Colorado Ends Attorney Certification Requirement for Court E-Filing System
Governor Jared Polis signed House Bill 26-1276 last week, eliminating a rule that required attorneys to certify they would not share court information with federal immigration enforcement. The change followed objections from attorneys and outside groups.
Fox NewsColorado removed a verification requirement from its state court e-filing system that had required attorneys to certify they would not share court information with federal immigration enforcement agencies. Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed House Bill 26-1276 last week, creating a carveout for attorneys using the system.
The original certification requirement stemmed from the Protect Civil Rights Immigration Status Act of 2025. Multiple attorneys spoke out in April 2026 after the e-file system required them to certify they would not share personal information with the federal government.
Colorado Springs attorney Ian Speir stated that Colorado appeared to be unlawfully coopting private attorneys across the state to further its anti-federal sanctuary policies.
The House Judiciary Committee notified Colorado officials in April 2026 that the immigration-related certification wrongly commandeers private attorneys into Colorado's radical sanctuary policies, handcuffs federal officials from enforcing immigration law in Colorado, and violates fundamental free speech principles.
Rep. , chairman of the Judiciary Committee's immigration integrity, security and enforcement subcommittee, stated in a Monday interview that he was pleased Colorado reversed itself but warned that the incident is the latest example of states obstructing federal laws they don't like.
"I think they've crossed the line into obstruction by forbidding attorneys access to the court system without this outrageous pledge under penalty and perjury that they wouldn't report any information for federal immigration enforcement purposes," McClintock said.
