Brief of Amici Curiae the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in Support of Petitioner

Presented by: Chris Bowman, public defender, Grand Junction, CO; and Steven Colvin, public defender, Denver, CO

Presented by: Daniel Zettler, public defender, Salida, CO; Elsa Archambault, public defender, Centennial, CO; Justin Bogan, public defender, Durango, CO; and Sheryl Uhlmann, public defender, Steamboat Springs, CO

Police departments across the country are increasing using predictive algorithms to decide where to patrol and who to investigate. These tools are also being used to create databases that label people as threats and feed them into the criminal legal system.

20^th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference
August 18-20, 2021 | Held Virtually

This panel highlights policing reforms adopted over the last year and what still needs to be done.

20^th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference
August 18-20, 2021 | Held Virtually

At least 85,000 law enforcement officers across the U.S. have been investigated or disciplined for misconduct over the past decade according to a USA Today investigation. Police disciplinary records are confidential in roughly 21 states, meaning people facing charges aren’t able to learn about the background of involved officers. Learn why transparency is vital and current state legislative efforts to allow for increased transparency of police misconduct records.

NACDL's 19th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference
August 17-19, 2020 | Held Virtually

Recording and resources for Struck: Race, Jury Selection, and the Need for Reform in Colorado. 

See the various issues on which NACDL has conducted criminal justice advocacy in Colorado. Scroll to the bottom of the page to see active legislation in Colorado that NACDL is tracking. 

On behalf of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) we call upon the City of Aurora to rescind its Request for Proposals, R-2384, soliciting firms for bids to replace the city’s current public defense provider. The decision to replace the current public defense system with a flat fee contract will undercut public safety, undermine community confidence, and represents poor fiscal responsibility.

Abortion is legal in Colorado at all stages of pregnancy, subject to parental notification for minors. A pregnant person cannot be punished for any conduct “based on the potential, actual, or perceived impact on the pregnancy, the pregnancy’s outcomes, or the pregnant individual’s health.”

Public defense issues and developments in Colorado

NACDL issued a groundbreaking new report on restoring and reforming the grand jury system. This research reflects an in-depth study of grand jury reform in two states – New York and Colorado – and produces with four reform recommendations. [Released November 2011]

NACDL's work on pretrial advocacy in Colorado induding the publication of the Colorado Bail Manual. [Released September 2015]

10-cv-02930-JLK (D. Colo.)

Filed by pro bono counsel at Morrison & Foerster LLP, this lawsuit sought to invalidate Colorado Revised Statute § 16-7-301(4), which required a defendant to meet with a prosecutor before being assigned counsel. In Rothgery v. Gillespie County, 554 U.S. 191, 213 (2008), the U.S. Supreme Court held that a defendant’s right to counsel under the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution attaches at “a criminal defendant’s initial appearance before a judicial officer, where he learns the charge against him and his liberty is subject to restriction.”

NACDL is providing resources regarding the Criminalization of Pregnancy and Reproductive Health to the criminal defense community. Resources are provided without warranty or guarantee. Please consult the laws and rules of your state and local authorities. Please log in to access them. Membership is NOT required.