CLC Volunteers Make a Difference in 2019
2019 has been a busy year for the Colorado Lawyers Committee! Due to the tremendous support from our volunteers and contributors, the CLC has been able to respond to pressing systemic issues and to make an important difference in the lives of children and the underprivileged. Last year, more than 1,000 volunteers contributed more than 7,800 hours and $3.03 million worth of time to our 29 projects and task forces and enjoyed some significant successes:
Engaging Young Lawyers in Pro Bono Work. The Young Lawyers Division, established in 2015, was created to “empower passionate young lawyers to make a difference for children and the underserved through education, advocacy, and systemic change.” YLD membership has increased to almost 250 members. Under the leadership of the YLD Board, the YLD has directed successful fundraising efforts, taken over leadership of Denver Legal Night, expanded and strengthened the Hate Crimes Education Program, offered a series of NITA-like CLE programs with well-respected lawyers and judges as panelists and coaches, created a grant program to provide financial support to young lawyers in their pro bono efforts, and added energy and enthusiasm to numerous other projects.
Providing Resources for the Underserved. Hundreds of volunteers provided legal information and referrals at four Legal Clinics in 2019. To date, more than 35,000 individuals have received free assistance at Denver Legal Night, Greeley Legal Night and Project Homeless Connect.
Helping the Nonprofits That Help Others. Since the programs began, CLC’s two nonprofit projects have helped strengthen our community by providing limited representation to more than 600 small nonprofits: Our Nonprofit Working Group matches small nonprofits with pro bono lawyers who provide transactional-type assistance on discrete issues; the Nonprofit Legal Audit Clinic, held twice each year, matches teams of attorneys (both in-house and in firms) with representatives from small nonprofits to assess the nonprofits’ legal health.
Educating Students About Hate Crimes. For the last 25 years, Colorado Lawyers Committee volunteers have presented fictional trials to almost 9,000 students to teach them about Colorado’s Hate/Bias-Motivated Crimes Statute, help them understand the law, and encourage them to speak out against intolerance and injustice. In 2019, thanks to a grant from the National Lawyers Committee Stop Hate program, the Hate Crimes Task Force developed a new program (based on our successful Colorado presentation) that can be offered in any school in the country!
Protecting Immigrant Rights. The CLC Immigration Task Force has been very active this year on a number of issues: successfully urging a change in policy that would prohibit probation officers from disclosing to ICE agents information about probationers’ appointments; creating a pilot program to train non-immigration lawyers in four firms to help detainees with their “credible fear interviews” (which determine if the detainees can apply for asylum) and exploring possible legislation and litigation to prohibit ICE agents from making warrant-less arrests at Colorado courthouses (a practice which adversely impacts the administration of justice by intimidating crime victims and witnesses from testifying for fear of arrest at the courthouse).
Operation of Federal Pro Se Clinic. The Federal Clinic, which the CLC helped create, is now in its second year and the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado recently agreed that the pilot program should be converted to a permanent court program. The CLC is active on the Clinic’s Advisory Board.
Jail Wait Success. For more than 10 years CLC volunteers argued that the State mental health hospital in Pueblo failed to provide timely evaluations and treatment for individuals who are presumed incompetent. In early 2019, the parties reached a landmark settlement in the form of a consent decree which will which will result in a significant reduction in the criminalization of the mentally ill and provide as much as $10 million to support community mental health.
Taylor Ranch Litigation Ends. For more than 20 years, the CLC has been involved in the “Taylor Ranch litigation” advocating for land rights of individuals in the San Luis Valley. When the case went to the Colorado Court of Appeals for the third time, the Court issued a 90-page opinion upholding the rights of the plaintiffs. The ranch owner decided not to appeal the Colorado Court of Appeals decision, virtually ending the legal battle over the most significant issues that have been the subject of litigation since 1981.
Foster Care Challenge. CLC volunteers are working closely with Children’s Rights, a New York advocacy organization, to explore possible litigation against the State for its failure to provide sufficient appropriate foster care placements.
Right to Legal Counsel in Civil Cases. The CLC recently formed a Civil Gideon Task Force to explore possible legal arguments to require the State to provide legal counsel for individuals whose essential legal rights are at risk (e.g., public benefits, housing, parental rights, etc.).
With your help, we expect to continue and expand these efforts. We look forward to another successful year in 2020!