Alumni in Focus

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Injy Johnstone LLM ‘20

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 17:14:08 +0000

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Injy Johnstone LLM ‘20 Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 08/16/2023 - 11:14

Emily Battaglia

As the fall semester approaches, Colorado Law is proud to highlight some of our incredible Master of Laws (LLM) alumni. The LLM program fully immerses students in Colorado Law and offers inclusive access to programming, courses/modules, and the greater ��«��Ƶ campus. LLM students have unique and diverse backgrounds and experiences that enrich our community of scholars and students, while advancing Colorado Law’s intellectual leadership across the globe.

In this inaugural edition, we learn more about Injy Johnstone ‘20. Prior to pursuing her LLM degree, Johnstone worked for the New Zealand Government on their Net Zero legislation. She was inspired to pursue an LLM because of the opportunity it provided to learn from and exchange with a much broader legal community than in her home country. Since her time at Colorado Law, Johnstone has taken the insights she learned to become a better advocate for the global response to climate change.

In this interview, we learn more about Johnstone’s time here in ��«��Ƶ and where her career has taken her since graduation.

Hi Injy – thank you so much for chatting. To kick us off, I would love to know, what was your favorite part of attending Colorado Law?

IJ: The Colorado Law community! From the professors to fellow students, you’re made to feel right at home and in a position where you can explore all manner of endeavours and opportunities.

Where are you living and working currently? How has your LLM degree helped you in your profession so far?

IJ: I’m currently living in London and work for the University of Oxford as a Research Associate in Net-Zero Aligned Offsetting while finishing up my PhD in New Zealand.

My LLM has helped me realize the international interconnections intrinsic within environmental law, particularly climate change law and the rich opportunities there are for cross-pollination between jurisdictions. More specifically, in my current role, it has helped immensely with navigating the emerging legal landscape associated with carbon removal, given that the U.S. is at the forefront of it.

That sounds fascinating! What a great way to use your degree. What advice would you give incoming LLM students?

IJ: Throw yourself into any and all opportunities that come your way during your LLM (and there will be many). As LLMs, we have the same opportunities to get involved in the full programming at the law school which can enrich your life professionally, and personally too.

Thank you so much for answering my questions, Injy. My final question is much less career related --what are your hobbies outside of work?

IJ: Exploring the beautiful world around us, to learn how to better protect it. That and seeking out the best coffee spots or music gigs!

As the fall semester approaches, Colorado Law is proud to highlight some of our incredible Master of Laws (LLM) alumni. In this inaugural edition, we learn more about Injy Johnstone ‘20.

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Kyle Hybl ’96 and Ryan Haygood ’01 Honored by Board of Regents

Anonymous — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 23:01:10 +0000

Kyle Hybl ’96 and Ryan Haygood ’01 Honored by Board of Regents Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 03/29/2022 - 17:01

Two University of Colorado Law School alumni—Kyle Hybl '96 and Ryan Haygood '01—are among an esteemed group recognized by the University of Colorado Board of Regents for their outstanding achievements.

Kyle Hybl

Hybl is the recipient of an Honorary Degree, which recognizes outstanding achievement in one or more of the following areas: intellectual contributions, university service, philanthropy, and/or public service. He serves as president and chief executive officer for El Pomar Foundation and vice president of The Garden City Company. A regent emeritus and chair emeritus of the CU Board of Regents, on which he served from 2007 until 2018, Hybl currently serves as chairman of the National Cybersecurity Center, Corporate Secretary for Junior Achievement USA, and on the boards of the American Council of Young Political Leaders, Employers Council, and Exponential Impact. He is a founding member of the UCCS Development Corporation, senior strategic adviser to the UCCS chancellor, and served as co-chair of the Ent Center for the Arts capital campaign. The El Pomar Foundation has provided grants to CU totaling over $20 million; Hybl also is a longtime personal donor to the university. He earned bachelor’s and Juris Doctor degrees from CU ��«��Ƶ and is a former Air Force captain and judge advocate.

Ryan Haygood

Haygood received the Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes those persons whose achievements and contributions are particularly associated with the state and/or nation. A nationally respected civil rights lawyer, Haygood serves as president and CEO of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, where he leads a majority-women of color team of racial justice advocates whose cutting-edge work seeks to build reparative systems that create wealth, justice, and power for Black, Latina/Latino and other people of color in New Jersey. In 2021, Colorado Law honored Haygood with its award for Distinguished Achievement—Special Recognition for Outstanding Leadership in Civil Rights.

Under Haygood’s leadership, the institute’s advocacy led to the historic restoration of the vote to 83,000 people on parole and probation; automatic and online voter registration; ending prison-based gerrymandering for state legislative redistricting; a $15 minimum wage; the reporting of COVID-19 racial data; and New Jersey becoming the first state to test all its incarcerated youth for COVID-19. Before leading the institute, Haygood served as deputy director of litigation at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc., where he litigated key civil rights cases. Haygood earned his JD from the University of Colorado School of Law and bachelor’s in American History and Political Science cum laude from Colorado College.

Read the full announcement.

Two University of Colorado Law School alumni—Kyle Hybl ’96 and Ryan Haygood ’01—are among an esteemed group recognized by the University of Colorado Board of Regents for their outstanding achievements.

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The Uplifter

Anonymous — Tue, 11 May 2021 21:22:50 +0000

The Uplifter Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 05/11/2021 - 15:22

Julia Roth

Velveta Golightly-Howell (’81) has achieved many firsts throughout her life. She was among the first group of Black students to integrate the Alabama public school system at age 12, and then among the first Black students admitted to the University of Alabama undergraduate and law schools. She went on to become the first in her family to attend law school and was the eighth female American descendent of slavery to earn a Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado Law School.

Golightly-Howell continued to break barriers throughout her career. After being appointed by Denver District Attorney Dale Tooley, she became Colorado’s first Black female prosecutor. She was the third Black attorney employed at the Denver City Attorney’s Office and the first attorney of color hired at an international labor organization, where she practiced labor and employment law.

At the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the General Counsel for the Rocky Mountain Region, where she was selected as the first Black female lawyer and only the second African American, she became the first attorney of color to receive the office’s highest recognition for exceptional performance.

In 2020, Golightly-Howell became the second Black recipient of the Colorado Women’s Bar Association’s Mary Lathrop Trailblazer Award. Most recently, she became the first Colorado Law alumna to be inducted to the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame, recognizing a lifetime of service, mentorship, and professional success.

Growing up in Alabama in the 1960s, Golightly-Howell experienced the perverse effects of racial discrimination. While she felt supported and loved in her all-Black community of church, family, and neighbors, she was also acutely aware of the deep-seated racism throughout the U.S. Heeding her wise parents’ advice—“Where opportunity does not exist, create it”—she sought to open doors for herself and others.

Inspired by her own mentor and lifelong friend, legendary attorney Brooke Wunnicke (’45), Golightly-Howell has mentored hundreds of law students, young attorneys, and other young professionals. She first experienced the power of mentorship during the second semester of her 2L year, when she accepted a one-year, paid internship with the Denver District Attorney’s Office. She and three white male Colorado Law classmates worked under the tutelage of Wunnicke, Colorado’s first female appellate chief deputy and barrier breaker herself.

"Brooke role-modeled how you treat people and how you carry yourself. She modeled for us how to be a reputable lawyer—one whom judges respect and colleagues trust,” Golightly-Howell said.

Many others have encouraged and made space for Golightly-Howell along the way, including law school classmates Hon. Claudia Jordan (’80), who encouraged her to apply for the internship with the Denver DA, and Hon. Bill Ritter (’81), who served as an intern alongside her and with whom she remains friends.

Golightly-Howell has found particular joy in helping students and attorneys of color navigate the ins and outs of law school, the legal profession, and life. She’s sought to create the community that she wished she’d had in law school as a first-generation law student and newcomer to Colorado.

“For me, my path and purpose were revealed when I was 6 years old,” she said. “My purpose is to open the door for others to come through."

“For me, my path and purpose were revealed when I was 6 years old. My purpose is to open the door for others to come through."

Whether they are formally matched with Golightly-Howell through Colorado Law’s mentorship program or meet more informally, students know they can turn to her for guidance on professional and personal matters.“I met Ms. Velveta at a mixer with alumni and incoming 1Ls. She walked right up to me and gave me her business card and started talking to me,” said Rosaline Martinez (’22).

“I had only been in Colorado for a week at the time and was feeling really vulnerable. It was nice to be approached by someone who took an active interest in me and was really kind."

As they started talking, they realized they had a lot in common. They were both born in Alabama, had similar backgrounds, and came to Colorado Law as first-generation law students. Within a few weeks, Martinez and her roommate attended dinner at Golightly-Howell’s home with her family.

“We were both strangers in a strange land—she knew exactly how I felt,” Martinez said. “I did not know many lawyers before law school. Having someone like her welcome me with open arms into her family was very helpful. It was really nice to feel cared about.”

Velveta Golightly-Howell (’81), Brooke Wunnicke (’45), and John Howell, Golightly-Howell’s partner for more than 40 years.

José García-Madrid (’22) recalls meeting Golightly-Howell at a 1L orientation event. “Velveta was one of the few nonstudent, nonfaculty members,” he said. “Because she is a woman of color, I wanted to talk to her. In the first 5 minutes she told me she had a get-together at her house planned for students and invited me.”

Naomi King (’21) was matched with Golightly-Howell through the mentorship program as a 2L. Even after the official 12-month commitment, they kept in touch and talk regularly.

“When we first met, she was very forthright. She said, ‘I’m here to really see you grow. Let’s get to know each other for real.’ That is what I signed up for: a real, authentic connection—someone I could be candid with,” King said.

Golightly-Howell’s counsel to students runs the gamut from how to stand out as a summer associate, navigating different legal careers, advocating for oneself, and balancing parenthood with a successful legal career. She also introduces students to her vast network of attorneys throughout the state.

“Vel is so generous with her space and resources. The last time I was at her house, she invited another attorney and his wife to have brunch with us. She wanted to make sure we connected with him,” García-Madrid said. “She really understands community. It’s especially critical to build community among lawyers of color.”

Golightly-Howell is also an important part of the system of support for students of color, García-Madrid said. Last summer, students turned to her for support and conversations around systemic racism in the U.S. She served as a sounding board for the student-led Council for Racial Justice and Equity, created by student leaders to supplement Dean Anaya’s Anti-Racism and Representation Initiative.

“It was so valuable talking with her about this festering wound in our country, and hearing about her lived experience of fighting racism her whole life,” King said. “I appreciated having those conversations with her about the decades of work it took to get to this point and how it can be reversed so easily. Velveta inspires me to speak up and take action.”

Student leaders have learned from Golightly-Howell’s example of uplifting others and sharing the spotlight.

"Learning from Vel about community and how to support each other has really helped us in our work on the Council for Racial Justice and Equity,” García-Madrid said. Equally important, he added, is pointing out other students doing the work who may not be as vocal about it.

“Velveta’s example has encouraged us to share the spotlight and help others build up their leadership,” he said. “We feel it’s a duty we owe to people like Velveta.”

Making space for others

Golightly-Howell is passionate about increasing access for people from marginalized groups in government work, particularly where they have a seat at the table for important decisions that affect national and international policies and legal processes. At the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights, she worked to recruit a diverse staff that represented many racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, and religious groups.

“I felt that when you had a multiplicity of different minds, lived and professional experiences, and aptitudes that are committed to working towards a mission and purpose, you’re going to come up with much better decisions and much broader impact at the organization,” she said.

She’s also worked to increase access for law students in government work. While serving as the director at the Office of Civil Rights for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C., Golightly-Howell contacted Alexia McCaskill, senior director for professional development, to partner on an internship program for Colorado Law students.

“That was Vel’s way of opening up access to students within that office. She is always thinking about ways that she can support Colorado Law students, and particularly students who have identities that are underrepresented in the profession,” McCaskill said.

Even with increased efforts by law schools and firms to increase diversity, many Black attorneys don’t feel good about their experiences, Golightly-Howell said. Through her mentorship, advocacy, and engagement, she aims to instill the same sense of confidence and belief in oneself that her family, teachers, and community instilled in her.

“I remind them, ‘You can do whatever you want to do as long as you work hard for it,’” she said. “I remind them to keep their faith.”

“As a Black woman, she knows the importance of having people that make way and make space for you in a profession that doesn’t sometimes or oftentimes reflect you,” said McCaskill, who oversees the mentorship program. “She has a very keen understanding of the importance of students, regardless of their identities and backgrounds, having someone they can go to to ask questions of and feel supported by, and who can create for them a sense of belonging. She’s always thinking of how she can help people belong and be that resource.”

In between mentoring students, Golightly-Howell serves on the Law Alumni Board, where she is involved in efforts to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion at Colorado Law and recruit students from marginalized backgrounds. This January, she launched Sister-to-Sister: International Network of Professional African American Women Inc., a nonprofit that serves as a network for professional Black women and provides communal spaces, education, training, mentoring, and other offerings. The nonprofit builds on the Colorado Sister-to-Sister group Golightly-Howell founded nearly three decades ago, which has connected hundreds of women in and outside the U.S.

It all goes back to Golightly-Howell’s lifelong commitment to bringing people together, building up their confidence and self-esteem, and nurturing relationships with others.

“I jokingly say that even though Velveta is a mentor in a program I run, she finds these ways to mentor and support me,” McCaskill said. “It’s who she is. It’s intentional the way she supports and engages, but not forced or studied. It’s what comes to her naturally. It always seems to arrive at just the right time.”

If you are interested in mentoring a Colorado Law student, please contact Alexia McCaskill at alexia.mccaskill@colorado.edu

Velveta Golightly-Howell (’81) has achieved many firsts throughout her life. Today, she is helping a new generation of Colorado Law students find their voice.

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New Awards to Recognize Alumni for Mentorship, Diversity and Inclusion

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 17:32:54 +0000

New Awards to Recognize Alumni for Mentorship, Diversity and Inclusion Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 02/24/2021 - 10:32

Julia Roth

Two new Dean’s Choice Awards established by the University of Colorado Law School’s Law Alumni Board will recognize alumni for their mentorship of other attorneys and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The new awards, each named for a distinguished Colorado Law alumnus, are the Brooke Wunnicke Outstanding Mentor Award and the Sonny Flowers Award.

The Brooke Wunnicke Outstanding Mentor Award recognizes alumni who are honored attorneys at law for ethical trial, appellate, or business practice and who have maintained an extraordinary ability to mentor and convey this dedication to other lawyers.

Brooke Wunnicke ('45)

Wunnicke, a 1945 graduate of Colorado Law, was a legal legend. She resided in Wyoming for many years and conducted jury trials when women were not legally allowed to sit on juries. She was the first woman to serve in Colorado as the Chief Appellate Deputy in the Denver District Attorney’s Office. Through her many years of dedicated service to the legal profession as a trial and appellate attorney, business advisor, mentor, adjunct professor, consultant, and published author, Wunnicke earned the distinction as one of Colorado’s most honored legal professionals.

During her 12 years as Chief Appellate Deputy and her many years in private practice, Wunnicke mentored many young lawyers and law students to educate them on how to address the everyday challenges in the practice of law. Her "graduates" included one former Colorado governor, six district attorneys, and four recipients of Colorado Law distinguished alumnus awards.

"Brooke was the most extraordinary lawyer I ever knew. The depth and breadth in which she practiced our profession with great skill emanated from her deep love of the law and an understanding of its profound importance in our society. One of her most remarkable skills was the ability to pass that deep love and understanding on to newer lawyers through her selfless mentoring. Many of us would not have the careers we enjoy if it had not been for Brooke," said Law Alumni Board member and immediate past chair of the nominating committee Mark Fogg (’79).

The Sonny Flowers Award recognizes alumni who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion among the law school and legal profession, specifically including the advancement of individuals from underrepresented groups.

W. Harold "Sonny" Flowers Jr. ('71)

Flowers, who graduated from Colorado Law in 1971, was a litigator with Hurth, Sisk & Blakemore LLP in ��«��Ƶ. An integral part of the University of Colorado Law School and CU ��«��Ƶ communities for the last 50 years, Flowers served as a champion for diversity at Colorado Law. He traveled the state to recruit students of color, helped to establish CU ��«��Ƶ’s Black Alumni Association, and created an endowed scholarship for students of color at both Colorado Law and the University of Denver. Flowers died in July 2020.

Flowers' service to the Colorado legal community included the presidencies of the Sam Cary Bar Association, the ��«��Ƶ County Bar Association, and the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association’s executive committee. He was a past president of the American Board of Trial Advocates, an invitation-only membership group of trial lawyers who represent both civil defendants and plaintiffs, and the American Association for Justice, where he served on its executive committee and board of governors. He also served as vice president of the Colorado Bar Association and the National Bar Association.

Over the decades he served the University of Colorado as president of the Alumni Association’s board of directors, chair of the Colorado Law Alumni Board, member of the CU Foundation board, and mentor of Black student-athletes. In 2016, he was recognized with the Alumni Association’s George Norlin Award. In 2020, he received Colorado Law’s Distinguished Achievement Award—Solo/Small Firm Practitioner.

"Sonny had the character that lawyers should aspire to. We tried an extremely difficult, emotional case against each other in the early 1990s with a lot of media attention. I emerged from that case with a deep respect for, and friendship with, Sonny. You intuitively trusted him and he always interacted with warmth and compassion. We need more lawyers like him," Fogg said.

The inaugural Sonny Flowers Award will be awarded at the 2021 Alumni Awards Celebration to the Hon. Gary Jackson (’70).

These new awards join two existing Dean’s Choice Awards, the Dean Edward C. King Making a Difference Award and the Richard Schaden Adopted Alumnus Award. Each award is given at the annual Alumni Awards Banquet at the dean’s discretion.

Two new Dean’s Choice Awards established by the University of Colorado Law School’s Law Alumni Board—the Brooke Wunnicke Outstanding Mentor Award and the Sonny Flowers Award—will recognize alumni for their mentorship of other attorneys and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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Honorees Announced for 40th Annual Colorado Law Alumni Awards Celebration

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Feb 2021 18:39:57 +0000

Honorees Announced for 40th Annual Colorado Law Alumni Awards Celebration Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 02/17/2021 - 11:39

Julia Roth

The University of Colorado Law School will celebrate eight alumni and friends at its 40th annual awards celebration on Thursday, June 17, 2021. The ceremony will be held virtually.

The Colorado Law Alumni Awards recognize distinguished alumni and friends for their contributions to the legal profession, service to their communities, and dedication to the law school. Proceeds from this year’s event benefit the Dean’s Fund for Excellence, which supports Colorado Law’s areas of strategic importance, including the Anti-Racism and Representation Initiative, and the Law Alumni Scholarship Fund, which supports scholarships awarded annually to students who have demonstrated academic achievement, financial need, and service to the law school community.

With the exception of the Dean’s Choice Awards, honorees were nominated by their peers and selected by the Law Alumni Board.

Registration for the virtual ceremony will open in March. Members of the media are invited to attend and should RSVP to Julia Roth at julia.roth@colorado.edu.

Learn more about the Colorado Law Alumni Awards Celebration, including details on sponsorship opportunities and ticket sales, at colorado.edu/law/awards or email jill.white@colorado.edu.

We are pleased to honor the following individuals this year:

William Lee Knous Award

Daniel A. Vigil ('82)

Read Bio

Daniel A. Vigil graduated from the University of Colorado Law School in 1982. He clerked for a Denver District Court judge and then went into private practice. In 1984, he began teaching at the University of Colorado Law School. He later became an associate dean at the law school. Vigil has taught Criminal Law, Legal Method, Legal Writing, Appellate Advocacy, and Professional Responsibility at Colorado Law and Water Law and Legal Profession at DU Law. In 1998 he received the University of Colorado Law School’s Alumni Award for Distinguished Achievement in Education. In 2003 Vigil left the University of Colorado Law School and began teaching at the Sturm College of Law, where he currently holds the title of assistant dean emeritus.

Vigil is a member of the Colorado Supreme Court Advisory Committee, a former commissioner of the Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Commission on the Legal Profession, and a former trustee for the Colorado Supreme Court Attorney Fund for Client Protection. He was also a member of the Colorado Supreme Court Judicial Advisory Council. He is a past president of the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association and a former chairman of the Colorado Lottery Commission. He served many years as a member of the board of directors of Colorado Legal Services, 10 of those years as chairman. Vigil is a past president of the ��«��Ƶ County Bar Foundation and a former chairman of the Legal Education and Admissions Committee of the Colorado Bar Association. Vigil has served two terms on the Colorado Bar Association Board of Governors, and one term on its executive committee. In 2007 Vigil was recognized by the Colorado Supreme Court for outstanding contribution and service to the citizens of Colorado, the legal profession, and the Colorado Supreme Court. In 2008 the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association awarded him its Lifetime Achievement Award, the association’s highest honor. Vigil was voted Outstanding Administrator of the Year in 2012 by DU Denver Law Students.

Vigil has presented numerous lectures, speeches, and continuing legal education programs throughout the state and nation.

Vigil served in the U.S. Army in 1970-1971. He was honorably discharged and awarded the National Defense Medal.

Distinguished Achievement—Public Sector

Jacki Cooper Melmed ('03)

Read Bio

Jacki Cooper Melmed currently serves as chief legal counsel for Gov. Jared Polis. She held the same position for Gov. John Hickenlooper from 2015 through 2019. As a member of the governor’s executive management team, she works closely with the governor and other executive staff members to manage state government, plan the strategic direction of the administration, and design key initiatives. She also oversees the governor’s legal team, who advise the governor, senior staff, and cabinet on a number of legal issues. Cooper Melmed’s key responsibilities include managing litigation and other legal matters in partnership with the attorney general, serving as ethics counsel for the administration, overseeing judicial appointments, and representing the governor on matters ranging from labor relations to criminal justice reform to Indian affairs.

Before working for state government, Cooper Melmed practiced law at Shoemaker Ghiselli + Schwartz in ��«��Ƶ, Colorado, and Hogan & Hartson in Denver, Colorado, and served as a law clerk for Colorado Supreme Court Justice Michael Bender. She attended law school at the ��«��Ƶ, where she was editor-in-chief of the Colorado Law Review.

Cooper Melmed also holds a master’s degree in English literature and film from the University of Chicago, and bachelor’s degrees in English and French from the University of Michigan.

Cooper Melmed is an avid hiker and skier and enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her husband and, when allowed, two adult sons.

Distinguished Achievement—Education

Whiting Dimock ('96)

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Whiting Dimock graduated from the University of Colorado Law School in 1996, and returned to the school to serve as senior assistant dean of students in 2010. In this role, Dimock has worked with students and colleagues on efforts to maximize student retention and success with a particular focus on traditionally underrepresented student populations. Her work includes service on the admissions committee to ensure that the holistic review of applications reflects current student experiences.

Dimock's previous experience includes practicing law and working in personnel management at large law firms in Washington, D.C., as well as serving as a career transition advisor for lawyers.

Following graduation from Colorado Law, Dimock worked for seven years as an associate at two major law firms in Washington, D.C. First, for Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, where she focused primarily on corporate and securities matters for clients in the financial services industry, and then at Dow Lohnes PLLC where she specialized in mergers and acquisitions in the communications and high tech industries. Dimock subsequently worked as a vice president at Trammell Crow Company, an international commercial real estate services firm, where she had transactional and personnel management responsibilities, and at Nixon Peabody LLP, where she was responsible for recruiting, integrating, training, coaching, evaluating, mentoring, advising, and facilitating departures of legal personnel.

Immediately prior to her appointment as the senior assistant dean of students, Dimock worked as a senior career advisor at Shannon & Manch, LLP, a Washington, D.C.-based consulting firm, where she specialized in attorney career development and talent management issues, working intensively with attorneys and law students in career transition and also in a consultative role to law firms, advising members of firm leadership on issues that impact productivity, attorney evaluation processes and compensation systems.

Dimock holds a JD from the University of Colorado Law School, a BA from Williams College, and has completed coursework in the Organizational Counseling MS program at The Johns Hopkins University.

Distinguished Achievement—Private Practice

Carolyn Fairless ('98)

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Carolyn Fairless is the co-managing partner of the national civil litigation firm, Wheeler Trigg O'Donnell LLP. Fairless has been called "a lawyer's lawyer," as she has successfully defended some of the nation's leading law firms and lawyers in high-stakes legal malpractice matters throughout the country. A frequent presenter on topics involving legal ethics, Fairless has tried more than 20 trials and arbitrations to verdict or award, with outstanding results for her clients.

Rankings organizations and directories such as Chambers USA, Benchmark Litigation, and Colorado Super Lawyers have consistently recognized Fairless at the top of her field, based on input from clients, colleagues, and peers in the industry.

In 2019, Fairless was inducted as a Fellow into the American College of Trial Lawyers, an elite network of the top trial lawyers in the country.

Fairless earned her JD from the University of Colorado Law School in 1998. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science, with a minor in mathematics, from Tulane University. Prior to entering law, Fairless served as a computer analyst at IBM.

Distinguished Achievement—Small/Solo Practitioner

Tyrone Glover ('09)

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Tyrone Glover is a seasoned trial lawyer representing clients in civil rights, criminal defense, and employment matters. The son of parents and grandparents who fought hard for equality and justice long before these principles were universally guaranteed, Glover regularly handles high-stakes cases in both state and federal courts, achieving favorable outcomes for his clients.

A born fighter who became an internationally top-ranked Brazilian Jiu Jitsu blackbelt and an undefeated professional mixed martial artist, he has taken his fight to the courts, protecting and defending the rights and interests of his clients. He is a strong advocate with an inherent ability to maintain focus and a sense of calm in chaotic situations.

Glover’s legal career began at the Colorado Public Defender’s Office, where he was a trial lawyer serving underprivileged people of Denver who were charged with crimes. He earned the prestigious “Bootcamp Lawyer of the Year” recognition in 2012. In 2015, he was recognized as the Sam Cary Bar Association Young Lawyer of the Year. Since then, Glover has been consistently recognized as a top lawyer in Colorado, securing many favorable outcomes for his clients, including a recent $4.5 million-dollar verdict. Since leaving the public defender’s office, Glover worked in private practice handling criminal defense and civil rights litigation. He has tried over 40 jury trials throughout the state. A leader amongst his peers, he is the 2021-22 Denver Bar Association president.

Distinguished Achievement—Special Recognition

Ryan Haygood ('01)

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Ryan P. Haygood is a nationally respected civil rights lawyer. As president and CEO of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, he leads a majority-women of color team of racial justice advocates whose cutting-edge work – powered by grassroots organizing, research, writing, policy and legislative advocacy, and litigation – seeks to build reparative systems that create wealth, justice and power for Black, Latina/Latino, and other people of color in New Jersey.

Under Haygood’s leadership, the institute’s advocacy led to the historic restoration of the vote to 83,000 people on parole and probation, a right New Jersey previously denied since 1844; automatic and online voter registration; ending prison-based gerrymandering for state legislative redistricting; a $15 minimum wage; the reporting of COVID-19 racial data; and New Jersey becoming the first state to test all of its incarcerated youth for COVID-19.

The institute’s advocacy also led to the historic announcement that two of New Jersey’s youth prisons would close; community engagement in the development of 15 policing reforms in Newark; an independent state prosecutor for cases involving police misconduct; and the introduction of the first-of-its-kind bill for a reparations task force in New Jersey.

Prior to leading the institute, Haygood served as deputy director of litigation at the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), where he worked for more than a decade.

At LDF, Haygood litigated some of the most important civil rights cases of our time. In two of those cases, he defended a core provision of the Voting Rights Act, widely regarded as one of the nation’s greatest pieces of civil rights legislation, before the United States Supreme Court. Ryan also led a successful challenge to Texas’ racially discriminatory photo ID law, under which a voter could present a concealed-handgun license as a form of identification to vote at the polls but not a student ID. In the first ruling of its kind, a federal district court struck down Texas’ photo ID law as intentionally racially discriminatory, a violation of the Voting Rights Act and an unconstitutional poll tax.

A passionate advocate, Haygood speaks and writes regularly on issues concerning race, law, social justice, democracy, and power. He received his JD from the University of Colorado Law School and BA in American history and political science cum laude from Colorado College, where he was nominated for the Rhodes scholarship and earned academic and athletic All-American and hall of fame honors as a football player.

Dean's Choice Awards

Dean S. James Anaya will also present two Dean's Choice Awards, recognizing exceptional contributions to Colorado Law.

Richard Schaden Adopted Alumnus Award

John Echohawk

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John Echohawk, Pawnee, is the executive director of the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), which is headquartered in ��«��Ƶ. He was the first graduate of the University of New Mexico’s special program to train Indian lawyers and was a founding member of the American Indian Law Students Association while in law school. He received both his JD and BA from the University of New Mexico. Echohawk has been with NARF since its inception in 1970, having served continuously as executive director since 1977.

He has been recognized as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America by the National Law Journal and has received numerous service awards and other recognition for his leadership in the Indian law field.

He serves on the boards of the American Indian Resources Institute, the Association on American Indian Affairs, the Indigenous Language Institute, Natural Resources Defense Council, and the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development.

Echohawk has been a strong supporter of Colorado Law’s American Indian Law Program and the law school’s students and graduates who are interested in and practice Indian law throughout his years as the executive director of NARF.

Sonny Flowers Award

Hon. Gary M. Jackson ('70)

This is a new award that recognizes alumni who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion among the law school and legal profession, specifically including the advancement of individuals from underrepresented groups.

Read Bio

Gary M. Jackson, a native of Colorado, grew up in Denver and graduated with honors from George Washington High School. He received an academic scholarship to the University of Redlands in California and earned his undergraduate degree and Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado (CU) in ��«��Ƶ.

He began his legal career as a deputy district attorney with the Denver District Attorney’s Office in 1970. In 1974, he was assigned to the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Colorado, where he received a special commendation from U.S. Attorney Edward Levi and FBI Director Clarence Kelley for his successful representation of the FBI in a multi-million dollar civil suit.

In 1976, Jackson entered private practice and became a partner in the law firm of DiManna, Eklund, Ciancio & Jackson. During his initial year in private practice, he was one of the co-founders of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar. In 1982, Michael DiManna and Jackson formed the law firm of DiManna & Jackson, a partnership that continued until Jackson’s appointment by Mayor Michael Hancock to the Denver County Court bench in January 2013. Leading up to his taking the bench, other legal achievements included appointment to the 18th Judicial District Judicial Performance Commission, the 2nd Judicial Nominating Commission, and the U.S. District Court’s Nominating Commission for the selection of U.S. District Court judges and magistrates.

In 1971, Jackson was one of the founders of the Sam Cary Bar Association, an organization dedicated to promoting professionalism and the exchange of ideas among African-American lawyers and judges. He has had many roles within the organization including treasurer and president; in 2006 was honored with the King Trimble Lifetime Achievement Award.

Numerous other community organizations have benefitted from Jackson’s leadership and involvement, including the Northeast Denver Youth Services, the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, and the Denver Urban League. With his participation in the Sam Cary Scholarship Endowment Fund and the Delta Eta Boule Foundation (former chairman), these organization have awarded deserving African-American students more than a quarter million dollars in scholarships.

Jackson has generously shared his legal knowledge and experience through mentoring programs and instruction at colleges and law schools throughout Colorado. His active participation in the legal community has also meant serving on several boards including the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, the American College of Trial Lawyers, and the American Board of Trial Advocates (of which he is the former president). Jackson is currently one of the leaders of the Colorado Bar Association/Colorado Judicial Institute Coalition on Judicial Diversity, which has a two-year initiative to address the lack of diversity in the Colorado state judiciary.

With a celebrated legal career spanning five decades, Jackson has been recognized with many accolades and awards including the National Bar Association’s Wiley A. Branton Award (2001), the Order of the Coif from CU Law School (2003), Colorado Super Lawyer (2006 – 2012), the CU George Norlin Award (2008), the William Lee Knous Award from CU Law School (2010), the Colorado Bar Association’s Award of Merit (2011), the George Washington High School Inaugural Hall of Fame (2016), and the National Black District Attorney’s Association Norman Early Founder’s Award (2019).

Jackson, retired as of Dec. 30, 2020, presided in the Criminal and General Session Divisions of Denver County Court. In 2018 the Colorado Judicial Institute recognized him with its Judicial Excellence Award for County Court Judge of the year. Mayor Hancock presented Jackson with the Monte Pascoe Civic Leadership Award in 2018. This award recognized Jackson for his outstanding local and national service and leadership seeking social justice and commitment to finding financial support for students seeking to enter into the legal profession. In 2019, Law Week Colorado in its annual Barrister’s Magazine selected Jackson as trial judge of the year. In 2020, the Center for Legal Inclusiveness awarded Jackson the Hon. Wiley Daniel Lifetime Achievement Award. The Colorado County Court Judges’ Association awarded Jackson the Anthony Greco Award for his judicial excellence and leadership. In addition, the Colorado chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates awarded Jackson its Judicial Excellence Award.

Jackson is married to Regina Lee Jackson. They have two children and four grandchildren.

The University of Colorado Law School will celebrate eight alumni and friends at its 40th annual awards celebration on Thursday, June 17, 2021. The ceremony will be held virtually.

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Alumni Spotlight: Julia Yoo ('98)

Anonymous — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 17:35:46 +0000

Alumni Spotlight: Julia Yoo ('98) Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 11/30/2020 - 10:35

Civil rights attorney Julia Yoo had a fulfilling career at Samsung in Seoul, South Korea, before pivoting to earn her JD. “I knew I had hit a glass ceiling as a woman working in a huge conglomerate,” she said. “University of Colorado is a great school, and ��«��Ƶ was beautiful place to figure out my next move.”

While a student at CU, Yoo immersed herself in community outreach. She began volunteering soon after she began law school, working at the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center and the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition. “The organizations where I volunteered worked with incarcerated populations, which is where I learned about the abuse of women in prison and the denial of basic services,” she said. “That just led to the next step and the next step.”

This next step was her involvement with the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility (DWCF), which is where she first began working specifically with women in detention. “I spent a lot of time doing community work, and women in prison fit that criteria,” she said. “The first time I went to DWCF, I never looked back.”

Her dedication to the incarcerated women’s population led her to found the Law Center for Women Prisoners, a nonprofit organization designed to assist and advocate for incarcerated women, upon graduation from law school. “I was inspired by the women that I met from the very first moment,” she said. To Yoo, a person’s generosity is a true testament to their character. “It’s easy to be generous and kind when you have everything to give, but the test of your grace is when you give to someone when you have nothing,” she said. “I saw acts of generosity in the jail that I had never seen before.”

Yoo founded the Law Center for Women Prisoners to fill a void in the community. “No one was providing legal services to women in prison and jail,” she explained. “The more I had interactions with the clients, the more I was able to figure out their true needs.” Women in prison have unique needs that are often unmet, and there was not yet an organization in the ��«��Ƶ community that catered specifically to those needs.

Initially, the Law Center functioned as a resource by providing information, advocating for women, and negotiating women’s needs within the Department of Corrections. “There was a lot of pushback in terms of gender,” Yoo said. “The department would say that the male inmate population didn’t have access to OBGYN services, so they weren’t required to provide them to women either.” Yoo and the Law Center began to challenge those unconstitutional positions to the point where a facility warden said, “If you don’t like it, sue us.” So, she did.

She remained at the Law Center in ��«��Ƶ for three years before joining Iredale & Yoo, APC, in San Diego. “I was able to make the transition to private practice in part because the impact litigation at the Law Center was so successful,” she said. “When we began suing entities, they realized it was more affordable to impose policy changes than to fight lawsuits, and we began getting what we asked for.” The Law Center for Women Prisoners was able to obtain comprehensive OBGYN care and appropriate medical care for women, as well as shut down a private prison by making it uninsurable.

Yoo has been with Iredale & Yoo since 2003. “It gave me the freedom and resources to choose the cases I wanted,” she said. “When I started my nonprofit, I started with nothing. I had no knowledge or resources and was completely self-funding.” In the first year of operating the nonprofit, Yoo spent the entirety of her savings. “After the first year, we were able to win some cases and then I would roll the attorney’s fees into the next case,” she said.

Due to the success she had experienced with impact litigation at the Law Center, Yoo wanted to do more and take on bigger cases. “I was so fortunate to find a partner in my firm who was willing to take that risk,” she said. “Not many lawyers are willing to risk resources and money to take on bigger cases that I wouldn’t have been able to afford at the nonprofit.” Today, Yoo handles almost exclusively police misconduct cases. “The mistreatment of people in custody is close to my heart, so a significant percentage of our cases involve jail deaths.”

Yoo’s involvement with police misconduct continues with the National Police Accountability Project (NPAP), of which she was recently named president. She is both the first woman and the first person of color to hold the leadership position. “Everyone in a position of leadership should be thinking about how we can encourage more people into leadership roles,” she said. “Great lawyers and great leaders aren’t born, they’re encouraged.”

The NPAP is the country’s largest civil rights attorney organization dealing with misconduct. “We provide information and education on a wide array of issues,” she said. “We also provide litigation support to our attorney members, file amicus briefs in courts of appeals across the country as well as the U.S. Supreme Court, and provide assistance and expert opinions to legislators across the country on reform,” Yoo said.

Most recently, the NPAP informed California’s SB731 that eliminates certain immunities for officers who engage in civil rights violations. “Our members are prominent practitioners, professors, authors, and scholars who specialize in civil rights,” Yoo said. “In the last year or so, we’ve greatly expanded our services to include community outreach.”

Among the NPAP’s community outreach efforts is addressing police reform across the country. “It takes a tremendous amount of political will and bravery at the top to make legislative change happen,” she said. “Our involvement occurs when community groups and legislators, especially the Black caucuses, reach out to us for information on how we can frame legislation.”

Under COVID-19, Yoo’s firm Iredale & Yoo was the first in the Southern District of California to hold an in-person trial. “I think in some ways, the pandemic has had a positive impact,” she said. “Some state courts are very outdated, and the pandemic has forced them to really think about how to update their system for ease of use for lawyers and litigants.”

As for the emotional connection to her work, Yoo has an honest approach. “I don’t separate it and I just carry it with me,” she said. “I know I’m supposed to have some awesome answer about work-life balance and maintaining that, but I don’t have it,” she laughed. “I care deeply about my work and that weight is always present.”

What is your fondest memory of being a student at Colorado Law?

The opportunity to find like-minded people who inspired me and led me on this path is something I will always be fond of.

What do you know now that you wish you had known in law school?

I wish I had known that this work would be so rewarding just far beyond my imagination. If I had known that I might have been able to relax a little bit. The best advice I can give is to relax and take that leap.

Do you remember any professors who had an impact on you?

Emily Calhoun taught Constitutional Law and Civil Rights and worked at the American Civil Liberties Union. She was truly an inspiration. Also, Lisa Wayne, who taught Trial Advocacy, is legendary.

See more in our Alumni Spotlight series, which highlights prominent Colorado Law alumni at the height of their careers.

Civil rights attorney Julia Yoo was recently named president of the National Police Accountability Project. She is both the first woman and the first person of color to hold the leadership position.

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Promising Start: Ariel Diamond ('17)

Anonymous — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 17:18:16 +0000

Promising Start: Ariel Diamond ('17) Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 11/30/2020 - 10:18

Ariel Diamond (’17), an associate attorney in the telecommunications group at the global law firm DLA Piper in Washington, D.C., came to Colorado Law for its dedication to public service and experiential learning opportunities. She went on to serve as editor-in-chief of the Colorado Technology Law Journal and become an active member of the Silicon Flatirons student group, where she found networking connections and experience that continue to play a valuable role in her work today.

Where are you from and why did you decide to attend law school?

I am from Rapid City, South Dakota. I attended Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado, where I majored in English literature and served as the student body vice president and president during my junior and senior years. In those roles, I was responsible for driving campus public policy and engaging with the state legislature. That experience introduced me to the power of writing, law, and advocacy, and I wanted to learn more.

Tell us a little about your work. What do you do, and what might a "typical" work day look like?

I am currently an associate attorney in the telecommunications group at the global law firm DLA Piper in Washington, D.C. My practice touches on a variety of issues including technical and policy implications for 5G and the Internet of Things, international wireless spectrum policy, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory compliance, and wireless license transfers and assignments. I recently helped secure state and federal approvals for T-Mobile’s merger with Sprint. I also work extensively on network resiliency and disaster response policy and compliance issues, including by serving as an alternate member of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee Disaster Response and Recovery Working Group.

On a typical day, I advise telecommunications industry members on regulatory, legislative, and compliance issues at the state and federal levels. The issues typically involve matters before public utility commissions, the FCC, Congress, and the administration. I am also actively involved in pro bono work and represent clients in asylum and other immigration matters.

How did you find your job?

DLA Piper recruited me from the FCC’s Attorney Honors Program, where I worked as an attorney advisor in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau on a variety of wireless and international spectrum policy and licensing issues.

How did Colorado Law help you in your job search?

While at Colorado Law, I was editor-in-chief of the Colorado Technology Law Journal and an active member of the Silicon Flatirons student group. I also interned with the Office of FCC Chairman Wheeler, a telecommunications advocacy group, the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, the Office of Governor Hickenlooper, and an entrepreneurial media company. With each experience, I made valuable connections and developed necessary expertise to secure a position in the FCC’s Attorney Honors Program. The Silicon Flatirons Center and Career Development Office programs and staff were also critical in helping me understand the job market and opportunities for current law students in Colorado and Washington, D.C.

What skills do you utilize on a daily basis and how did your experiences or courses at Colorado Law help you develop these skills?

The best advice I received in law school was to practice legal research and writing. I took that advice seriously and challenged myself to take legal writing courses and participate in activities that would develop those skills. These experiences included Legal Analysis with Professor Amy Griffin, Transactional Drafting with Professor Amy Bauer, the Colorado Technology Law Journal, and a series of hands-on internships.

My coursework has also been extremely valuable to my practice. Colorado Law’s unique collection of communications-related courses is something for which I am still grateful. To name a few, I took Telecommunications Law and Policy, Administrative Law, Antitrust Law and Policy, and Local Government. I would take more today if I could! Colleagues frequently ask me for help on administrative law issues and I still turn to my trusty outline from Professor Bruff’s class.

Please talk a little about "people skills" and relationship building. How have your professional acquaintances (and friends) made a difference in your career?

I started law school with the idea that I wanted to enter the public policy space, and Silicon Flatirons helped me quickly pin down my interest in developing a communications practice. Through that program, I met highly respected attorneys, engineers, and economists, both in Colorado and in Washington, D.C., who taught me about different aspects of the telecommunications field and connected me to job opportunities. Now, I am active in the Federal Communications Bar Association and continue to expand my network of telecommunications colleagues. I also try to stay in touch with classmates and professors from Colorado Law. Our network is vast and there are so many alumni doing amazing things around the country.

What advice would you give to current students with respect to finding a job?

Pursue opportunities and substantive legal areas that interest you. Don’t worry so much about finding the "perfect" job right out of law school, but instead develop a plan to end up where you want to be through a series of career moves over time. Committing to a specific practice area early on really helps. Also, get involved in as many student associations and externships as possible. Looking back, thanks to Silicon Flatirons, I am grateful that I was able to identify telecommunications as my desired practice area in my first year. But also keep an open mind—there are lots of interesting legal jobs out there!

Lastly, mentors are critical to success in any field—it is never too early to start building those relationships. Just reach out!

If you were to recommend Colorado Law to a potential law student, what would you say?

Colorado Law puts its students first. The mix of academic rigor and opportunities for extracurricular activities and leadership roles will allow you to succeed in any field. As an added benefit, the Colorado legal market is bustling and provides great opportunities for students to get involved and build practical experience.

Why did you choose Colorado Law?

Colorado Law’s dedication to public service and hands-on learning opportunities matched my interests and goals for a legal education. I knew it was the right fit for me the moment I walked into admitted student orientation and met the faculty and staff. And now, after meeting lawyers from all around the country and getting to know new legal markets, I am even more grateful for the supportive and dynamic environment that Colorado Law provided for my legal education. Go Buffs!

See more in our Promising Starts series, which highlights recent Colorado Law alumni who have found satisfying, meaningful employment in their first five years after graduation.

Ariel Diamond is an associate attorney in the telecommunications group at the global law firm DLA Piper in Washington, D.C.

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Promising Start: Aditi Kulkarni-Knight ('15)

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 19:07:51 +0000

Promising Start: Aditi Kulkarni-Knight ('15) Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 11/02/2020 - 12:07

Aditi Kulkarni-Knight ('15), an associate in the trial department at Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP in Denver, decided to attend law school because she knew that a law degree would open up a wealth of professional opportunities. The Denver native has expanded her professional network by serving on boards, doing pro bono work, and volunteering—including serving on the Colorado Law Alumni Board.

Where are you from and why did you decide to attend law school?

I was born and raised in Denver. I decided to attend law school because I was an accounting major in college, and while I loved the idea of working for a large firm one day, I knew I didn’t want to practice accounting for the rest of my life. I chose law school because it gave me the option to still work at a firm while also opening other doors and providing endless professional opportunities.

Tell us a little about your work. What do you do, and what might a "typical" work day look like?

I practice commercial litigation at Davis Graham & Stubbs. A typical day varies significantly depending on how many cases I’m working on and which stages of litigation they are in. Many days are spent researching and writing. My favorite days, though, are outside of my office—at a mediation, deposition, or hearing, prepping for trial, meeting with clients and witnesses, or strategizing with my team members.

How did you find your job?

A former Davis Graham & Stubbs (DGS) partner who I trust and view as a mentor encouraged me to consider DGS when I was looking to make a lateral move from a large international firm. I reached out to the firm’s recruiting department, who was happy to chat with me and helped me see that DGS was a good fit.

What skills do you utilize on a daily basis and how did your experiences or courses at Colorado Law help you develop these skills?

I daily utilize research and writing skills that I improved during law school, especially through the Technology Law Journal and Legal Writing courses. I also regularly utilize the stand-up skills I learned in Colorado Law’s Trial Advocacy courses.

Please talk a little about "people skills" and relationship building. How have your professional acquaintances (and friends) made a difference in your career?

Networking and relationship building is a huge part of being an attorney, especially in Denver. I am grateful for the friendships and professional relationships I built in law school and I still turn to many of my classmates for support and advice as I navigate the legal profession. Networking doesn’t have to be a chore—I have viewed it as an opportunity to meet other attorneys who share my interests. Serving on boards, doing pro bono work, and volunteering are great ways to meet those like-minded people.

What advice would you give to current students with respect to finding a job?

Stay open-minded and be willing to explore avenues that you might not have expected for your career. A law degree opens so many doors—more than you can know as a law student! Also, take up every offer to have coffee or lunch with a practicing attorney. It is so valuable to hear about different attorneys’ paths to success. And you never know which connection will lead you to your next job.

If you were to recommend Colorado Law to a potential law student, what would you say?

Colorado Law will prepare you to be a successful attorney. It will also give you the chance to get real legal experience as a student, which will be so important when you start your career. And to top it all off, you will get to spend three years in a beautiful place with supportive and bright classmates, faculty, and staff.

Why did you choose Colorado Law?

As a Colorado native, I knew I wanted to come back to Colorado after college and practice in Denver. Colorado Law is the best law school in the region, so it was an easy choice!

See more in our Promising Starts series, which highlights recent Colorado Law alumni who have found satisfying, meaningful employment in their first five years after graduation.

Aditi Kulkarni-Knight, an associate in the trial department at Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP in Denver, decided to attend law school because she knew that a law degree would open up a wealth of professional opportunities.

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Alumni Spotlight: Henry Cooper ('87)

Anonymous — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 19:23:37 +0000

Alumni Spotlight: Henry Cooper ('87) Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 10/22/2020 - 13:23

Henry Cooper’s decades-long career at the Denver District Attorney’s Office began as an internship in 1986, where he handled bond hearings for serious cases under then-District Attorney Norm Early. He later moved into the Gang Unit, where he spent the majority of his 34 years at the office prosecuting cases that involve gang-related crime. He officially retired from the DA’s office in September 2020.

Cooper grew up in Denver, attending East High School before pursuing a college basketball career. “I bounced around at a couple of smaller schools playing basketball before ending up at CU for my last year and a half,” he said. He graduated from CU ��«��Ƶ’s business school before continuing on to earn his JD at the University of Colorado Law School.

Becoming a lawyer was not a preconceived path for Cooper. “No one in my family was a lawyer,” he said. “I have a finance degree and initially thought I would get an MBA.” It wasn’t until a friend mentioned law school that he began weighing his options. “At the time, CU didn’t have a joint degree program for a JD/MBA, so you had to design one,” he explained. “I spoke with advisors at the business and law schools and was able to set up a joint degree path where I would spend four years studying both disciplines.” However, halfway through the process, he stopped pursuing the joint degree. “I figured I would just be a lawyer,” he laughed.

Because of his degree in finance, Cooper suspected he would practice corporate litigation or something related. However, he ended up pursuing a field quite the opposite by working for the Denver District Attorney’s Office. “In school, I received the highest grade in my Tax Law class and a C in Criminal Law, so the fact that I ended up at the DA’s office was unexpected,” he said.

When the time came during his second year to pursue legal clerkships, Cooper began working for Harold “Sonny” Flowers (’71), who had a law office directly across the street from campus. Flowers, a prominent ��«��Ƶ attorney and champion for diversity, passed away in July 2020.

“I spoke to him one day about potentially working at a big corporate litigation firm in downtown Denver and making some money,” Cooper said. “Sonny told me that if my grades were not in the top 10% of my class, I should probably get some trial experience with the DA or public defender and then do a lateral move down the road.”

This conversation prompted Cooper to consider a summer internship at the DA’s office, which is how he began his long trajectory there. The summer between his 2L and 3L year, Cooper worked as an intern at the Denver DA’s Office.

“The DA at the time was Norm Early, also an African American, who hired me as a paid intern,” he said. “The way they operated under the Student Practice Act was that as an intern I was able to handle bond hearings for serious cases.” At the end of the summer, Cooper continued working part-time for the DA throughout his 3L year. “Mr. Early offered me a job at the end of my 3L year and I took it,” he said.

Because Cooper grew up in Denver’s inner city, he was pre-exposed to some of the challenges he would encounter later in his career. He remembers one situation where he came face to face with a former high school classmate. “It was my very first day doing a bond hearing and the defendant, charged with a homicide, was a man I went to high school with,” he said. “I look at him and he looks at me and says, ‘Coop, is that you?’ Those moments presented themselves to me throughout my whole career.” Due to his Colorado roots, Cooper says, “I know a lot of people and a lot of people knew me.”

Having a personal connection to his cases was an area in which Cooper always proceeded with an abundance of caution. “If it was someone I knew well, I wouldn’t handle the case because of the conflict,” he said. “But I would often know people tangentially, like a friend of a friend, where I’d have to really examine the relationship to make sure I felt comfortable.”

For Cooper, the most important task was doing what was right. “In my mind, as long as I was doing what justice demanded in the case and treated whoever it was just like they were anyone else, at the end of the day I would know I was fair to them,” he said.

As deputy district attorney, Cooper handled misdemeanors in county court. He was promoted to handling felonies in district court a few years later. In the early 1990s, Cooper was placed in the district attorney’s Gang Unit, where he spent the majority of his 34 years at the DA's office.

“I prosecuted street gang cases and primarily gang murder cases for most of my career,” he said. “I tried almost 60 murder trials in front of a jury which some people have said might be the most murder trials any lawyer has done in Colorado.” This is something Cooper is proud of, but also acknowledges that prosecuting these types of cases takes an emotional toll.

“The hard part about murder cases are the emotions involved because in every single case at some point after the murder, but prior to the first court appearance, I sit down and meet with the family of the victim,” he said. “Doing gang cases, that meeting is often with parents who have just lost their child and I’m with them when the wounds are still open.” Cooper says this emotional process didn’t affect him as much when he was younger, but he believes it to be cumulative. “It takes a little piece of you every time you do those meetings,” he said. “Towards the last few years, it’s been more difficult.” Cooper encounters not just the family of the victim, but the family of the defendant as well. “You have parents who have their child sitting across the room facing a life sentence and they’re very emotional,” he said. “Dealing with the emotional aspect is much harder than choosing a jury, cross-examining witnesses, and following through with all of the nuts and bolts it takes to try a case. It affects me more.”

He recalls other challenges related to gang cases, which often involved both Black victims and defendants. “There was one instance I remember when I did a plea bargain on a case, and at the end of the hearing the defendant’s mother yelled at me that I was too hard on her son because he was just another Black kid in the system,” he said. “Then, I walked down the hall to get in the elevator and the victim’s mother gets on with me and yells at me for being too soft and not treating the case seriously because it was a Black-on-Black crime.” Cooper felt in that moment, and many others, that it was difficult to win either way. “What that did for me was bring home the fact that, no matter what I do, you can’t keep everyone happy,” he said. “As a prosecutor, you have to do whatever you think is just and keep moving forward.”

Recently, the courts have had to alter their operations drastically under COVID-19. Because courts are still closed, the majority of work is done virtually.

“Since March, we’ve been pushing trials out until the courts open up so we can start doing jury trials,” Cooper said. “But July and August came around and the courts were still closed, so we had to start trying cases.”

Cases on trial today look quite different than they used to. “We’re trying cases now where all the jurors are spaced out and they have to sit in the gallery because the jury box isn’t big enough,” he said. “All the lawyers and witnesses wear masks.”

Trials, especially serious criminal trials, are often very personal. “To have everyone masked up like that is too sanitized,” said Cooper. “I don’t know how you judge the credibility of a witness when you can’t see their facial expressions.” This has presented a significant challenge, but not an insurmountable one. “Trial has been difficult, but we’re doing it,” he said. “We’re not doing as many because it’s such a challenge logistically, but we’re getting them done.”

Cooper officially retired from the District Attorney’s Office in September.

“Because of COVID-19, they offered some incentives to people to retire early, although I’m not sure 34 years is early,” he laughed. “It wasn’t something I planned, but it just made sense.”

Although he is no longer with the DA, Cooper feels he is “too young” to stop working entirely.

“I’m exploring what the next step is,” he said. “It might be private practice or working for a DA’s office in another city, but I plan on practicing law for as long as I’m able.”

What are some of your fondest memories at Colorado Law?

Professor David S. Hill, an African American, taught Property and would reach out to the African American students. There were so few of us at the time—the class before me had zero African American students and my class had five. Professor Hill reached out to us and had us over to his house. He went beyond his academic role to be a mentor. The other students and I became very close. One of them, William “Bill” Robbins (’87), worked at the DA’s office and then became a judge for the 2nd District Court. While I was at the DA, I was appearing in front of him a lot. The relationships that I built with all my friends in law school made the experience 100% positive.

What do you know now that you wish you had known in law school?

I wish I had known that, in terms of what your career is going to be, you don’t have to plan it out or follow some certain path. You can let it do what it’s going to do. If I had known that back then, it might have saved me some anxiety. Especially as a young prosecutor, I was always worried about what I was going to do next, when I would go to a firm or when I would make my next move. Eventually, it all worked out for me. Those things can happen organically.

What do you do when you’re not working?

One thing I’ve always done is coach basketball. Because of my job commitments, I couldn’t coach high school, so I have been coaching club basketball in the summer. However, now that I am retired, I’m going to coach high school basketball this winter.

Your daughter has followed a similar path as you. Tell us about her.

My daughter is Brittany Cooper and she graduated from law school five years ago. She went to the University of Denver Law. She’s following in my footsteps at the DA’s office and became a prosecutor. She started off as an intern and has now been a deputy district attorney for about four years. Her career path is a bit different because the job has changed a lot. I was kind of your hard-nosed, lock-them-up, gang prosecutor. She’s a more progressive prosecutor where she’s attuned to social aspects and treating people versus locking them up. It’s her passion and she’s doing very well. She’s in the juvenile division right now.

See more in our Alumni Spotlight series, which highlights prominent Colorado Law alumni at the height of their careers.

Henry Cooper recently retired after 34 years with the Denver District Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted cases involving gang-related crime.

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Promising Start: Emily Bobenrieth ('16)

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 21:34:57 +0000

Promising Start: Emily Bobenrieth ('16) Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 09/24/2020 - 15:34

Emily Bobenrieth, a prosecutor for the U.S. Army stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State, attended Colorado Law after being selected for the Army’s Funded Legal Education Program. Although she had never set foot in Colorado prior to visiting the law school, it immediately felt like home. In many ways, Bobenrieth was drawn to Colorado Law and the Army for the same reasons: she wanted to contribute to society, be part of a team, and serve a cause bigger than herself.

Where are you from and why did you decide to attend law school?

I am originally from Potomac, Maryland. I attended undergrad at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, and commissioned as an active duty Army officer in May 2011. After serving for two years as a platoon leader in the 82d Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, I applied for the Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP). FLEP is a program in which the Army chooses 25 active duty army officers a year to attend law school and transfer from their basic branch of assignment to the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAGC, or JAG Corps). I knew that I wanted to be an Army attorney since my time at West Point, and so I applied to FLEP the first chance I could. I was fortunate enough to be selected in December 2012. Once selected I had the opportunity to apply to and attend the law school of my choice.

Tell us a little about your work. What do you do, and what might a “typical” work day look like?

I am currently a prosecutor for the United States Army stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), Washington. I am assigned to a litigation team composed of three other attorneys. Our job is to prosecute all non-sexual assault offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice committed by service members assigned to JBLM. JBLM is the busiest jurisdiction in the U.S. Army—we try more courts-martial than anywhere else in the Army. I review cases and advise on the disposition of criminal allegations against soldiers to commanders at all levels across the installation, as well as prepare for and try cases that result in court-martial. In the past 12 months, I have been assigned the lead prosecutor on 16 cases, 13 of which resulted in a court-martial.

A “typical” day for me really depends on the day. If I am not in court, every morning starts with physical training at 6:30 a.m., meaning the whole office meets and works out together before the actual duty day starts. Once in the office at 9 a.m., I do whatever I need to move my cases: witness interviews, motions writing, investigative work, briefing commanders or supervisors, or doing other trial prep work. My days usually end between 1800 and 2000 (6 p.m. and 8 p.m.), depending on how busy I am. My caseload almost always requires me to work about one day every weekend as well.

It is important to note that the unique thing about the JAG Corps is that I change jobs about every one to two years, therefore gaining a wide range of experience. For example, prior to being a prosecutor, my position was Command Judge Advocate, meaning I was the embedded JAG for a brigade and was the sole adviser to the commander and all her subordinate commanders. I also have been assigned to operation law billets, in which I advised on targeting, the laws of war, and rules of engagement. I have been sent to courses that allow me to conduct collateral damage assessments when doing the proportionality legal analysis for combat missions. My next job will be advising on intelligence law on the East Coast. The JAGC allows you to constantly learn and gain new, unique skill sets.

How did you find your job?

My job was inherently built into the FLEP program, so I was a unique case where I did not have to actively seek my job after law school. But with that guarantee came an additional six years of service to the Army in exchange for the funding of my law education. So there is always a tradeoff of some kind!

How did Colorado Law help you in your job search?

Like I mentioned, my situation was unique in that my position as an Army Judge Advocate was inherently secured as a result of the FLEP program. However, the majority of the attorneys that make up the JAG Corps are people who apply directly out of law school and are commissioned into the Army as a JAG officer. Those interviews are conducted every year, usually on the law school’s campus, by a JAG selected to conduct said interviews and screen applicants. I know for a fact Colorado Law facilitates these interviews for the JAGC.

Even though I didn’t necessarily use or need to use the Career Development Office as much as a typical student, they were still always ready and willing to help me in other ways. I externed for the ��«��Ƶ County District Attorney’s Office both my second and third year of law school. The Career Development Office took the time to review my resume and assist in any questions I had about the interview process for that opportunity.

What skills do you utilize on a daily basis and how did your experiences or courses at Colorado Law help you develop these skills?

I use my critical thinking and issue-spotting skills every single day. Whenever I get a new case file, I start the analytical process. What are the facts? What do I still need to know? What charges support the facts? What are the weaknesses in my case? How will I overcome those hurdles? And then there is always the question of not necessarily what we CAN do, but what we, as the prosecution, SHOULD do. Meaning, what does justice look like in this case?

I also use my legal research skills regularly. In my jurisdiction, there is heavy motions practice. I therefore often find myself on Lexis Nexis weekly, doing case research to support my position. I took both trial advocacy and motions practice while at Colorado Law and it helped me to start the process of refining the way in which I present argument and prepare for my cases. Colorado Law did an incredible job of laying the groundwork for my current position.

Please talk a little about "people skills" and relationship building. How have your professional acquaintances (and friends) made a difference in your career?

The Army is a people-led organization. On top of being an attorney and criminal prosecutor, I am also an officer and therefore looked to as a leader. The Army is built on team and relationship building, so being able to be a team player is not only key in my job, but required. The friendships and professional relationships I have formed over the past four years as a JAG will last a lifetime.

The bedrock of the U.S. Army is selfless service—all of us joined because we wanted to contribute, to be a part of a team, and serve a cause that is bigger than ourselves. There is zero tolerance for those who will place themselves, their comfort, and their well-being above the needs of the mission or the needs of their soldiers. And that understanding and trust start with relationship building.

What advice would you give to current students with respect to finding a job?

Of course, I cannot shed a ton of light on this experience given the nature of my path to law school and to the JAG Corps. But what I can say in seeing the experience of my law school classmates is to be proactive, build those relationships, and be genuine about it. Whether in the Army or not, people want to work with people who are passionate and who are team players.

If you were to recommend Colorado Law to a potential law student, what would you say?

I found Colorado Law to be a place of acceptance. I found that to be the case throughout—from my fellow students to the professors to the administrators. The moment I visited CU before I even decided, it immediately felt like home. The smaller class sizes compared to other law schools, especially East Coast schools, also allowed for a more personal experience. I felt like I knew my professors and they knew me. I chose CU because it reminded me of that mentality I talked about in question six, that there was a desire to serve, to help one another, and to build those relationships. I knew that CU was the right choice for me.

Why did you choose Colorado Law?

As I mentioned before, I am originally from the East Coast. So, when I was applying to law schools, I mainly focused on East Coast schools. However, I received a letter from the Colorado Law admissions office shortly after my acceptance to the FLEP program encouraging me to apply. I knew no one in Colorado, and I had no connections to the state. In fact, I had never set foot in Colorado until I visited the law school in the winter of 2013. But, as soon as I got here, and for all the reasons mentioned above, I knew CU was the right fit for me. And I left law school with incredible friends who I very much consider my family.

See more in our Promising Starts series, which highlights recent Colorado Law alumni who have found satisfying, meaningful employment in their first five years after graduation.

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