On Friday, May 16, 2025, the Presiding Disciplinary Judge of the Supreme Court of Colorado approved a stipulation to discipline Attorney Robert Paul Houton. Houton received a six-month suspension, fully stayed pending successful completion of a two-year probation period with conditions.
The case is entitled “People v. Robert Paul Houton,” with case no. 25PDJ35.
The charges cited Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct 1.3, 1.4(2)-(4), 1.16(a)(d), and 1.16A(c)(1).
Houton, working as a contractor for the Colorado Office of Alternative Defense Counsel (ADC) in September 2017, was appointed to represent a client seeking postconviction relief in a criminal case. During an initial meeting, he advised the client that investigating the claims could be time-consuming and requested no calls from the client.
In April 2018, after obtaining the client’s file, Houton filed a status report with the court, asking for 180 days to complete his investigation and submit supplemental motions. No further filings were made.
By 2021, the client, receiving no updates, attempted to contact Houton, but got no response. In January 2023, an advocate reached out to Houton on the client’s behalf and notified the ADC. That month, Houton contacted the client and, during a May 2023 video visit, stated he would not file a supplemental petition, finding no additional material. He failed to update the court with a status report.
Around that time, Houton joined a public defender’s office, a role incompatible with continuing the representation. He did not inform the court or client of this change and failed to withdraw from the case. In August 2023, a burglary at Houton’s home resulted in the theft of his laptop, which held the client’s file. Lacking a backup, all case-related information was lost.
Houton’s actions violated multiple Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct, including duties of diligence, communication, withdrawal, and file retention.
According to Avvo.com, Mr. Houton is an attorney in Denver, Colorado. He acquired his law license in Colorado in 2011.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
