How Does a Colorado Criminal Lawyer Keep Clients Informed About the Progress of Their Case?

By H. Michael Steinberg, Law Office of H. Michael Steinberg  |  October 30, 2026

Waiting is one of the hardest parts of a criminal case. Court dates move, prosecutors send offers, and every day without news can feel like a verdict. A common worry for people charged with a crime is simple:

Will my lawyer tell me what is happening?

A Colorado criminal lawyer keeps clients informed through duties set by the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct, constitutional protections that surround plea offers, and practical habits: prompt answers, plain-language explanations at every stage, and honest advice about the decisions that belong to you.

This article explains what the law requires, what you should expect as your case moves forward, and what to do if the updates stop.

Key Takeaways

• Colo. RPC 1.4 requires your lawyer to keep you reasonably informed about the status of your matter and to promptly answer reasonable requests for information.
• Your lawyer generally must communicate formal plea offers. The U.S. Supreme Court so held in Missouri v. Frye (2012).
• Under Colo. RPC 1.2(a), the decisions to plead, waive a jury and testify are yours.
• Deadlines such as the six-month period in C.R.S. § 18-1-405 make timely updates essential.
• Good communication runs both ways: keep your contact information current and keep the facts of your case private.

The Short Answer

A good Colorado criminal defense lawyer keeps you informed by:

(1) telling you about every significant development, including new filings, court dates, discovery, and plea offers;
(2) explaining what each development means in plain language;
(3) consulting you before major decisions; and
(4) answering your questions promptly.

None of this is a courtesy. It is an ethical obligation and, in the plea context, also a constitutional one.

The Legal Duty: What Colorado’s Rules Require

The Colorado Supreme Court regulates lawyers through the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct. Colo. RPC 1.4 (read the official PDF) is the communication rule.

Under this rule, a lawyer must:

• promptly inform the client of any decision or circumstance that requires the client’s informed consent;
• reasonably consult with the client about the means by which the client’s objectives will be accomplished;
• keep the client reasonably informed about the status of the matter;
• promptly comply with reasonable requests for information; and
• consult with the client about any relevant limitation on the lawyer’s conduct when the client expects help the rules do not allow.

Rule 1.4(b) adds that a lawyer must explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary for the client to make informed decisions.

In a criminal case, that means more than reciting a court date. It means explaining the charges, the possible penalties, the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence, and the realistic options.

Authority

Colo. RPC 1.4(a)(3)–(4) and 1.4(b): keep the client reasonably informed about the status of the matter, promptly comply with reasonable requests for information, and explain matters well enough for the client to make informed decisions. Read Rule 1.4.

Informed clients make better decisions, and better decisions lead to better outcomes.

What You Should Hear at Every Stage of Your Case

Every case follows its own path, but most Colorado criminal cases move through recognizable stages. Here is what you should expect to hear about at each one.

Plea Offers: The One Update Your Lawyer Cannot Skip

In Missouri v. Frye, 566 U.S. 134 (2012) (also available as the Court’s opinion), the U.S. Supreme Court held that, as a general rule, defense counsel has a duty to communicate formal prosecution offers to accept a plea on terms that may be favorable to the accused.

The same day, in Lafler v. Cooper, 566 U.S. 156 (2012) (opinion text), the Court addressed a different problem: a defendant who rejects a plea offer because of ineffective advice and then receives a harsher result after trial.

A third case, Padilla v. Kentucky, 559 U.S. 356 (2010), held that counsel must advise a noncitizen client about the deportation risk of a guilty plea. All three decisions rest on the two-part test from Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984), the foundation of ineffective-assistance claims. In plain terms: your lawyer must tell you an offer exists, explain what it means, and give you candid advice about it.

Colorado adds another layer. Under Crim. P. 11, a judge must advise you of certain consequences before accepting a guilty plea. The Colorado Supreme Court has found advisement errors, for example where a defendant was not told that a prison sentence carries mandatory parole, in Dawson v. People (Colo. 2001). A lawyer who prepares you for that hearing helps ensure the plea is truly knowing and voluntary.

A Thorough Plea Conversation Covers

• the exact terms of the offer and any deadline to respond;
• the sentencing range you face if you reject it and go to trial;
• immigration, employment, licensing and other collateral consequences;
• your lawyer’s candid assessment of the evidence and of the offer; and
• enough time for you to think, ask questions and decide.

Decisions That Belong to You

Colo. RPC 1.2(a) provides that in a criminal case the lawyer shall abide by the client’s decision, after consultation, as to the plea to be entered, whether to waive a jury trial, and whether the client will testify. Your lawyer can and should recommend a course of action, but the choice is yours.

Tactical matters, such as which motions to file and how to cross-examine a witness, are handled by your lawyer, who must still consult you about the means of pursuing your goals under Rule 1.4(a)(2). That is why a well-run defense includes real conversations, not just status emails.

Discovery, Deadlines, and the Limits on What Can Be Shared

Discovery

Crim. P. 16 governs the exchange of information between the prosecution and the defense before trial. Your lawyer reviews police reports, recordings, lab results and witness statements, then tells you what matters and what it means for your options.

There are limits. The comments to Rule 1.4 recognize that rules or court orders governing litigation may provide that information supplied to a lawyer may not be disclosed to the client, and Rule 3.4(c) directs compliance with those rules and orders.

Crim. P. 16 also restricts to whom discovery materials may be provided. So your lawyer may sometimes review materials with you in a meeting instead of handing over copies. That is not a lack of transparency. It is compliance with the rules.

The speedy trial clock

Under C.R.S. § 18-1-405(1), a defendant generally must be brought to trial within six months of the entry of a not guilty plea, subject to statutory exclusions. Subsection (3) provides that if a trial date has been set and the defendant requests and is granted a continuance, the period is extended an additional six months.

A request to continue the trial is therefore a strategic decision with consequences, and your lawyer should explain those consequences before making it. These rules have many exceptions, so your lawyer should calculate your deadlines and keep you updated as they change.

How Updates Reach You, and Why Confidentiality Matters

Updates can come by phone, in person, or by email or text where appropriate, and a good lawyer will meet with you before major hearings. The channel matters less than the substance: you should leave each conversation knowing where your case stands and what comes next.

Confidentiality protects these conversations. Colo. RPC 1.6 requires lawyers to make reasonable efforts to prevent inadvertent or unauthorized disclosure of information relating to a client’s representation. Colorado’s statutory attorney-client privilege, C.R.S. § 13-90-107(1)(b), provides that an attorney shall not be examined, without the client’s consent, about communications made by the client in the course of professional employment. The privilege belongs to the client, and only the client can waive it.

That puts part of the responsibility on you. Sharing your lawyer’s advice with friends, posting about your case online, or discussing it on a monitored phone line can put protection at risk. Likewise, our own website cautions that its contact form sends information by unencrypted email and that submitting it does not create an attorney-client relationship, so please do not put confidential details in a form, text message or voicemail.

Your Role: Communication Works Both Ways

Strong communication is a partnership. You can also look up upcoming court dates yourself through the Colorado Judicial Branch docket search, which requires at least one search filter in addition to the date. Always confirm any date with your lawyer, because dockets can change.

What If You Are Not Getting Updates?

1. Put your questions in writing. Send a short email listing exactly what you want to know and ask for a call or meeting time.
2. Check whether there is genuinely no news. Cases often wait on the court calendar, a lab, or the prosecutor. Even then, your lawyer should be able to tell you what you are waiting for and when to expect it.
3. Raise the concern directly. Rule 1.4(a)(4) requires prompt compliance with reasonable requests for information. Most communication problems are resolved with one candid conversation.
4. Consider a second opinion or other options. Changing counsel mid-case can affect timing, including speedy-trial calculations, so discuss it carefully.
5. Use the regulatory process if needed. The Colorado Supreme Court’s Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel accepts requests for investigation about lawyer conduct. Note that it says it receives many requests about conduct that does not violate the rules, and it cannot give you legal advice.

How the Law Office of H. Michael Steinberg Approaches Client Communication

H. Michael Steinberg has practiced Colorado criminal defense for over forty years, including thirteen years as a career prosecutor in Arapahoe and Douglas counties before founding his own firm in 1999. The firm’s approach is built on open and honest communication:

Mr. Steinberg maintains regular contact with clients so that each one stays updated on his or her case, and he encourages you to call him directly when you need to talk quickly about a fast-moving investigation or charge.

The firm defends the full range of state criminal charges, including domestic violence, DUI and DWAI, sex crimes, drug crimes, theft and assault cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should my criminal defense lawyer contact me?

Colorado’s rules do not set a fixed number. Colo. RPC 1.4 requires that you be kept reasonably informed and that your reasonable requests for information be answered promptly. Expect to hear about significant developments such as new filings, hearings, discovery and plea offers, and expect answers when you ask.

Does my lawyer have to tell me about every plea offer?

As a general rule, yes, for formal offers. In Missouri v. Frye, the U.S. Supreme Court held that defense counsel generally has a duty to communicate formal plea offers. Whether to accept one is your decision under Colo. RPC 1.2(a).

Can I see all of the discovery in my case?

Often your lawyer will review it with you, but court rules or orders may limit whether you may keep copies. Ask your lawyer how discovery will be shared in your case.

What if my lawyer says there is no news?

Sometimes a case is waiting on the court calendar, a lab, or the prosecutor. Even then, your lawyer should be able to tell you what is pending and when to expect movement.

Is what I tell my lawyer confidential?

Generally, yes. Colo. RPC 1.6 and the privilege in C.R.S. § 13-90-107(1)(b) protect those communications, subject to limited exceptions. Keep the details of your case private from others so you do not put that protection at risk.

How can I find my next court date?

You can use the Colorado Judicial Branch docket search, then confirm the date with your lawyer, since schedules can change.

Talk to a Colorado Criminal Defense Lawyer Who Keeps You Informed

Free consultation. Call the main office or reach Mr. Steinberg directly.

Main: 303-627-7777  |  Cell: 720-220-2277

Request Your Free Consultation

The Edwards Building, 8400 E Prentice Ave Penthouse 1500
Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Please do not send confidential details through the contact form, text or voicemail.

Authorities and Sources

• Colo. RPC 1.4, Communication
• Colo. RPC 1.2, Scope of Representation and Allocation of Authority (PDF)
• Colo. RPC 1.6, Confidentiality of Information (PDF)
• C.R.S. § 18-1-405, Speedy trial
• C.R.S. § 13-90-107, Who may not testify without consent
• Colo. Crim. P. 16, Discovery and Procedure Before Trial
• Dawson v. People (Colo. 2001), Crim. P. 11 advisement
• Missouri v. Frye, 566 U.S. 134 (2012)
• Lafler v. Cooper, 566 U.S. 156 (2012)
• Padilla v. Kentucky, 559 U.S. 356 (2010)
• Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984)
• Colorado Judicial Branch docket search
• Colorado Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel

This article is general information about Colorado law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws and court rules change, and every case is different. Consult a licensed Colorado attorney about your situation. See the firm’s full disclaimer. Visit the Colorado Criminal Lawyer Blog for more articles or return to hmichaelsteinberg.com.