Boulder Expungement Lawyers — Record Sealing in Boulder County
A criminal record in Boulder can limit employment at CU and other area institutions, block professional licensing applications, affect housing in a competitive rental market, and create complications in a community where professional reputation matters significantly. Colorado’s expanded record sealing statutes offer real relief for many people whose records are holding them back — and in recent years, the legislature has made more offense types and more people eligible than ever before. Burnham Law’s Boulder record sealing attorneys evaluate eligibility across the complete record, handle petitions in Boulder County District Court, and follow through on every step to make sure the sealing actually takes effect.
Meet our Boulder criminal defense team below — attorneys experienced in Colorado record sealing and expungement petitions in Boulder County and throughout Colorado.
Jeremy Wooten, is a seasoned trial attorney who specializes in criminal defense and family law, leveraging a wealth of experience honed over five years at the Colorado State Public Defenders’ Office. Rising to Senior Deputy Public Defender, he successfully managed a diverse caseload, including serious charges like first-degree homicide, drug distribution, and economic crimes, always maintaining an unwavering commitment to client advocacy. Licensed in both Texas and Colorado, Jeremy's legal expertise is defined by strategic planning—meticulously crafting and executing well-thought-out trial strategies—and remarkable resourcefulness in finding innovative solutions to complex legal challenges in both the criminal and family law arenas. His practice is characterized by agile, client-centered advocacy, which relies on adaptability, active listening, and quick thinking essential for effective trial work. Jeremy prioritizes thoroughly understanding his clients' objectives and adapting his strategies dynamically to the evolving nature of trials. His resilience and strategic agility allow him to confidently navigate unexpected developments in the courtroom, ensuring each case is expertly...
Julian Rosielle has been licensed to practice law in Colorado since 2006. Julian is a graduate of the University of Colorado School of Law, where he was on the Dean’s List and an associate editor of the University of Colorado Law Review. Julian practiced exclusively in the area of criminal law for the first thirteen years of his career and has several notable case outcomes to include not guilty verdicts on charges of homicide and assault. Julian has extensive trial experience, ranging from Death Penalty cases to misdemeanor domestic violence to driving under the influence. Beginning in 2019, Julian’s practice has expanded to include domestic relations litigation and civil protection orders. Julian has lived in Colorado since 2004 and when not in Court enjoys hiking with his family and dogs.
Kate strives to have a client-oriented practice where she can assist her clients in all stages of litigation. Prior to joining Burnham, Kate was an associate at an AmLaw Firm where she worked on various types of complex litigation representing large corporations, municipalities, and individuals. Before going into private practice, Kate was an Assistant Public Defender in Miami-Dade County where she tried over twenty cases. Kate has been able to develop a well-rounded practice by working in both the private and public sectors. Kate has honed her skill sets from her prior experience so she can be a zealous advocate for her clients. In her spare time, Kate enjoys spending time with her husband in the outdoors, traveling, and visiting family.
Miguel C. Mondragon is a tenacious and dedicated attorney who is fiercely committed to his clients and their legal outcomes. Recognizing that clients facing divorce or criminal charges are often in their most vulnerable state, Miguel acts as a passionate advocate, ensuring they have a voice within the legal system. Growing up in southern Colorado, Miguel developed a strong work ethic by working in construction, lumber, and brickyards while attending college. Before becoming an attorney, his interest in law was sparked by his work within the Larimer County Corrections system. While attending the University of South Dakota School of Law, he gained valuable experience working with East River Legal Services, the Colorado State Public Defenders Office, and Samuelson Law. Upon graduation, Miguel honed his skills first as a solo practitioner, then at Weaver & Associates, P.C., before founding Mondragon Law, where he specialized in criminal defense and family law. He brings this deep experience and tenacity to his current role...
Record Sealing in Colorado
Colorado’s record sealing framework hides adult criminal records from public view — they no longer appear in standard background checks that employers, landlords, and most licensing agencies use. The record is not destroyed but is restricted from general access. Law enforcement, courts, and specific government agencies retain access. True expungement (destruction of the record) is available in Colorado primarily for juvenile adjudications and certain civil infractions. For adult criminal records, sealing is the remedy — and it is effective and meaningful.
Colorado’s record sealing statutes were significantly expanded by House Bill 19-1275 and subsequent legislation. Eligibility depends on the case disposition and the time elapsed since sentence completion. Arrests without conviction can be sealed immediately. Dismissed charges and acquittals can be sealed immediately. Successfully completed diversion agreements and deferred judgments can be sealed after applicable waiting periods. Convictions — depending on the offense type — can be sealed after waiting periods of one to ten years following completion of the sentence.
Boulder’s specific community creates particular record sealing priorities that are somewhat distinctive. CU students or recent graduates with a youthful arrest or conviction that occurred during their time at the university have urgent reasons to address the record before entering the job market. Professionals in Boulder’s healthcare, legal, financial, and education communities face specific licensing board inquiries that make sealing particularly valuable. And Boulder’s competitive rental housing market means even old records can affect housing access in ways that motivate sealing petitions years after the original case.
What Our Boulder Record Sealing Attorneys Handle
Arrests without conviction: If you were arrested but not charged, or charged but the case was dismissed or you were acquitted, you are typically eligible to seal the record immediately. These are often the highest-priority petitions — arrest records without conviction still appear in background checks and affect employment and housing in Boulder’s competitive market.
Diversion and deferred judgment records: Successfully completed diversion agreements and deferred judgments can typically be sealed after applicable waiting periods. We handle the petition process in Boulder County District Court and ensure all timing and procedural requirements are met.
Conviction records: Many Colorado misdemeanor and felony convictions can now be sealed after waiting periods following completion of the sentence. We evaluate specific convictions under current Colorado law, identify what is sealable, and handle the full petition process.
CU student and recent graduate records: Young adults with records from their time at or around CU face specific urgency in addressing criminal records before they enter the job market, apply to graduate programs, or pursue professional licensing. We prioritize these cases and move quickly through the petition process for clients with this timeline.
Comprehensive multi-record evaluations: Many clients have multiple record entries from different incidents and different courts. We evaluate the full record, identify every entry that is sealable under current law, and pursue a comprehensive sealing strategy rather than addressing only part of the history.
How Record Sealing Works in Boulder County
Record sealing petitions for Boulder County cases are filed in Boulder County District Court. The petition must identify the specific case, the legal basis for eligibility, and include the required certifications. Once filed, the prosecution has an opportunity to object. For arrests without conviction and older, less serious convictions, the Boulder County DA’s office typically does not object, and the court grants the petition without a hearing.
When the DA does object — more common for recent convictions, more serious offense types, or cases with specific victim considerations — a hearing is scheduled. Both sides present argument, and the court applies Colorado’s interest of justice balancing test: weighing the petitioner’s interest in sealing against any public interest in the record remaining accessible. The strength of the petitioner’s presentation — their rehabilitation evidence, the specific impact of the record, and the time elapsed since the offense — significantly affects the court’s analysis.
After a sealing order is entered, notification must go to all relevant repositories — the court, the arresting agency, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and any other entities that have the record. We follow through on all required notifications to ensure the record is actually sealed across all systems. Failing to complete this step can result in the record continuing to appear despite the court order.
Why Burnham Law for Record Sealing in Boulder
Current Colorado sealing law knowledge. Colorado’s sealing statutes continue to evolve, and many people who were not eligible previously are now eligible. We stay current on exactly what current law allows for specific offense types and case dispositions.
Boulder community priorities. We understand the specific reasons Boulder residents seek record sealing — employment at CU and other area institutions, professional licensing, Boulder’s competitive rental market — and tailor the petition presentation to those specific goals.
CU student and graduate priority. We understand the urgency for young adults entering the job market or professional programs and move efficiently through the petition process for clients with time-sensitive needs.
Complete follow-through. Getting the court order is only the first step. We follow through on all notifications to ensure actual sealing across all relevant systems.
Frequently Asked Questions — Boulder Expungement and Record Sealing
Can a CU student get a college arrest record sealed in Colorado?
Yes — arrests that did not result in conviction can be sealed immediately under Colorado law, regardless of the petitioner’s age at the time of the arrest. For CU students or graduates with arrests that didn’t result in conviction, or charges that were dismissed or resulted in acquittal, immediate eligibility for sealing is typically available. For convictions from the student years, sealing is available after the applicable waiting period following completion of the sentence. We evaluate the specific record and timeline for each client.
Does sealing a record affect the CU university conduct record?
A Colorado court order sealing a criminal record does not affect the University of Colorado’s own conduct records, which are maintained by the Office of Student Conduct under FERPA and the university’s own policies. A criminal record seal prevents the criminal court record from appearing in public background checks but does not erase or restrict the university’s internal conduct record. If a student’s university conduct record is a separate concern, that requires a separate process through the university — distinct from the criminal record sealing petition.
Can a DUI conviction be sealed in Colorado?
No. DUI and DWAI convictions cannot be sealed under current Colorado law, regardless of their age or the circumstances of the offense. This is the most significant limitation of Colorado’s record sealing framework and one of the strongest reasons to fight a DUI charge at the time of arrest. Once a DUI conviction is on a Colorado record, it remains there permanently — accessible to employers, landlords, licensing boards, and law enforcement without limitation.
How long are Colorado’s record sealing waiting periods?
Waiting periods run from completion of the sentence, including the end of probation or supervision. Petty offenses: 1 year. Class 2 and 3 misdemeanors: 2 years. Class 1 misdemeanors: 3 years. Level 4 drug felonies and certain other lower felony classes: 3 years. Higher felony classes: waiting periods of up to 10 years, with some serious felony offense types not sealable at all. The specific waiting period for any particular conviction requires analysis of the offense classification under current Colorado statutes.
What background checks will still show a sealed Colorado record?
A properly sealed Colorado criminal record should not appear in most commercial background checks that employers, landlords, and private entities use. However, sealed records remain accessible to law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and certain government licensing agencies. Federal background check processes — including those required for federal employment, security clearances, professional military service, and other federal purposes — may access sealed records regardless of the state court sealing order. The practical benefit of sealing is significant for most employment and housing purposes, but it is not a complete shield in every context.
Schedule a Consultation with a Boulder Record Sealing Lawyer
If a criminal record is limiting your employment, housing, or professional opportunities in Boulder, Colorado’s expanded sealing statutes may offer more relief than you realize. Burnham Law’s Boulder attorneys will evaluate your complete record under current law and tell you exactly what can be sealed and how to pursue it.
Call (303) 990-5308 or schedule a confidential consultation online. We handle record sealing petitions throughout Boulder County and Colorado.
