Aurora is Colorado’s third-largest city, and unusually, it sits across three counties — Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas. That matters if you’re arrested there, because it determines which courthouse your case lands in, which prosecutor’s office is handling it, and what local practices apply. Here’s what to expect.
What court will hear my Aurora criminal case?
It depends on where in Aurora the alleged offense happened and how it’s charged. Most central, south, and southeast Aurora felony and state-misdemeanor cases are filed at the Arapahoe County Justice Center in Centennial, prosecuted by the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Cases arising in north Aurora typically go to the Adams County Justice Center in Brighton, prosecuted by the 17th Judicial District. A small southern slice of Aurora falls in Douglas County, handled in Castle Rock by the 23rd Judicial District (which split off from the 18th in January 2025). Separately, Aurora Municipal Court handles city ordinance violations and some lower-level misdemeanors charged under Aurora’s own municipal code rather than state law.
Is Aurora changing how it prosecutes criminal cases in municipal court?
Yes, and the biggest change so far involves domestic violence. Since mid-2025, Aurora Municipal Court no longer takes new misdemeanor domestic violence cases. Those cases are now filed in state county court based on where in Aurora the incident happened: Arapahoe County (18th Judicial District), Adams County (17th Judicial District), or, for the small Douglas County portion of the city, the 23rd Judicial District. That shift matters, because it changes which prosecutor handles the case and which options are on the table. For example, Adams County has started a diversion program for domestic violence cases, which is uncommon in the Denver metro area. Whether a particular case is eligible depends on the charge, the facts, and the defendant’s history.
The other major change came from an Aurora case that went to the Colorado Supreme Court. In In re People v. Simons, 2025 CO 64, decided December 22, 2025, Aurora had charged a woman with trespass and motor vehicle trespass under city code, which carried up to 364 days in jail and a ,650 fine. The identical state offenses carry far less: a class 2 misdemeanor is capped at 120 days and 0, and a petty offense at 10 days and 0. The court held that when a city ordinance prohibits the same conduct as a state statute, the city can still prosecute the case in municipal court, but it cannot impose a penalty above the state maximum. In response, Aurora’s city council voted in September 2026 to repeal the mandatory minimum jail sentences in its code, including the retail theft minimums. A broader proposal to stop filing criminal charges in municipal court entirely was referred to the city’s public safety committee in March 2026, with no final decision as of November 2026.
If you are charged in Aurora Municipal Court with an offense that has an identical state-law counterpart, Simons may limit the sentence you can face. It’s worth having an attorney compare the city charge to the state statute early in your case.
What happens after someone is charged with a crime in Aurora?
Generally, an arrest or summons is followed by a first appearance or arraignment, where bond conditions are set and the formal charges are read. From there, the case moves through pretrial hearings — where plea negotiations, motions to suppress evidence, and discovery review typically happen — before either resolving short of trial or proceeding to a jury trial in district or county court. Municipal charges follow a similar but separate track through Aurora Municipal Court. Deadlines at each stage are strict, and missing one can limit your options later, which is why getting an attorney involved early matters more than most people expect.
Why work with a local Aurora criminal defense attorney?
A lawyer who regularly appears in the Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas county courthouses — and in Aurora Municipal Court — knows the filing practices, plea tendencies, and personnel specific to each, which can shape strategy from the first court date. That local familiarity doesn’t guarantee any particular outcome, but it means less time spent learning the terrain and more time spent building your defense.
Facing criminal charges in Aurora? Mile High Legal defends clients across Arapahoe, Adams, and Douglas counties. Reach out to discuss your charges and what happens next — nothing here is legal advice, and no attorney can promise a specific result.
Featured photo: “Aurora Reservoir” by denver_flyer, licensed under CC BY 2.0; upscaled from the original.
