News

ICYMI: Faculty Publications, Media Mentions, and Faculty & Staff Activities

Emily Battaglia — Tue, 26 May 2026 16:19:14 +0000

ICYMI: Faculty Publications, Media Mentions, and Faculty & Staff Activities Emily Battaglia Tue, 05/26/2026 - 10:19

Widely recognized for its intellectual diversity and originality, the faculty at Colorado Law encompasses an array of prominent legal scholars who are widely cited, both in academia and throughout the national media landscape. We invite you to catch up on the latest faculty publications and media mentions with this weekly roundup.

Faculty Publications

Jonathan Skinner-Thompson, Air Permit Adjudications (SSRN.com, 78 U.C. L. J.).

Blake Reid, Separation of Copyright Powers,49 Seattle Univ. L. Rev. Online 269, 16 Seattle J. Tech., Env’t & Innovation L. 374 (2026).

Nolwenn Buhler, Diane Tober, & Jennifer Hendricks, Genetics, Epigenetics, and Genomes in Collaborative Reproduction, in Exploring Reproduction: Anthropological Perspectives (Maya Unnithan et al eds., 2026).

Deep Gulasekaram, Foreword to the 2025 Ira C. Rothgerber Jr. Conference: Immigration & National Borders, 97 U. Colo. L. Rev. 885 (2026).

Justin Deystone, Law & Political Economy, or Legal Theory & Capitalism?, LPE Project (May 14, 2026)(featuring Law and Contemporary Problems publications including Foreword Part 1 (with Jedediah Britton-Purdy), 88 Law and Contemporary Problems i (2025); Foreword Part 2 (with Jedediah Britton-Purdy), 88 Law & Contemp. Probs. i (2026); & Law as a Form of Life: On Capitalism and Critical Theory, 88 Law & Contemp. Probs. 137 (2026)).

Media Mentions

[Mark Squillace], Julia Jacobo, Water Supplies Along Colorado River Basin in Peril, Experts Say, ABC News (May 20, 2026).

[Doug Spencer], Joedy McCreary, The Same Dark Money Groups Keep Turning Up in Redistricting Fights, Open Secrets.org (May 13, 2026).

[Scott Skinner-Thompson], Karen Raforth, Outsources, KGNU News (May 11, 2026).

John Ingold, 30 Years Ago, A Landmark Supreme Court Decision Bolstered LGBTQ+ Rights-- And Changed Colorado's "Hate State" Reputation, Colorado Sun (May 20, 2026).

[Ann Lipton], Paul Cobler, Companies Moving Their Legal Homes to Texas is Good PR, but don't Expect Many New Jobs, Texas Tribune (May 12, 2026).

Craig Anderson, The Ben & Jerry's and Unilever Governance Fallout and Lessons for M&A Lawyers, Daily Journal (May 17, 2026)(reprints include Los Angeles Times).

Adrienne Roberts, What a Court Filing Reveals About U-M's $20 Million OpenAI Bet, Detroit Free Press (May 17, 2026)(reprints include USA Today).

Sean O'Kane, How Elon Musk Will Increase His Power Through the SpaceX IPO, TechCrunch (May 21, 2026).

Becky Peterson, Musk Set to Keep Firm Control of SpaceX After It Goes Public, Wall Street Journal (May 22, 2026)(Register for your free WSJ account using your CU email by following the directions here).

[Anne Castle, GWC], Ian James, A Dire 'Math Problem' on the Colorado River and Wholly Inaccurate Responses, LA Times (May 14, 2026).

[Jonathon Booth], Seth Klamann, Nick Coltrain, & Sam Tabachnik, Gov. Jared Polis Reduces Tina Peters' Sentence, Says She Will be Released June 1, Denver Post (May 15, 2026).

Faculty and Staff Activities

GWC's Chris Winter, Doug Kenney, Anne Castle, & Daniel Anderson(speakers), GWC Conference on the Colorado River (upcoming, June 4-5, 2026).

Harry Surden (speaker) Improving Reliability in Legal Artificial Intelligence, LLM X Law Conference: Trusting AI in High-Stakes Legal Domain (upcoming, Cambridge, June 27, 2026).

Ann Lipton, Business Law Prof Blog posts available here.

Jeff Mahoney, Council of Institutional Investors (May 20, 2026), Shareholder Primacy (with Mike Levin, Apple podcasts link).

Lakshman Guruswamy (presenter), The Demise of International Treaties: The Future of Sustainable Development & Environmental Governance, SRP Sustainability Conference of American Legal Educators (Phoenix, May 15, 2026).

Paul Campos, Lawyers, Guns, & Money, blog posts available here.

[Frederic Bloom], Five CU Faculty Join Ranks of President's Teaching Scholars, CU Connections (May 14, 2026).

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Celebrating the Class of 2026

Emily Battaglia — Fri, 22 May 2026 16:09:21 +0000

Celebrating the Class of 2026 Emily Battaglia Fri, 05/22/2026 - 10:09

On Friday, May 8, graduates gathered with faculty, family, and dear friends for the 131st commencement ceremony honoring the Colorado Law class of 2026.

Watch the full ceremony.

After the procession concluded, Colorado Law Dean Lolita Buckner Inniss took the podium to recognize graduates and provide her opening remarks. Dean Inniss touched upon themes of agility, engagement, and resilience– encouraging students to let these words guide them as they head out into the world and write their own stories.

Dean Inniss reflected on the legal landscape students are entering, and while it is not an easy one, she reminded students that “...no matter how daunting the obstacles, do the work, because the goal is worthy.”

Dean Inniss concluded her remarks with a land acknowledgement, then welcomed Doug Good Feather to the stage to perform a powerful honor song.

Doug Good Feather

This was followed by welcoming remarks in Spanish given by Prof. Violeta Chapin.

Next, Prof. Blake Reid ’10 had the honor of both recognizing the top fifteen percent of the class as members of the Order of the Coif and presenting this year's recipient of the Honorary Order of the Coif, Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Monica Márquez. Márquez spoke directly to graduates, sharing: “Today you all walk away armed with a degree and education that no one can take from you; and my hope and wish for you is that you use these gifts to make the world a better place-- doing that is going to require courage. Our profession needs you, our democracy needs you, so show up.”

Chief Justice Monica Márquez

Class Treasurer Helen Boone took the stage next, followed by Class Vice President Gabriel Lenz, who remarked: “I am beyond thankful for this wonderful community that has and continues to flourish and uplift each of us. I know every one of us is walking away with a fire forever ignited by CU’s law students, faculty and staff, may it burn brightly forever.”

Class President Mary Elizabeth Barrow followed, reminding fellow graduates that “...the law is not a destination, it's a practice, you never stop getting better or refining or reaching for what justice looks like..today, for us, that practice begins.”

LLM Class Representative Ece Gülerman spoke to attendees next, imploring, “Graduation invites celebration, but it also asks something of us: what kind of lawyers will we be? What kind of judgment will we bring to the world? Whatever path we take next, I hope we carry a sense of responsibility with us.”

LLM Class President Ece Gülerman

Cristal Mendoza then spoke on behalf of the MSL class, sharing more about the study of ethics and compliance and the role compliance professionals play in the legal field. She concluded her remarks, stating: “Graduates: we embarked on this journey with a purpose and now leave to become leaders-- we will become the change we want to see in the world.”

Class Secretary Miles McLendon then introduced Keynote Speaker, Professor Helen Norton.

Norton’s compelling remarks touched upon the world our graduates are facing, pondering the question: How do we live and work bravely in a time of uncertainty and challenge?”

Professor Helen Norton

Norton noted that while we cannot control the future, “...we can control our effort, patience and compassion. Sometimes the external world delivers us setbacks...we should anticipate this, and each setback is a reminder to hope, reengage, and start anew”

Assistant Dean of Student Services Emily Horowitz announced the hooding of the graduates, and each of the students triumphantly walked across the stage. Law Alumni Board member Marco Chayet ’97 then welcomed the class to Colorado Law's extraordinary alumni community. As the program drew to a close, Dean Inniss recited the traditional Sears Charge and the audience gave final wave of congratulatory applause. Then, attendees headed back to the Wolf Law Building to celebrate at the reception, with a recessional led by Denver-based band, Brothers of Brass.

On Friday, May 8, graduates gathered with faculty, family, and dear friends for the 131st commencement ceremony honoring the Colorado Law class of 2026.

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Getting to Know Professor Justin Murray

Emily Battaglia — Tue, 12 May 2026 19:07:24 +0000

Getting to Know Professor Justin Murray Emily Battaglia Tue, 05/12/2026 - 13:07

In August, Professor Justin Murray will join the Colorado Law Faculty as Associate Professor. Prior to joining Colorado Law, Professor Murray served on the faculty of New York Law School since 2019. He teaches or has taught criminal law, criminal procedure, constitutional law, and race, bias, and advocacy. He also co-directed NYLS's Criminal Justice Institute.

Professor Murray's scholarship focuses on prosecutorial institutions and decision making, and on strategies for preventing and penalizing illegal conduct on the part of prosecutors and other criminal justice actors. His academic work has been published in a number of law journals, including the Harvard Law Review, the University of Pennsylvania Law Review, the Virginia Law Review, and the Washington University Law Review. His scholarship has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court and by judges on other courts, and he received the Otto Walter Award for best article by a full-time faculty member from the NYLS faculty for his 2021 article, "Policing Procedural Error in the Lower Criminal Courts."

Professor Murray has served as Chair of the Association of American Law Schools Criminal Procedure Section and remains a member of the Section's executive committee. He is a Special Editor for the Journal of Legal Education, a member of the Advisory Board for Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Books, and a member of the planning committee for the Decarceration Law Professors group, among other institutional and service roles.

Professor Murray began his career as a clerk on the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. After that, he spent four years as an appellate lawyer at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, followed by a year at the Consumer Fraud Bureau of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.

Learn more about Professor Murray, his work, and career accomplishments in the Q&A below.

What excites you most about life in Colorado?

JM: Boulder is my hometown. In fact, my mother went to CU for law school, and my earliest and most treasured memories took place on and around this very campus. The natural beauty, the arts and culture scene, and above all the fun and quirky people who live here -- all of these make Boulder a wonderful place to live and learn.

What drew you to pursue a legal career?

JM: I chose law as my profession out of a desire to represent and assist people experiencing poverty or other kinds of marginalization. When I first started law school, I did not yet know exactly what shape this would take for me (and I often remind my students that it's okay to take some time figuring this out!). But the same core commitments that brought me to law school also informed my later professional trajectory, from becoming a judicial clerk to working as a public defender and ultimately becoming a professor.

Can you share a bit about any current projects you are working on?

JM: My research concentrates primarily on criminal prosecutors, since prosecutors play a large role -- I would say too large a role -- in determining the outcomes of the adjudicative process. I am particularly interested in such questions as: How do prosecutors make the decisions that are entrusted to their discretion? How can they be held accountable for those decisions? How can we reform prosecutorial institutions to make the criminal justice system more equitable? My current academic projects investigate these questions from varying angles.

What is your proudest career accomplishment so far?

JM: My proudest professional achievement lies in the role I have played, however modest, in helping to cultivate in my students the legal knowledge, critical thinking skills, and thirst for justice that will prepare them for successful and rewarding careers in law.

How does your experience as a former legal practitioner shape your work as a professor?

JM: As a lawyer I was constantly producing written work. Lawyers are writers, and so law schools must do everything they can to sharpen to a knife's edge their students' legal writing capabilities. Though I teach doctrinal courses, not writing courses, I try to incorporate opportunities for students to write -- and to acquire feedback on their writing -- wherever I am able.

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ICYMI: Faculty Publications, Media Mentions, and Faculty & Staff Activities

Emily Battaglia — Mon, 11 May 2026 20:22:27 +0000

ICYMI: Faculty Publications, Media Mentions, and Faculty & Staff Activities Emily Battaglia Mon, 05/11/2026 - 14:22

Faculty Publications

Scott Skinner-Thompson, Gender Therapy False Equivalency, 103 Denver L. Rev. 299 (2026).

Govind Persad, Against a Medical Exception to Equal Protection, 83 Wash. & Lee L. Rev. 335 (2026).

Could AI Be Licensed to Practice Oncology?, ASCO AI in Oncology (April 24, 2026).

Media Mentions

[Chris Winter, GWC], Maci Lesh, Science of Less: The Colorado River's Shrinking Reality, Rocky Mountain Collegian (May 6, 2026).

[Mark Squillace], Gary Wockner, 'No New Depletions' Has to be in a Colorado River Deal, News from the States (May 8, 2026).

[Scott Skinner-Thompson], Jamie O'Rourke, After SCOTUS Ruled Against Conversion Therapy Ban, Conservatives 'Chomping at the Bit' to Defeat More Pro-LGBTQ Laws, Colorado Times Recorder (May 6, 2026).

[Kathleen Lord, KWIP], Byrce Patterson, Court Finds Evidence Issues in Deborah Nicholls Trial, KJCT (May 6, 2026).

Aiden Hulting, Deborah Nicholls May Have a New Trial After the Court Finds Possible Violations, KOAA (May 6, 2026).

[Ann Lipton], James Fontanella-Khan, Can The Meme Stock King Pull Off Audacious eBay Swoop?, Financial Times (May 5, 2026).

Anirban Sen, Ross Kerber, & Suzanne McGree, Analysis: SpaceX IPO Gives Musk Sweeping Power and Curbs Shareholder Rights, Reuters (May 6, 2026).

Justin Fox, A Proposed Billionaire Tax Exposes the Dual-Share Racket, Bloomberg Law (May 6, 2026).

Vivek Krishnamurthy, The Method in Iran's Madness? Closure of Strait of Hormuz Echoes a Centuries-old Danish Play- and is a Tragedy for the World Order, The Conversation (May 5, 2026).

[Jonathon Booth], Seth Klamann, Colorado Lawmakers Kill 'No Kings Act' That Would Have Allowed People to Sue Federal Officials, Denver Post (May 5, 2026).

Faculty & Staff Activities

Sloan Speck, TaxProf Blog posts available here.

[Andrew Schwartz], Prof. Andrew Schwartz Presents at the 32nd Annual International Institute for Securities Market Growth and Development, Colorado Law (May 4, 2026).

Govind Persad (speaker), Fairly Allocating Scarce Medical Resources in an Unfair World: Equal Concern and Operationalization, Ira W. DeCamp Bioethics Seminars (Princeton University, May 6, 2026).

Ann Lipton, Business Law Prof Blog posts available here.

Challenging Advance Notice Bylaws, Precatory Proposal Proxy Solicitation (May 7, 2026), Shareholder Primacy (with Mike Levin, Apple podcasts link).

Paul Campos, Lawyers, Guns, & Money, blog posts available here.

[Prof. Emeritus Norman Aaronson], Erin Calkins, From The Peace Corps to the Clinic: Forty Years At Colorado Law, Colorado Law (May 1, 2026).

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Meet the New Director of the Criminal Defense Clinic

erca3995 — Mon, 11 May 2026 17:13:12 +0000

Meet the New Director of the Criminal Defense Clinic erca3995 Mon, 05/11/2026 - 11:13

Erin Calkins

The Clinical Education Program welcomes Professor Ilan Friedmann-Grunstein as its new Criminal Defense Clinic Director. Originally from Northern California, Ilan comes to the role with extensive experience as a public defender and a commitment to community‑centered advocacy. In the conversation below, he reflects on what drew him to criminal defense work and how that history is shaping his vision for the clinic.

What drew you to criminal defense work, and how has that shaped your approach to client advocacy?

The answer has changed a little over time, but what first drew me to criminal defense was knowing that I wanted a career where I could help others, especially people who are underserved or less fortunate. When I was in college, I thought I wanted to go into law, originally human rights law. A friend of mine, who is now also a public defender, recommended I look into some criminal defense work.

Around that time, I came across Bryan Stevenson’s work and then read The New Jim Crow. That really solidified things for me. I decided this was what I wanted to do. I wanted to dedicate my life to addressing mass incarceration in this country, especially the racial justice issues tied up in the system.

That motivation continues to fuel my work. Public defense can be incredibly difficult. Caseloads are large, the work is demanding, and sometimes it feels like you’re pushing a boulder up a hill only to watch it roll back down. Remembering why I chose this work in the first place, and thinking about the impact I’ve been able to have, helps keep me going.

Are you hoping to collaborate with the Korey Wise Innocence Project while you’re here?

Absolutely. I would love to work with KWIP, especially given everything happening around the Forensic Science Integrity Act in Colorado. Longer term, I envision the clinic offering a mix of direct representation and project‑based work, so students can choose from different kinds of experiences. That could include misdemeanor representation alongside policy‑ or systems‑focused work connected to forensic integrity. I think that kind of variety would be incredibly valuable for students.

What are your goals for the Criminal Defense Clinic, and how do you see students contributing to them?

Our number one goal is to serve the community in Boulder and across Colorado by providing the highest quality representation possible. We want to give our clients representation that money can’t buy. Beyond individual cases, we also want to have an impact on practice and policy. That doesn’t always mean changing statutes or bringing major test cases. It can also mean influencing how criminal defense is practiced across the state and raising expectations for what high‑quality representation looks like.

Another core goal is making sure students are prepared to go out into their careers ready to be lawyers, no matter where they end up. That includes helping them understand the systemic issues around racial and economic justice that show up so clearly in criminal defense practice. I hope students leave the clinic with a strong awareness of those realities.

What will be your primary focus for the clinic this year and beyond?

This year, I want to start locally and build intentionally. That means focusing on direct representation in Boulder municipal court. I think it’s important for students to begin with hands-on, local work where they can see the immediate impact.

Longer term, my hope is to expand the clinic’s reach and influence statewide. I want the clinic to help shape how judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and other stakeholders understand their roles in the system. Ideally, that means shifting away from a primarily punitive framework toward one that actually seeks to help people.

There are also specific areas where I’d like the clinic to have a meaningful impact. Racial justice is obviously central. I’m also deeply concerned about how the criminal legal system in Colorado treats people with mental illness, and I see real opportunities for the clinic to engage in that space.

You’ve recently moved to Colorado. What do you enjoy most about being here, and how do you like to spend time outside of work?

I moved to Colorado in August of 2024. I work out of Colorado Springs but live in Castle Rock right now. What I love most about Colorado is the outdoors. My wife jokes that I’m becoming a total Colorado transplant stereotype.

I’ve gotten into climbing fourteeners with one of my coworkers, but more generally, I really value being able to get outside and spend time in nature. For me, sustainability as a public defender means disconnecting and recharging, and the outdoors is a big part of that. I’m pretty introverted, so getting into green spaces, being away from everything, and spending time in places that feel big and natural is how I reset. That’s probably my favorite part about living here.

What advice would you give to students considering a career in public defense or criminal law?

First, take the clinic. Even beyond that, get as much experience as possible being on your feet in court and meeting with clients one on one. That exposure teaches you how to do the work properly, but it also shows you just how challenging this work can be, which is important to understand before committing to it.

Talk to people who have done this work. I’m always happy to meet with students who are considering public defense, and I’m happy to connect them with career defenders as well. The biggest piece of advice I can give comes back to Bryan Stevenson’s idea of proximity. Making yourself proximate, not just physically but mentally, to the issues you’ll encounter in practice is critical.

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Prof. Andrew Schwartz presents at the 32nd Annual International Institute for Securities Market Growth and Development

Emily Battaglia — Mon, 04 May 2026 16:55:14 +0000

Prof. Andrew Schwartz presents at the 32nd Annual International Institute for Securities Market Growth and Development Emily Battaglia Mon, 05/04/2026 - 10:55

Professor Andrew A. Schwartz, DeMuth Chair of Business Law at the University of Colorado Law School, recently presented at the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s 32nd Annual International Institute for Securities Market Growth and Development, where he spoke on best practices in investment crowdfunding regulation. Over 50 countries and 100+ delegates were represented at the weeklong event, which was held at SEC headquarters in Washington, D.C., and organized by the SEC's Office of International Affairs.

Professor Schwartz's April 24 presentation, based on his book Investment Crowdfunding (Oxford University Press 2023), was preceded by remarks from SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, and SEC Chairman Paul Atkins delivered remarks at the opening of the event.

"It was a genuine honor to address such a remarkable gathering of securities regulators from around the world," said Professor Schwartz. "Delegates from countries including Brazil, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, and Jordan were there to draw on international experience as they build investment crowdfunding frameworks in their home jurisdictions, and several approached me afterward to continue the conversation. I look forward to staying in touch and helping them craft regulations that work for their markets."

Professor Schwartz joined the Colorado Law faculty in 2008 and was named the Laurence W. DeMuth Chair of Business Law in 2024. He teaches and publishes on corporate, securities and contract law, and has become an internationally recognized expert on investment crowdfunding. In 2017, Professor Schwartz served as a Fulbright Research Scholar at the University of Auckland Law School in New Zealand, where he has regularly returned as a visiting professor. Professor Schwartz is the author of one book, Investment Crowdfunding, published by Oxford University Press, as well as more than forty scholarly publications. Read his full bio here: /law/about/contact-us/directories/resident-faculty-directory/andrew-schwartz

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ICYMI: Faculty Publications, Media Mentions, and Faculty & Staff Activities

Emily Battaglia — Mon, 04 May 2026 16:44:01 +0000

ICYMI: Faculty Publications, Media Mentions, and Faculty & Staff Activities Emily Battaglia Mon, 05/04/2026 - 10:44

Faculty Publications

Deep Gulasekaram, The Borderline Constitution, 135 Yale L. J. 2065 (2026).

Media Mentions

[Doug Spencer], Simon Montlake, Voting Rights Ruling Amps Up Redistricting Contests. Will States Move Before November?, Christian Science Monitor (April 30, 2026).

[Scott Skinner-Thompson], Kyle Cooke, Q&A: Another Colorado Anti-Discrimination Case Heads to the Supreme Court, Rocky Mountain PBS (April 26, 2026).

Ian Lopez, Hot-Button State Health Laws Hit With First Amendment Challenges, Bloomberg Law (April 29, 2026).

[Ann Lipton], Leila Sheridan, Elon Musk Quietly Took $500 Million from SpaceX. An IPO Could Change Everything, Inc. (April 24, 2026).

[Vivek Krishnamurthy], Corbett Haase, As AI License Plate Readers Spread Across Colorado, Grassroots Movements Push Back, Colorado Sun (April 27, 2026).

[Violeta Chapin], Elizabeth Hernandez, He Married a Denver Teacher While in ICE Deportation. Now She's Fighting HIs Deportation: "We Just Want to Be Together", Denver Post (April 26, 2026).

Alan Gionet, Family of Boulder Firebombing Suspect Released in Colorado, Now Waiting Next Move, CBS News (April 27, 2026).

[Jonathon Booth], Abigail Ankeney, Louisville Woman Sentenced to Probation After Being Accused of Helping Her Mother Die by Suicide, Denver Post (April 24, 2026).

Faculty & Staff Activities

Sloan Speck, TaxProf Blog posts available here.

Ann Lipton, Business Law Prof Blog posts available here.

SpaceX Leaks, independent directors (April 29, 2026), Shareholder Primacy (with Mike Levin, Apple podcasts link).

[Melanie Kay], ��ӽ紫ý Team Competes in 2026 National Ethics Competition, Colorado (April 27, 2026).

Paul Campos, Lawyers, Guns, & Money, blog posts available here.

[Daniel Anderson, GWC](moderator), Beyond Wind River Panel, Wind River Water Forum (May 1, 2026)

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From the Peace Corps to the Clinic: Forty Years at Colorado Law

erca3995 — Fri, 01 May 2026 16:05:31 +0000

From the Peace Corps to the Clinic: Forty Years at Colorado Law erca3995 Fri, 05/01/2026 - 10:05

Erin Calkins

“You’re not a student. You’re a student attorney.” For forty years, that mindset shaped Norman “Norm” Aaronson’s approach to clinical teaching at Colorado Law. Joining the faculty in 1979, Norm was part of the clinic program from its earliest days and helped shape a model of hands‑on learning grounded in public service, trust in students, and real responsibility for real clients. From the Peace Corps to the courtroom, he reflects on a career defined by mentorship, service, and the power of learning law by doing.

Can you share what the clinics looked like when you first arrived at Colorado Law?
When I started, there were only four clinics. That was in 1979. We really took whatever came through the door in terms of intake. Each clinical professor worked with about 20 students. Over the years, we tried to limit the number of students, though I’m not entirely sure how we managed it at times. I remember handling close to 100 cases, which worked out to about five cases per student.
Before coming to Colorado Law, I was in the Peace Corps.

How did your time in the Peace Corps influence your career?
The Peace Corps significantly shaped my interest in public interest law. It was actually my first job outside of law school, though it happened in the middle of law school. I completed my first year at Boston University School of Law, then decided to drop out and join the Peace Corps.
This was during the Vietnam War, when there was a draft, and it was likely I would be sent to Vietnam. I wanted to serve through the Peace Corps instead. I had a roommate who was in the Peace Corps, a college roommate who joined during his first year of law school, and my twin brother joined a year before I did. My brother shared so many great stories about his experiences, and that really gave me a commitment to public service.
I loved my time there. It was a tremendous growth experience.

What did you do while serving in the Peace Corps?
I was assigned to teach in high schools, but I quickly realized that if you fulfilled your main duties, you often had the freedom to take on more. I started teaching extra classes at an orphanage with about 100 boys, where I taught art and English. I also taught an evening class for doctors and the chief of police.
You could create things and do what you wanted, as long as you accomplished what was expected of you. I taught classes of up to 120 students. It was also my first plane trip, to Iran. During that time, I realized how much I loved teaching. It was incredibly fun.

What came next after the Peace Corps?
I returned to law school and graduated in 1973. After that, I joined VISTA as a volunteer. My first assignment was with Colorado Rural Legal Services, which became my first job as a lawyer. I worked in Alamosa for about five years and loved helping people. I don’t think I’ve ever had a job that I hated.
After working as a staff attorney for about five years, a position opened up at the law school.

How long were you at Colorado Law, and how did you see the clinics change?
I was there for about 40 years.
Over time, we added more clinics, and they became more focused on specific areas such as immigration or family law. When clinics first started, there was a strong emphasis on courtroom and trial work. As the years went on, some clinics moved away from litigation.
Personally, I continued to take everything that came in. Gradually, I developed particular expertise in family law, immigration, and disability cases, and students were still able to experience a wide range of subject matter.

What did you enjoy most about teaching in the clinics?
What I loved most were the interactions with students and learning from them. Students are incredibly bright, and people often ask if they’ve changed over the years. I don’t really think they have. They tend to be people who care deeply about public service and helping others.
Teaching was fun, and it was a great experience. Most important to me was continuing to do legal aid work and helping clients.

Do any student experiences stand out over the years?
One student who was my top student one year is now a high‑level attorney at a large firm. We were working on a family law case involving a woman who had been abused and was from Mexico. She had two children, and we were handling a custody case.
That student came to me and said, “I’ve been doing research, and I think we could help her get a green card through the Violence Against Women Act.” I told her that was a great idea. She came back with her research, and I always told my students, “You’re not my assistant, you’re my co‑counsel.” We pursued it, and it worked. It was a life‑changing outcome for the client.
I also had students who excelled in asylum cases. Immigration court can be incredibly demanding, and those cases were some of the hardest, but we handled many of them and were very successful.

Were there any particularly challenging cases?
The last case I handled before retiring was very difficult. Our client was extremely challenging and dismissed us on a Friday before a Monday hearing. She didn’t like the advice we had given her.
When we went to court, the judge told her that she wasn’t granting a continuance. The judge explained that she had competent counsel and could fire us if she wanted, but proceedings would continue either way. Ultimately, the client decided to keep us.
My students did an exceptional job, despite how difficult the situation was. Later, the judge told me that while it was a tough case, the students handled it very well.

What did you try to emphasize to students in clinic?
I always told students that this wasn’t classroom work. This was real legal practice. You couldn’t say you were too busy with other coursework. Clinic work had to be a priority, and you had to learn how to adjust everything else around it.
Students weren’t just students, they were student attorneys. I wanted them thinking and acting like lawyers.

How important do you think clinics are for law students?
I think clinic participation is incredibly important. It gives students a real understanding of what the practice of law is like. Even students pursuing business law gain practical experience far beyond lectures, readings, and papers.
Clinic students know they’re signing up for a lot of work. They’re not just there to get a passing grade, they’re there because they care.

What have you been doing since retiring?
I retired in the summer of 2019 and took some time to think about what I wanted to do next. By the fall, I began volunteering as a tutor for immigrants who are applying for citizenship. I work with an agency that provides classes in citizenship and English, and I’ve been volunteering with them for about seven years now.
It’s been the perfect extension of my immigration work, without the same level of stress. The satisfaction comes much more quickly. I work with people from all over the world and tutor them as much as needed to make sure they pass.
I’m also enjoying gardening, exercising, traveling and of course, time with my kids and grandchildren. Two of my children went to law school, and my son was actually in Professor Deborah Cantrell's clinic.

What advice would you give clinic students?
Take full advantage of it. Put real focus and attention into your clinic work and think about what you can get out of it. Don’t coast.
Meet people in the field you’re working in. Learn from them, learn from your fellow students, and learn from your clients. I often felt like teaching was a two‑way street. I learned just as much from my students.
Be prepared. Judges are often supportive of student attorneys, but not always. Some judges will challenge you directly, and you have to be ready for that.
And remember, you’re not just a student. You’re a student attorney.

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ICYMI: Faculty Publications, Media Mentions, and Faculty & Staff Activities

Cecelia Tecu — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:40:47 +0000

ICYMI: Faculty Publications, Media Mentions, and Faculty & Staff Activities Cecelia Tecu Mon, 04/27/2026 - 09:40

Media Mentions

[Chris Winter, GWC], Caroline Llanes, Severe Colorado Drought Leads to Water Releases From Upper Basin Reservoirs and Reduced Flows From Lake Powell, KDNK Radio (April 22, 2026).

[Jeanne Segil, Korey Wise Innocence Project], Shelly Bradbury, A Denver Jury Convicted Him of Killing a Baby 26 Years Ago. Now the DA Agrees His Conviction Should be Erased, Denver Post (April 20, 2026).

Shelly Bradbury, Denver Judge Overturns Murder Conviction, Orders Man Freed After 27 Years in Prison, Denver Post (April 21, 2026).

Kiara DeMare, A Denver Man Convicted of Murder Had His Life Sentence Overturned After 28 Years in Prison, Denverite (April 21, 2026).

Matt Kyle, Denver Man Convicted of Baby's Murder Has Conviction Overturned After 27 Years, Denver Gazette (April 21, 2022).

Faculty and Staff Activities

Sloan Speck, TaxProf Blog posts available here.

[Sarah Matsumoto], Ka Yong Kleiner, From Insight to Impact: Meet ��ӽ紫ý's Sesquicentennial Faculty Scholars, ��ӽ紫ý (April 20, 2026).

Ann Lipton, Business Law Prof Blog posts available here.

TSLA, How Activists Think (April 22, 2026), Shareholder Primacy (with Mike Levin, Apple podcasts link).

Paul Campos, Lawyers, Guns, & Money, blog posts available here.

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��ӽ紫ý team competes in 2026 National Ethics Case Competition

Kellen Wilson — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:40:17 +0000

��ӽ紫ý team competes in 2026 National Ethics Case Competition Kellen Wilson Mon, 04/27/2026 - 09:40

From left, Ben Shatz, Ayushi Sabnis, Baat Enosh and Amit Karin Rege traveled to Washington, D.C., to compete against 18 other university teams.

A team of law and computer science students from the University of Colorado Boulder traveled to Washington, D.C., in April for a competition requiring them to resolve complex business and ethical dilemmas before a panel of judges.

The ��ӽ紫ý team, which included J.D. student Ben Shatz, Master of Studies in Laws student Baat Enosh, and computer science graduate students Amit Kiran Rege and Ayushi Sabnis, advanced to the semifinals of the National Ethics Case Competition, where they faced 18 other teams at the Bush School of Government and Public Service.

“It was nice to get to use my theater and business background to represent CU Law in this competition,” Shatz said. “It was my first time in D.C., and I can honestly say I’ve never been anywhere else like it.”

The event included a formal presentation and question-and-answer session testing their abilities to defend principle-based solutions to complex ethical challenges.

“The competition was unique because there was no single ‘right’ answer,” said Rege, the team’s captain. “The primary challenge was synthetizing a wide range of perspectives into a cohesive conclusion that remained bold and opinionated without becoming generic.”

Although Cornell University left with the top prize, the ��ӽ紫ý team earned the “Most Innovative Solutions” award for its essay, which proposed a comprehensive governance framework for AI model companies.

The competition is led by Texas A&M University in partnership with the Denver-based Daniels Fund.

“This competition develops future leaders to make sound decisions under pressure when there isn’t a clear right answer,” said Hanna Skandera, president and CEO of the Daniels Fund. “The students advancing to Washington have demonstrated not only strong analytical ability, but the judgment and conviction required to lead ethically.”

The team was advised by Associate Professor Melanie Kay, director of the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at Colorado Law.

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���ӽ紫ý team competes in 2026 National Ethics Case Competition

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��ӽ紫ý team competes in 2026 National Ethics Case Competition