What We Do

The Office of Administrative Courts (OAC) is Colorado's centralized administrative court system. Administrative courts are separate from the regular court system that handles criminal cases or civil lawsuits. Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) at the OAC handle cases relating to:

• Workers' compensation claims
• Public benefits such as Medicaid or Colorado Works
• Special education services for children with disabilities
• Professional licensing
• Various other disputes between individuals or businesses and government agencies

The OAC provides a faster, more efficient, and less expensive way to resolve these types of cases than the traditional court system. Having cases heard and decided by ALJs allows for simpler rules and procedures than are used in jury trials. ALJs have specialized knowledge and expertise with complicated laws and regulations, which helps them understand the issues and make decisions quickly.