Rule 4 - Qualifications, Appointment, Evaluation and Discipline The following rules shall apply to all magistrates and proceedings before magistrates:
(a) To be appointed, a magistrate must be a licensed Colorado attorney with at least five years of experience, except in Class "C" or "D" counties the chief judge shall have the discretion to appoint a qualified licensed attorney with less than 5 years experience to perform all magistrate functions. (b) All magistrates shall be attorneys-at-law licensed to practice law in the State of Colorado, except that in the following circumstances a magistrate need not be an attorney: (1) A magistrate appointed to hear only Class A and Class B traffic infractions in a county court; (2) A county court judge authorized to act as a magistrate in a small claims court; (3) A county court judge authorized to act as a county court magistrate. (c) All magistrates shall be appointed, evaluated, retained, discharged, and disciplined, if necessary, by the chief or presiding judge of the district, with the concurrence of the chief justice. (d) Any person appointed pursuant to these rules as a district court, county court, probate court, juvenile court, or small claims court magistrate may, if qualified, and in the discretion of the chief or presiding judge, exercise any of the magistrate functions authorized by these rules. Entire chapter amended June 16, 1988, effective 1/1/1989; entire rule amended and effective 9/12/1991; entire chapter amended September 30, 1999, effective 1/1/2000.