Chapter 9: Commission Review of Initial Decisions and Exceptions 
9.1.	Written Form, Filing Requirements, and Service

A.	All pleadings must be in written form, mailed with a certificate of service to the Commission.

B.	All pleadings must be filed with the Commission on the date the filing is due. A pleading is considered filed upon receipt by the Commission. Chapter 9 of these Rules does not provide for any additional time for service by mail. 

C.	All pleadings must be filed with the Commission and not with the Office of Administrative Courts. Any pleadings filed in error with the Office of Administrative Courts will not be considered. The Commission’s address is:

Colorado Real Estate Commission
1560 Broadway, Suite 925
Denver, CO 80202

D.	All pleadings must be served on the opposing party on the date which the pleading is filed with the Commission. Electronic service between the parties is encouraged. The date and manner must be noted on the certificate of service.

9.2.	Initial Decision

Upon receipt of the initial decision prepared and filed by the Administrative Law Judge from the Office of Administrative Courts, the Division will timely mail a copy of the initial decision to the parties at their respective addresses of record with the Commission pursuant to section 24-4-105(16)(a), C.R.S. 

9.3.	Commission’s Authority to Review the Initial Decision

Pursuant to section 24-4-105(14)(a)(II), C.R.S., the Commission may initiate a review of an initial decision on its own motion within thirty (30) days of the date on which the Division mails the initial decision to the parties. A letter from the Division initiating the review of the initial decision constitutes a motion within the meaning of section 24-4-105(14)(a)(II), C.R.S.

9.4.	Appeal of the Initial Decision by the Parties

A.	Any party wishing to reverse or modify an initial decision of an Administrative Law Judge must file written exceptions with the Commission in accordance with the procedures and time frames as set forth in Rule 9.5.

B.	If neither party appeals the initial decision by filing exceptions, the initial decision will become the final order of the Commission after thirty (30) days from the date on which the Division mails the initial decision pursuant to section 24-4-105(14)(b)(III), C.R.S. Failure to file exceptions will result in a waiver of the right to judicial review of the final order of the Commission unless the portion of the final order subject to review differs from the contents of the initial decision pursuant to section 24-4-105(14)(c), C.R.S.

9.5.	Filing of Exceptions 

A.	Pursuant to section 24-4-105(15)(a), C.R.S., any party seeking to file exceptions must initially file with the Commission a designation of the relevant parts of the record and of parts of the transcript of the hearing within twenty (20) days of the date on which the Division mails the initial decision to the parties.  

B.	Transcripts:

Any party may designate the entire transcript, or may identify witness(es) whose testimony is to be transcribed, the legal ruling or argument to be transcribed, or other information necessary to identify a portion of the transcript. However, no transcript is required if the Commission’s review is limited to pure questions of law. The deadline for filing exceptions depends on whether either of the parties designates a portion of the transcript. 

1.	If the parties do not designate parts of the transcript, exceptions are due within thirty (30) days from the date on which the Division mails the initial decision to the parties. Both parties’ exceptions are due on the same day. 

2.	Any party wishing to designate all, or any part, of the transcript must adhere to the following procedures:

a.	Transcripts will not be deemed part of a designation unless specifically identified and ordered.

b.	If one party designates a portion of the transcript, the other party may file a supplemental designation in which that party may designate additional portions of the transcript. The supplemental designation must be filed with the Commission and served on the other party within ten (10) days after the date on which the original designation was filed.

c.	Any party who designates a transcript must order the transcript by the date on which they file their designation with the Commission whether they are filing an original or supplemental designation.

d.	The party ordering a transcript must direct the court reporter or transcribing service to complete and file with the Commission the original transcript and one (1) copy within thirty (30) days of their order.

e.	The party that designates a transcript must pay for such transcripts.

f.	Transcripts that are ordered and not filed with the Commission in a timely manner due to non-payment, insufficient payment, or failure to direct as set forth above may not be considered by the Commission.

g.	Upon receipt of transcripts identified in all designations and supplemental designations, the Commission will mail a notification to the parties stating that the transcripts have been received by the Commission. 

h.	Exceptions are due within thirty (30) days from the date on which such notification is mailed. Both parties’ exceptions are due on the same date.

C.	A party’s exceptions must include specific objections to the initial decision.

D.	Either party may file a response to the other party’s exceptions. All responses must be filed within ten (10) days of the date on which the exceptions were filed with the Commission. Subsequent replies will not be considered except for good cause shown.

E.	The Commission may in its sole discretion grant an extension of time to file exceptions or responses, or may delegate the discretion to grant such an extension of time to the Commission’s designee.

9.6.	Request for Oral Arguments 

A.	All requests for oral argument must be in writing and included with a party’s exceptions or response.

B.	It is within the sole discretion of the Commission to grant or deny a request for oral argument. The Commission generally does not grant requests for oral argument. If an oral argument is granted, each party will have ten (10) minutes to present their argument. Questioning by members of the Commission will not count against the allocated ten (10) minutes.

C.	The Commission or its designee may extend the time for oral arguments upon good cause shown.

9.7.	Final Orders

A.	The Commission may deliberate and vote on exceptions immediately following oral arguments or the Commission may take the matter under advisement.

B.	When the Commission votes on exceptions, whether after oral arguments or at a subsequent Commission meeting, the ruling of the Commission will not be considered final until a written order is issued.

C.	The date of the Commission’s final order is the date on which the written order is signed, irrespective of any motions for reconsideration that are filed.