Arapahoe County Department of Human Services, Petitioner v. the People of the State of Colorado in the Interest Of…

Summary

The court held that a non-party’s standing to appeal differs from a party’s standing to bring suit. A non-party may appeal when the lower court’s order substantially grievances it by denying a claim of right or imposing a substantial burden or obligation, and the Department’s allegation that the order required it to act unlawfully was sufficient under that standard. The court reversed the court of appeals and remanded for application of the correct standing analysis and consideration of remaining threshold issues.