Rep. Catlin Delivers on First Increase in Pay in 12 Years for District Attorneys
(Denver, Colorado – June 11, 2024) - On May 5, 2024, Governor Jared Polis signed into law the Districts Attorneys’ Salaries bill (SB24-013). This bill, now law, removes the statutory requirement that the state legislature review and set the districts attorneys (DAs) salary minimum, every four years. This process has created a legal environment where the state legislature failed to increase the salary minimum since 2012.
This law sets the salary minimum for DAs at the same minimum as district court judges. It also sets the salary minimum for assistant district attorneys (ADAs) at the same minimum as county court judges. The state will contribute 80% of the DAs salary minimum and 50% of the ADAs salary minimum. Each county of the judicial district will contribute the remaining amount proportioned to the county’s population of the judicial district, as a whole.
The bill received 96% approval in passing through the legislature. The prime sponsors in the House are Representative Marc Catlin (R-HD58) of Montrose County, and Representative Barbara McLachlan (D-HD59) of La Plata County. The prime sponsors in the Senate are Senator Nick Hinrichsen (D-SD3) of Pueblo County and Senator Bob Gardner (R-SD12) of El Paso County.
Representative Catlin says, “Rural communities are struggling to find attorneys to serve in DA offices. It is difficult to recruit young attorneys into Colorado DA offices if the department has not seen an adjustment in pay since 2012, especially, in a time with generational increases in living costs. If the state of Colorado truly cares about law and order, then we cannot allow these offices to atrophy. This law is a step in the right direction in keeping our communities safe.”
Colorado State Representative Marc Catlin represents the eight counties of Dolores, Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, and San Miguel. Representative Catlin is the Vice Chair of Agriculture, Water, & Natural Resources Committee, is a member of the Capital Development Committee, and is Ranking member of the Transportation, Housing & Local Government Committee.
