistent

with the Judicial Officer’s obligation to be an impartial fact finder favoring neither party.

(b) The order of proceedings at the hearing shall be as follows:

(1) Before commencement of the hearing, the Judicial Officer shall briefly describe

and explain the purposes and procedures of the hearing.

(2) The Officer shall offer sworn testimony and evidence to the facts concerning the

alleged infraction. After such testimony, the defendant or counsel may cross-examine the

Officer, and the Judicial Officer may also question the Officer.

(3) Thereafter, the defendant may offer sworn testimony and evidence and shall

answer questions, if such testimony is offered, as may be asked by the Judicial Officer. The

defendant is not required to testify and the fact that the defendant does not testify may not

be considered or used in any way by the Judicial Officer.

(4) If the testimony of additional witnesses is offered, the order of testimony and the

extent of questioning shall be within the discretion of the Judicial Officer. No Officer or

other testifying witness, with the exception of the defendant, may question any other

witness.

(5) Upon the conclusion of such testimony and examination, the Judicial Officer may

further examine or allow examination and rebuttal testimony and evidence as deemed

appropriate.

(6) At the conclusion of all testimony and examination, the defendant or counsel shall

be permitted to make a closing argument.