Boulder Restraining Order Lawyers — Protection Order Defense in Boulder County
A restraining order in Boulder can restrict your housing, your contact with family members, and your ability to possess firearms. In Boulder’s close-knit professional and university community, a protection order can also affect workplace relationships, campus access, and professional reputation in ways that extend beyond the legal consequences. Civil protection orders and criminal restraining orders each carry their own standards and implications, and both require experienced legal representation to navigate effectively. Burnham Law’s Boulder restraining order attorneys represent both petitioners seeking protection and respondents defending against orders throughout Boulder County.
Meet our Boulder criminal defense team below — attorneys experienced in protection order proceedings throughout Boulder County District Court.
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...
Restraining Orders and Protection Orders in Colorado
Colorado provides for temporary protection orders (TPOs) — which can be issued ex parte on the same day the petition is filed — and permanent protection orders (PPOs) — which are issued after a hearing where both parties appear and present evidence. A TPO can issue based solely on the petitioner’s sworn statement if a judge finds sufficient grounds. The PPO hearing must be set within 14 days of the TPO. At the PPO hearing, the standard is preponderance of the evidence — the petitioner must show the alleged conduct more likely than not occurred and that continued protection is warranted.
Criminal protection orders are separate — issued automatically by the court in domestic violence, stalking, and similar criminal cases as a condition of bond or sentence. Criminal protection orders cannot be modified by agreement; only a court order can change their terms. Both civil and criminal protection orders are public court records, entered into the Colorado protection order registry, and the federal firearms prohibition under the Lautenberg Amendment applies to certain qualifying criminal protection orders.
In Boulder, protection order proceedings carry an additional dimension that reflects the character of this community. Disputes between CU students — involving roommates, ex-partners in the university community, or conduct at campus events — can give rise to protection order petitions with implications for campus access and academic standing that don’t exist in most other Colorado jurisdictions. Professional conflicts and neighbor disputes in Boulder’s dense, interconnected neighborhoods also generate protection order proceedings. Understanding the community context is part of effective representation in Boulder protection order cases.
What Our Boulder Restraining Order Attorneys Handle
Defending against civil protection orders: When a protection order has been filed against you, we appear quickly, contest the TPO where the facts support it, and prepare comprehensively for the PPO hearing. We challenge the factual basis of the petition, present the respondent’s evidence and perspective, and argue against orders that are inaccurate, exaggerated, or being used for tactical purposes in connection with a parallel dispute.
Petitioning for civil protection orders: When you need protection — from a partner, neighbor, co-worker, or other person whose conduct has made you fear for your safety — we help you prepare a thorough, well-documented petition and present your case effectively at the TPO and PPO stages.
CU student protection order matters: Protection order proceedings between CU students carry implications for campus access, university housing, and academic standing that are specific to the university context. We handle these matters with attention to both the legal proceeding and the campus implications.
Challenging criminal protection orders: Mandatory criminal protection orders can be challenged for overbreadth, for conditions that prevent necessary co-parenting contact, or when circumstances have changed since the order was issued. We petition for modification of criminal protection orders in appropriate cases.
Protection order violation defense: Violations of protection orders — civil or criminal — are separate criminal offenses in Colorado. We defend protection order violation charges in Boulder County and challenge the sufficiency of the evidence that a violation occurred.
Protection Orders in Boulder’s University Community
Boulder’s large CU student population creates a category of protection order proceedings that is specific to this jurisdiction. Disputes arising from romantic relationships, shared housing, and social conflicts in the university community can give rise to both civil protection orders and university-level no-contact orders that run in parallel. A civil protection order can restrict a student’s access to parts of the campus where the protected party lives, works, or attends class — affecting their ability to complete academic obligations.
CU’s Office of Student Conduct can issue its own no-contact directives and interim measures independent of the civil court protection order process. These university measures operate under FERPA and the university’s own procedures, are not court orders, and cannot be appealed in the same way as civil protection orders. Understanding the interaction between the civil court protection order process and the university’s parallel processes is essential for student clients on either side of these proceedings.
For non-student Boulder residents, protection order proceedings often arise in the context of neighbor disputes, workplace conflicts, and domestic situations that reflect the specific dynamics of Boulder’s dense neighborhoods and close-knit professional community. The implications in Boulder’s community — the social and professional networks through which a protection order becomes known — can be as significant as the legal consequences of the order itself.
Why Burnham Law for Restraining Orders in Boulder
Both sides of protection order proceedings. We represent petitioners seeking protection and respondents contesting orders. Experience on both sides makes us more effective on whichever side we represent, because we understand exactly how the other party builds and presents their case.
CU community context. Protection order proceedings in Boulder’s university community require attorneys who understand the campus implications — access restrictions, university parallel processes, and the academic stakes — that are specific to this jurisdiction.
Rapid response to TPOs. The 14-day window from TPO issuance to PPO hearing is short. We move immediately upon being retained, evaluate the petition, gather evidence, and prepare for the PPO hearing with the urgency the compressed timeline demands.
Firearm prohibition awareness. The federal firearms prohibition that attaches to qualifying protection orders is a consequence some attorneys don’t address with sufficient focus. We identify when the prohibition applies and address it explicitly in every relevant Boulder protection order case.
How quickly can a protection order be issued in Boulder County?
A temporary protection order can be issued by Boulder County District Court on the same day the petition is filed if a judge finds sufficient grounds in the petitioner’s sworn statement. The petition is reviewed ex parte — without the other party present — and the TPO can issue within hours. Law enforcement then serves the order on the respondent, who must comply immediately upon service. The PPO hearing is typically set within 14 days of the TPO issuance.
Can a protection order affect my access to CU’s campus in Boulder?
Yes. A civil protection order that prohibits contact with a person who lives, works, or attends class on CU’s campus can effectively restrict the respondent’s access to parts of the campus where the protected party is present. The specific terms of the order determine what conduct is restricted. Additionally, CU’s Office of Student Conduct can issue its own interim no-contact measures and access restrictions independent of the civil protection order — these university-level measures can further restrict campus access under the university’s own authority.
What is the difference between a civil protection order and a criminal protection order in Colorado?
A civil protection order is petitioned by the protected party through the civil court process and is separate from any criminal case. A criminal protection order is issued automatically by the court in criminal proceedings — domestic violence, stalking, harassment, and similar cases — as a condition of bond or sentence. Criminal protection orders cannot be modified by agreement between the parties and remain in effect throughout the criminal case. Both types can restrict contact, housing access, and firearms, but the processes for challenging or modifying them differ significantly.
Can a protection order be defeated at the PPO hearing in Boulder County?
Yes. At the permanent protection order hearing, the respondent has the right to appear, present evidence, call witnesses, and be represented by counsel. The petitioner must establish by preponderance of the evidence that the alleged conduct occurred and that continued protection is warranted. A well-prepared respondent with credible evidence challenging the petitioner’s account has a genuine opportunity to prevent the PPO from being entered. Boulder County courts hear both sides at PPO hearings and do not automatically issue permanent orders simply because a TPO was granted.
Does a protection order show up on a background check in Colorado?
Civil protection orders are public court records in Colorado and are entered into the Colorado Bureau of Investigation protection order registry. They may appear in certain background checks — particularly those conducted for employment in law enforcement, security, and positions requiring trust determinations. The federal firearms prohibition that attaches to qualifying protection orders is a separate and immediate consequence that goes into effect as soon as the qualifying order is entered, independent of any background check process.
Schedule a Consultation with a Boulder Restraining Order Lawyer
Whether you need a protection order or you’re defending against one in Boulder County, the proceedings move quickly and the community consequences are real. Burnham Law’s Boulder attorneys are ready to act immediately — for petitioners who need protection and for respondents who need vigorous defense.
Call (303) 990-5308 or schedule a confidential consultation online. We handle protection order proceedings throughout Boulder County District Court.
