The Equal Justice Authority (EJA) is a Special Authority created under HB24-1286 that is responsible for distributing the equal justice fee for the purpose of providing equal access to legal aid services and to increase efficiency of the court system for all court users.

The Equal Justice Authority Board of Directors has seven members. The seven members represent legal aid nonprofits, the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, the Colorado Judicial Branch, and the Colorado Bar Association.

Board meetings are held virtually and open to the public. See the calendar on www.coloradoaccesstojustice.org/eja for meeting information.

Pursuant to HB24-1286, the Equal Justice fee was implemented on January 1, 2025 and is collected by the courts on behalf of the Equal Justice Authority in the same way it collects other fees.

Funding awards will be disbursed annually on July 1; however, applications must be submitted each year. Funding amounts, evaluation criteria, and other details may change annually.

Applicants will not request specific amounts for funding.

All eligible applicants will receive funding. Granting amounts will be based on your answers in the application, per statutory requirements.

Per C.R.S. 13-5.7-206, eligible funding will be divided based on a weighted formula to qualifying applicants. The weighted formula is based on the statutory requirements listed in HB24-1286.

The Equal Justice Authority shall annually distribute all money deposited into the Authority’s account, less the Authority’s direct and indirect expenses in administering the funds. The Authority shall distribute 67% of the remaining revenue to the Colorado recipient of a federal legal services corporation field grant (Colorado Legal Services) and 33% to qualified civil legal aid providers.

The Equal Justice Authority contracts with the Colorado Access to Justice Commission to provide administrative support.

Applicants may apply for funding if they are a qualified civil legal aid provider. Per HB24-1286, an applying organization is a qualified civil legal aid provider if they:

• Are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; and,

• Provide legal representation and advice to people in Colorado who are at or below 250% of the federal poverty guideline to support their access to basic needs such as housing, employment, health services, education, and assistance with family matters and immigration status issues.

Organizations with a 501(c)(3) fiscal agent or sponsorship will be considered for funding.

Applicants must submit three financial documents:

• Proof of IRS federal tax-exempt status, dated within the last five years

• A copy of your organization’s operating budget for the current fiscal year

• A copy of your current year end income and expense statement

The American Bar Association defines a legal desert as any county with less than one attorney per 1000 residents.

Counties considered legal deserts in Colorado are: Archuleta, Baca, Bent, Cheyenne, Clear Creek, Conejos, Costilla, Crowley, Custer, Delores, Gilpin, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, Jackson, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, Moffat, Ouray, Park, Phillips, Rio Blanco, Saguache, San Juan, Sedgwick, Washington, Yuma.

Per the State of Colorado’s Department of Local Affairs, the following counties are considered rural: Alamosa, Archuleta, Baca, Bent, Chaffee, Cheyenne, Clear Creek, Conejos, Costilla, Crowley, Custer, Delta, Dolores, Eagle, Elbert, Fremont, Garfield, Grand, Gilpin, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, Jackson, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lake, La Plata, Las Animas, Lincoln, Logan, Mineral, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Morgan, Otero, Ouray, Park, Phillips, Pitkin, Prowers, Rio Blanco, Rio Grande, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, San Miguel, Sedgwick, Summit, Washington, Yuma.

You are required to submit two reports for this grant, including a mid-year report and an end-of-year report. The mid-year report is due on December 1, 2025 and the end-of-year report is due on July 15, 2026. You will receive an emailed form to fill out for each report.

The three reporting requirements are:

1. How much money remained unused;

2. The types of legal services provided to individuals; and

3. A certification that the funds were used to advance the purpose of the Equal Justice Authority to provide legal assistance to low-income people in Colorado and, by doing so, to promote court efficiency.

Awardees will need to complete an ACH form for funding transfer. Required paperwork will be mailed to you upon award notification and acceptance.

Funds for the FY2025-2026 grant cycle will be disbursed July 1, 2025.

These funds are for general operating purposes. Funding received from this grant must be used in support of providing access to legal representation for individuals in Colorado and increasing the efficiency of Colorado Courts by reducing slowdowns caused by self-representation.

Compliance requirements for this grant are in accordance with HB24-1286.

For any questions or inquiries, email ejaboard@coloradoaccesstojustice.org.

You should anticipate hearing from the Equal Justice Authority Board of Directors or its contracted staff two to four times per grant year. This communication will be in regards to the required mid-year and end-of-year reporting, and any other issues should they arise.