The Arapahoe County Board of Commissioners has offered tentative support to a House bill that would split up the 18th Judicial District, giving Arapahoe County its own district attorney.

“A split judicial district would better reflect our changing demographics and growing population, and it would increase the efficiency of the services we can deliver,” said Commissioner Nancy Sharpe, the board chair. “By having until 2024 to implement the plan, we’d be able to work with all stakeholders to address individual needs and requests in ways that would have the best collective benefit to all interested parties.”

The 18th Judicial District has a population of over 1 million residents, which is far higher than the next-most-populous district. In addition to Arapahoe County, the district covers Elbert, Lincoln and Douglas counties. There has not been a new judicial district in the state in over 50 years.

House Bill 20-1026 would need to pass with a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly. The earliest that the new judicial district, the 23rd, would begin is 2025.

“By doing it this year, this way, we provide an ample amount of time for the state Judicial Department and the counties involved to make the necessary changes in a phased, manageable way,” said Rep. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, according to the Aurora Sentinel. “I think ultimately the result will be a more efficient administration of justice for everybody in all four of the counties, and I am happy to be able to do this in a bipartisan way.”

Correction: This story previously stated a vote of the people is required to approve the district split; it is not.