CO · rules
Crim. P. 32.1
Death Penalty Sentencing Hearing
(a) Purpose and Scope. The purpose of this rule is to establish a uniform, expeditious
procedure for conducting death penalty sentencing hearings in accordance with section
18-1.3-1201, 6 C.R.S.
(b) Statement of Intention to Seek Death Penalty. In any class 1 felony case in
which the prosecution intends to seek the death penalty, the prosecuting attorney shall file
a written statement of that intention with the trial court no later than 63 days (9 weeks)
after arraignment and shall serve a copy of the statement on the defendant’s attorney of
record or the defendant if appearing pro se.
(c) Date of Sentencing Hearing. After a verdict of guilt to a class 1 felony, the trial
judge shall set a date for the sentencing hearing. The sentencing hearing shall be held as
soon as practicable following the trial.
(d) Discovery Procedures for Sentencing Hearing. The following discovery provisions shall apply to the death penalty sentencing hearing:
(1) Aggravating Factors. Not later than 21 days after the filing of the written
statement of intention required in subsection (b) of this rule, the prosecuting attorney shall
provide to the defendant, and file with the court a list of the aggravating factors enumerated
at section 18-1.3-1201(5), 6 C.R.S., and that the prosecuting attorney intends to prove at
the hearing.
(2) Prosecution Witnesses. Not later than 21 days after the filing of the written
statement of intention required in subsection (b) of this rule, the prosecuting attorney shall
provide to the defendant a list of the witnesses whom the prosecuting attorney may call at
the sentencing hearing and shall promptly furnish the defendant with written notification of
any such witnesses who subsequently become known or the materiality of whose testimony
subsequently becomes known. Along with the name of the witness, the prosecuting
attorney shall furnish the witness’ address and date of birth, the subject matter of the
witness’ testimony, and any written or recorded statement of that witness, including notes.
(3) Prosecution Books, Papers, Documents. Not later than 21 days after the filing of
the written statement of intention required in subsection (b) of this rule, the prosecuting
attorney shall provide to the defendant a list of the books, papers, documents, photographs,
or tangible objects, and access thereto, that the prosecuting attorney may introduce at the
sentencing hearing and shall promptly furnish the defendant written notification of additional such items as they become known.
(4) Prosecution Experts. As soon as practicable but not later than 63 days (9 weeks)
before trial, the prosecuting attorney shall provide to the defendant any reports, recorded
statements, and notes, including results of physical or mental examinations and scientific
tests, experiments, or comparisons, of any experts whom the prosecuting attorney intends
to call as a witness at the sentencing hearing and shall promptly furnish the defendant
additional such items as they become available.
(5) Material Favorable to the Accused. Not later than 21 days after the filing of the
written statement of intention required in subsection (b) of this rule, the prosecuting
attorney shall make available to the defendant any material or information within the
prosecuting attorney’s possession or control that would tend to mitigate or negate the
finding of any of the aggravating factors the prosecuting attorney intends to prove at the
sentencing hearing, and the prosecuting attorney shall promptly make available to the
defendant any such material or information that subsequently comes into the prosecuting
attorney’s possession or control.
(6) Prosecution’s Rebuttal Witnesses. Upon receipt of the information required by
subsection (7), the prosecuting attorney shall notify the defendant as soon as practicable
but not later than 14 days before trial of any additional witnesses whom the prosecuting
attorney intends to call in response to the defendant’s disclosures.
(7) Defendant’s Disclosure.
(A) Subject to constitutional limitations, the defendant shall provide the prosecuting
attorney with the following information and materials not later than 35 days before trial:
(I) A list of witnesses whom the defendant may call at the sentencing hearing. Along
with the name of the witness, the defendant shall furnish the witness’s address and date of
birth, the subject matter of the witness’s testimony, and any written or recorded statement
of that witness, including notes, that comprise substantial recitations of witness statements
and relate to the subject matter of the testimony;
(II) A list of the books, papers, documents, photographs, or tangible objects, and
access thereto, that the defendant may introduce at the sentencing hearing;
(III) Any reports, recorded statements, and notes of any expert whom the defendant
may call as a witness during the sentencing hearing, including results of physical or mental
examinations and scientific tests, experiments, or comparisons.
(B) Any material subject to this subsection (7) that the defendant believes contains
self-incriminating information that is privileged from disclosure to the prosecution prior to
the sentencing hearing shall be submitted by the defendant to the trial judge under seal no
later than 49 days before trial. The trial judge shall review any material submitted under
seal pursuant to this paragraph (B) to determine whether it is in fact privileged.
(I) Any material submitted under seal pursuant to this paragraph (B) that the judge
finds to be privileged from disclosure to the prosecution prior to the sentencing hearing
shall be provided forthwith to the prosecution if the defendant is convicted of a class 1
felony.
(II) If the trial judge finds any of the material submitted under seal pursuant to this
paragraph (B) to be not privileged from disclosure to the prosecution prior to the sentencing hearing, the trial judge shall notify the defense of its findings and allow the defense 7
days after such notification in which to seek a modification, review or stay of the court’s
order requiring disclosure.
(III) The trial judge may excise information it finds privileged from information it
finds not privileged in order to disclose as provided in (II) above.
(8) Regulation of Discovery and Sanctions. No party shall be permitted to rely at the
sentencing hearing upon any witness, material, or information that is subject to disclosure
pursuant to this rule until it has been disclosed to the opposing party. The trial court, upon
a showing of good cause, may grant an extension of time to comply with the requirements
of this rule. If it is brought to the attention of the court that a party has failed to comply
with this rule or with an order issued pursuant to this rule, the court may enter an order
against such party that the court deems just under the circumstances, and which is
consistent with constitutional limitations, including but not limited to an order to permit
the discovery or inspection of materials not previously disclosed, to grant a continuance, to
prohibit the offending party from introducing the information and materials, or impose
sanctions against the offending party.
History
Source: Entire rule adopted and effective September 1, 1995; (f) to (h) amended and effective January 14, 1999; (f)(6)(III) corrected, effective March 2, 1999; IP(f)(6) cor- rected, effective March 31, 1999; entire rule amended and adopted March 11, 2004, effective July 1, 2004; (b) and (d)(1) to (d)(7) amended and adopted December 14, 2011, effective July 1, 2012; (d)(7)(B)(I) corrected and effective November 2, 2012.
Provenance
- Source
- content.leg.colorado.gov
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-15
- Edition
- 2026-09-15
- Content hash
e60ad20def337277a69df4f356986d66352f31b651c38d39eb004b5b2777971d
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