A proposal that would allow exonerated criminal defendants to collect refunds of the court costs and fees they paid sailed through a legislative committee Tuesday and heads to the full House.
The House Judiciary Committee voted 11-0 to approve , which Attorney General Cynthia Coffman’s office supported after how the state could refuse the refunds.
The bill would allow district courts to refund money paid if a defendant can show their conviction was overturned and the charges against them were either dismissed or they were acquitted in a retrial.
The Supreme Court case was filed by a pair of defendants whose criminal convictions were later tossed. Colorado told the defendants they could sue for the money instead under a law that would require them to prove their innocence. The Supreme Court has not issued an opinion as yet.
