CTLA Supports Bar Associations After New Supreme Court Rulings
The United States Supreme Court has recently made two rulings that greatly impact and limit the rights of minorities in America. The Colorado Trial Lawyers Association stands in support of the Sam Cary Bar and LGBTQ Bar and their stances considering these recent decisions and the impacts they will have on Coloradan consumers.
On June 29, 2023, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. Harvard that allows colleges – and likely any other institution – to give preferential treatment to the privileged class of legacy students and large donors while forbidding such institutions from considering diversity in their admissions process.
See the Sam Cary Bar Association’s statement here.
On June 30, 2023, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling in 303 Creative v. Elenis that will allow businesses to deny their services to LGBTQ customers or clients by claiming they sell or provide expressive or artistic services protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution.
See the LGBTQ Bar Association’s statement here.
The Colorado Trial Lawyers Association fully supports these communities during this difficult and discriminatory time. CTLA honors and celebrates diversity, authenticity, and equity among all consumers, and is committed to creating a legal community and judicial system that upholds justice and equality among ALL Coloradans – regardless of one’s identity. Everyone deserves the right to exist and to fully participate in our society.
Colorado Trial Lawyers Association’s Statement Calls for Accountability After the Marshall Fires
June 8, 2023 (Denver, Colorado) – Today, Boulder County Sheriff Curtis Johnson and District Attorney Michael Dougherty announced the outcome of the 2021 Marshall Fires, showing the wildfire had two points of ignition: one on a residential property associated with a religious group, and one started by hot aluminum particles from an Xcel Energy power line.
The wildfire took place in December of 2021, destroying over 1,000 homes and claiming two lives in Boulder County. After over a year of intense and thorough investigation, we are grateful to the Boulder County Sherriff and District Attorney for their diligent work in investigating this hardship and making sure those affected receive justice.
The civil justice system is imperative in giving these homeowners the opportunity to hold negligent corporations and individuals and insurance companies responsible and allowing justice to be achieved. Holding those who ignited this fire accountable is the first step toward stopping similar and avoidable tragedies in the future.
Since then, impacted homeowners have struggled to rebuild their homes and their lives due to the insurance industry’s unwillingness to pay out these legitimate claims. These Coloradans and their families are unable to get their lives started again because of the insurance companies’ delaying and denying techniques, forcing their policyholders to relive this horrible experience every day. While this won’t bring their homes back, this is the first step to achieving justice and accountability.
“The insurance industry needs to do the right thing and pay out the claims their policyholders have made after losing their homes,” says CTLA Insurance Bad Faith Committee Chair Jennifer Milne of Cannon Law. “People deserve the protections and coverage they’ve paid for, especially at such a crucial and trying time in their lives.”
Now knowing the causes and repercussions of this tragedy, negligent corporations and individuals, and insurance companies must do right by Coloradans.
# # #
The Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA) is the largest specialty bar association in Colorado. Our mission is to protect people and right wrongs through fair laws, innovative legal education, and an inclusive professional community.
Club Q Statement
The Colorado Trial Lawyers Association joins the Colorado LGBT Bar Association in condemning the mass shooting at Club Q. We remember the five souls lost and offer our deepest condolences to their families for the tragic and senseless loss of life.
We encourage all CTLA members to read the Colorado LGBT Bar Association’s statement on this violent attack.
CTLA is committed to fostering an inclusive legal community. Our trial lawyers also dedicate their careers to protecting people from harm and discrimination. It is only natural that we have the responsibility to stand up against hate and build a community where everyone can exist without fear of persecution.
For those looking to support the LGBTQ+ community, the Colorado LGBT Bar asks that you give money to the
As an association, we are committed to working with the Colorado LGBT Bar Association to combat the rising threats against LGBTQ+ people. In a democracy, when anyone’s rights are in danger, no matter their political affiliation, everyone’s rights are in danger.
Statement Affirming
Individual Rights
CTLA is committed to the protections and advancement of individual rights and recognizes the fundamental right of every person to exercise control over their own bodies and condemns the recent US Supreme Court decision Dobbs v. Jackson.
Trial lawyers dedicate their careers to protecting people from harm and discrimination inflicted by special interests and governments. The Dobbs decision threatens a person’s control over their own bodies, their health, their choice to have an abortion, and their ability to participate in the economy. CTLA will continue to do everything within our power to stand up for those who need justice when personal decisions are endangered by government interference.
Colorado Trial Lawyers Cares, our affiliated charity funded entirely by voluntary donations, will donate $5,000 to provide medical services for patients who come to Colorado because of restrictions or bans in their own states. Members of CTLA are also working with Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains and other partners to ensure anyone who needs legal services will receive quality legal counsel due to the ongoing questions around this ill-conceived decision.
Beyond this Supreme Court decision on reproductive rights, there are signals that more individual rights are at risk: marriage rights, contraception rights, LGBTQIA+ rights.
In a democracy, when anyone’s rights are in danger, no matter their political affiliation, everyone’s rights are in danger. We cannot ignore that the warning lights for our individual rights are blinking red. Historically, the worst we can do is nothing.
