News

In Memoriam: Justice Melissa Hart

Kellen Wilson — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 18:40:01 +0000

In Memoriam: Justice Melissa Hart Kellen Wilson Mon, 10/05/2026 - 12:40

Share Your Remembrances

Colleagues, students and friends are invited to leave their remembrances on Colorado Law’s digital memory book. Feel free to share a story, photo, memory, or expression of sympathy to be shared among Justice Hart’s family and friends.

View the memory book

Colorado Law mourns the loss of a stalwart in legal education and practice.

Former Colorado Supreme Court Justice Melissa Hart—a longtime faculty member whose work influenced scores of students at the University of Colorado Law School—passed away Oct. 1, 2026, at age 57.

Colleagues in the law school and broader legal community are remembering a scholar, educator, and judge whose career reflected intellectual rigor, deep reverence for the rule of law, and a tireless devotion to serving underrepresented communities.

“Melissa Hart’s legacy of service was substantial, both during her time as a professor at the University of Colorado Law School and later as a justice of the Colorado Supreme Court,” said Dean Lolita Buckner Inniss. “She will long be remembered for her engagements in support of access to justice.”

Hart grew up in Denver and graduated from East High School before earning a bachelor’s degree from Harvard-Radcliffe College. A 1995 graduate of Harvard Law School, Hart clerked for Judge Guido Calabresi of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and for Justice John Paul Stevens of the U.S. Supreme Court. Hart practiced law for several years in Washington, D.C., including as a trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, before becoming an educator.

She began teaching at Colorado Law in 2000 and was named associate professor in 2001, beginning a lengthy faculty career that touched hundreds of students whom she taught and mentored in civil procedure, ethics, family law and more.

She was the first to hold the Schaden Chair in Experiential Learning and served as director of the Byron R. White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law from 2010-2017. Hart established and led the Colorado Law chapter of the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project, a national program that sends law students into high schools to teach constitutional law, even leading high school participants to Washington, D.C., to participate in the program’s national moot court.

During her career, she authored amicus briefs in employment discrimination cases under consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court and in other cases before courts of appeals. She also represented clients through Metro Volunteer Lawyers—just a sample of the numerous pro bono activities where she lent her time.

In 2011, the law school presented Hart with the Clifford Calhoun Public Service Award, granted annually to a faculty or staff member who makes notable contributions to the school’s public service mission. The following year, the University of Colorado awarded her the Chase Faculty Community Service Award.

After her appointment to the Colorado Supreme Court in 2017, Hart continued educating students, teaching courses in Legal Ethics and Professionalism and Employment Discrimination as an adjunct until 2025.

Hart was also a leader in legal education nationwide, holding several leadership roles in several organizations, and was serving as chair of the Council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar at the time of her passing.

A grandchild of Archibald Cox, a renowned legal scholar who served as U.S. Solicitor General under President John F. Kennedy and special prosecutor during the Watergate scandal, Hart remained closely connected to state and federal courts. She was involved in bringing numerous Supreme Court justices to the CU �Ǹ�Թ� campus to speak, including Justice John Paul Stevens in 2011 and Justice Elena Kagan in 2019.

Although her career allowed her to rub elbows with some of the biggest names in the American legal system, those who knew her well say she was most at home as an advocate for the “underdog.” Much of her legal writing and practice was focused on issues tied to discrimination, bias, equity and access to justice.

“Lawyers are problem-solvers,” Hart said in a 2017 Q&A for Colorado Law. “When you can work on solving problems that are the largest social problems, or the problems of people whose needs are the most significant, it feels like you are using the special skills and knowledge for the greatest good. There is nothing more satisfying.”

Colorado Law and Dean Inniss extend our deepest sympathies to her family, friends and colleagues, who will continue to celebrate her prodigious impact and lasting legacy.

View Justice Hart’s scholarly work

The William A. Wise Law Library at Colorado Law has compiled pieces of Justice Hart’s work in the display case on the second floor of the library. It features a selection of her law review articles on a variety of topics from employment discrimination to gender discrimination to an exploration of the invisible labor of internships, as well as Colorado CLE material on employment law.

Her articles are also available in full on our institutional repository of faculty work.

Colleagues in the law school and broader legal community are remembering a scholar, educator, and judge whose career reflected intellectual rigor, deep reverence for the rule of law, and a tireless devotion to serving underrepresented communities.

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

Cecelia Tecu — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 15:10:47 +0000

ICYMI: Faculty Publications, Media Mentions, and Faculty & Staff Activities Cecelia Tecu Mon, 10/05/2026 - 09:10

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

Andrew Schwartz, Time, Trusts, & Termination: The Rise of Finite Foundations in Canada, 45 Est. & Tr. J. 308 (2026).

Scott Skinner-Thompson, The Court's Queer Erasure, (SSRN, forthcoming Cardozo L. Rev. 2027).

Media Mentions

[Violeta Chapin], Seth Klamann, Pepper Spray, Health Crises and Rotten Food: Inside Colorado's Only Immigrant Detention Center, Denver Post (Sept. 27, 2026).

[Deep Gulasekaram], Abene Clayton, Trump and His Allies Credit Deportations with Record Low Crime. Experts Disagree, The Guardian (Oct. 1, 2026).

[Ann Lipton], Mike Leonard, Silver Lake Suit Against Icahn Looks to End Appraisal Arbitrage, Bloomberg Law (Sept. 28, 2026).

[Sarah Matsumoto, Jonathan Skinner-Thompson, Adam Sopko, & Chris Winter], Amy Bounds, CU Law Professors Preview Suncor Climate Liability Supreme Court Case, �Ǹ�Թ� Daily Camera (Sept .28, 2026).

[Scott Skinner-Thompson], Marco Poggio, A2J at the High Court: Gun Bans, Voting and Civil Remedies, Law360 (Sept. 25, 2026).

[Mark Squillace], Zoe Rom, The Forest Service is Poised to Hand Off One of the West's Most Visited Landscapes, High Country News (Sept. 29, 2026).

[Chris Winter, GWC], Marilyn Moore, SCOTUS to Hear �Ǹ�Թ�'s Case Against Suncor, Setting a Precedent for Climate Change Cases, 9News (Sept. 30, 2026).

Faculty and Staff Activities
Paul Campos, Lawyers, Guns, & Money, blog posts available here.

Ann Lipton, Business Law Prof Blog posts available here.

Vanessa Racehorse (moderator), "Land Back: Comparative Hemispheric Perspectives," Center for Native American & Indigenous Studies (upcoming, Oct. 14, 2026).

Scott Skinner-Thompson elected as a member of the American Law Institute (Oct. 2026).

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

Cecelia Tecu — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 15:06:17 +0000

ICYMI: Faculty Publications, Media Mentions, and Faculty & Staff Activities Cecelia Tecu Mon, 09/28/2026 - 09:06

Media Mentions

[Mark Squillace], Elizabeth Stewart-Severy, Groups Call for Greater Public Input on Proposed Maroon Bells Outsourcing, Aspen Daily News (Sept. 21, 2026).

[Silicon Flatirons Center], Jane Rooney, West Slope Startup Week Will be Hosted for its Fourth Year in Durango, Durango Herald (Sept. 23, 2026).

Faculty and Staff Activities

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

[Maryam Jamshidi], Brett Wilkins, 'Do I Drive Them Into Hell?' Trump Again Threatens to 'Annihilate' Iran in Genocidal UN Speech (Sept. 22, 2026).

Ann Lipton, Business Law Prof Blog posts available here.

The New SEC Rules (Sept. 23, 2026), Shareholder Primacy (with Mike Levin, Apple podcasts link).

Sarah Matusmoto, Jonathon Skinner-Thompson, Adam Sopko, Chris Winter (panelists), "Climate Change at the Court: Suncor Energy Inc. v. �Ǹ�Թ� County," Byron White Center, Getches-Wilkinson Center, & Natural Resource & Environmental Law Clinic (upcoming, Sept. 30, 2026).

Scott Skinner-Thompson, "The Constitutionality of Trans People," Mini Law School (upcoming, Sept. 30).

[Chris Winter], Yvaine Ye, A Landmark �Ǹ�Թ� Climate Case is Headed to SCOTUS. What's at Stake?, CU �Ǹ�Թ� Today (Sept. 24, 2026).

[GWC], Donor Generosity Powers Another Record-Breaking Fundraising Year at CU �Ǹ�Թ�, CU �Ǹ�Թ� Office of Advancement (Sept. 15, 2026).

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STUDENT ORG SPOTLIGHT – LatinX Law Student Association

Cecelia Tecu — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 15:07:22 +0000

STUDENT ORG SPOTLIGHT – LatinX Law Student Association Cecelia Tecu Fri, 09/25/2026 - 09:07

From left to right, top to bottom: Diego Cabrera-Gutierrez, Kurshvin Ragavoodoo, Jennifer Portillo, Natalie Darquea, Yatzari Lozano Vazquez, Emilia Endara; Violeta Chapin (faculty advisor), Rafaela Lindnau Noronha, Sophia Boldt, Izzy Goss.

Cecelia Tecu

Colorado Rapids Noche Latina

Colorado Law is home to nearly 50 student organizations. These organizations empower law students to increase their knowledge, gain leadership experience, network, and collaborate with the legal community—all while building connections with classmates that will last throughout their careers and beyond.

As we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15-Oct. 15, take a moment to meet the LatinX Law Students Association at Colorado Law.

This organization is led by President Jennifer Portillo ‘28, Vice President Sophia Boldt ‘28, Treasurer Natalie Darquea ’28, CHBA Representatives Luis Lopez ‘28 and Yatzari Lozano Vazquez ‘28, Social Media Manager Emilia Endara ‘28, Events Coordinator Izzy Goss ‘28, LLM Rep Kurshvin Ragavoodoo (LLM ‘27), and 1L Reps Rafaela Lindnau Noronha ‘29 and Diego Cabrera-Gutierrez ‘29.

LLSA hosts a variety of events throughout the school year, including Resume Panels with alumni and law school preparation seminars for 1Ls.

“We always have attorneys come in, which students can talk with afterwards and can connect. We try to bring in attorneys with a lot of different backgrounds, so they have a little bit of exposure to different people,” said Portillo. “Additionally, we really do try to be a liaison between CHBA and the students. CHBA throws a lot of great events that connects students to networking and mentorship opportunities.”

LLSA provides students with a variety of opportunities to get involved in skill- building and networking at the national level. Portillo emphasized the importance of preparing members to enter the legal field with connections and valuable experience.

“Just a couple weeks ago, the organization got to send two students out to D.C. for the Hispanic National Bar Association Conference, and that was an incredible networking event,” Portillo said. “It was also just very uplifting to be in a community of other Latine professionals and know that you're not alone.”

LLSA strives to create opportunities for Colorado Law students to give back to the Latine community of Colorado. LLSA also works to serve the local immigrant community through a variety of initiatives and club-sponsored projects.

“Recently, students have been able to volunteer with the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition to help immigrant families complete family preparedness packets,” said Endara. “We're going to continue to look for similar opportunities for volunteering. It’s a very cool experience to be able to offer our members, to give back to the community, and get involved.”

According to the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, the aim of these preparedness packets is to, “increase one’s sense of security, increase family stability, and promote mental health by assisting individuals and families in organizing their personal information in the event the family faces immigration enforcement.”

Portillo emphasized the importance of giving back, and how LLSA serves as a platform for involved students to help the local �Ǹ�Թ� community. In addition to serving the larger Colorado population, LLSA aims to make an impact close to home.

“I think a lot of immigrant and Latine communities are in a lot of fear, and they need advocates that they know that they can trust. So, we really do try to coordinate volunteer opportunities. I think that's a big priority for us,” said Portillo.

Endara and Portillo highlighted that LLSA has allowed them to find a sense of connection and cultural similarity, not just academic and professional opportunities. They explained how their identities allow them to pursue their passions while also giving back to their own cultural communities.

“The opportunity to connect with people about having a common background and hearing about other people's experiences has been the most rewarding part to me,” said Endara.

“I also just love how close our board is. We'll hang out outside of school and try to check in on each other. It's not just a title — we really care about each other,” added Portillo.

The next LLSA event takes place on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, with a back-to-school panel in collaboration with the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association.

To get involved with the LatinX Law Students Association, students can email llsa@colorado.edu

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Scholarship+ Celebration highlights the impact of philanthropy

Cecelia Tecu — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 15:22:05 +0000

Scholarship+ Celebration highlights the impact of philanthropy Cecelia Tecu Wed, 09/23/2026 - 09:22

Cecelia Tecu

Colorado Law hosted the 2026 Scholarship+ Celebration on Sept. 17, 2026, at the St. Julien Hotel in �Ǹ�Թ�, drawing more than 150 guests for its annual celebration of donors and student scholarship recipients.

The event gives donors and students a chance to meet face-to-face, celebrating that scholarship donations are not just transactions but investments in outstanding students, their education, their lives, and their future careers. The annual event also recognizes and celebrates donors to the summer fellowship program and to the Loan Repayment Program.

During the celebration, student scholarship recipients Camila Peralta ‘27 and Caleb Kirk ‘27 spoke about their paths to law school. The students also explored how scholarships helped support not just their education but also gave them the ability to enjoy Colorado and create fulfilling lives in �Ǹ�Թ�.

The event also included remarks from Marco Chayet '97, adjunct professor and member of the Law Alumni Board. Chayet spoke about the legacy of giving started by his parents, Marvin and Judi Wolf, and the deep personal impact it has had on his life and the law school. He reminisced about the groundbreaking of Wolf Law, which opened 20 years ago, and carried with him the golden shovel that was used at the groundbreaking of the building. The gold shovel was generously donated to the law school for display as part of its history. Chayet provided a message of encouragement for student scholarship recipients, and for families who have contributed to scholarships and other types of support that serve Colorado Law students and faculty.

The celebration, emceed by Assistant Dean for Advancement Robert Garelick, also featured a video message from Dean Lolita Buckner Inniss. Inniss shared that this year, the school was able to offer scholarship support at some level to 100% of Colorado Law students who applied.

The audience also heard reflections from Kristine M. Jackson, senior assistant dean of enrollment management, who leads the committee that matches scholarship awards to student recipients.

Colorado Law is proud to honor our accomplished students and generous alumni and community donors who make it possible for so many students to thrive.

View the Photo Gallery

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

Cecelia Tecu — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 14:48:32 +0000

ICYMI: Faculty Publications, Media Mentions, and Faculty & Staff Activities Cecelia Tecu Mon, 09/21/2026 - 08:48

Faculty Publications

Ann Lipton, Supreme Amnesia: The Shifting Standards for Fraud-on-the-Market Class Certification (SSRN.com, forthcoming, Business Lawyer).

Media Mentions

[Prof. Emeritus Brad Bernthal; Silicon Flatirons Center], Nick Coltrain, Phil Weiser's Role Starting CU Tech Hub Offer's a Window into Gubernatorial Candidate's Approach, Denver Post (Sept. 13, 2026).

[Katrina Grantz, Getches-Wilkinson Center], Marianne Goodland, Colorado River Managers Warn of Worsening Conditions, Looming cuts, and Shrinking Reservoirs, Colorado Politics (Sept. 15, 2026)(reprints include Colorado Springs Gazette).

[Ann Lipton], Maura Webber Sadovi, SEC Moves to Rollback Shareholder Proxy Proposal Rules, CFO Dives (Sept. 16, 2026)

[Mark Squillace], Jake Bolster & Wyatt Myskow, Court Rules in Favor of Feds and Denver Water on Dam Expansion, Inside Climate News (Sept. 16, 2026).

Faculty & Staff Activities

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

Jennifer Hendricks, "What Constitutional Crisis? The Anti-Democratic Constitution and What Democracy Could Look Like," Mini Law School (upcoming, Sept. 23).

Maryam Jamshidi (panelist), "Exceptions to Immunity", at The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act at 50, George Washington Law Review Symposium (upcoming, Oct. 9, 2026)(coverage in the Transnational Litigation Blog).

Ann Lipton, Business Law Prof Blog posts available here.

Universal Proxy in 2026 (Sept. 16, 2026), Shareholder Primacy (with Mike Levin, Apple podcasts link).

Adam Sopko (moderator), "Back to the Lab: The Promise of States in Checking Federal Power and Advancing Individual Rights", Rutgers University Law Review Symposium (Sept. 18, 2026).

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Colorado Law recruiting alumni, community volunteers for Marshall Brennan moot court

Cecelia Tecu — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 17:40:12 +0000

Colorado Law recruiting alumni, community volunteers for Marshall Brennan moot court Cecelia Tecu Wed, 09/16/2026 - 11:40

This semester, students participating in Colorado Law’s Marshall Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project are teaching high school students in the Denver area about the Constitution and preparing them for a statewide Moot Court competition.

The Marshall Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project is recruiting volunteer judges, lawyers, and law students to score the rounds of the competition and provide light feedback to the students.

The competition will take place Saturday, Nov. 7 at Colorado Law (2450 Kittredge Loop Rd, �Ǹ�Թ�, CO), and will consist of three rounds (at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., and 11 a.m.). There will also be a short training course for judging (~15 minutes) on the morning of the competition.

Interested volunteers can fill out this form to supply their contact information and availability by Oct. 31.

Coordinators will be in contact as the competition comes closer to provide parking information, training and scoring materials, and room and round assignments. Further questions may be directed to the Marshall Brennan judge recruitment team:

Gianni Magnini: gian.magnini@colorado.edu

Zoë Wilhelmsen: zoe.wilhelmsen@colorado.edu

Stephen Hayes: stephen.hayes@colorado.edu

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

Cecelia Tecu — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 14:49:21 +0000

ICYMI: Faculty Publications, Media Mentions, and Faculty & Staff Activities Cecelia Tecu Mon, 09/14/2026 - 08:49

Faculty Publications

Sarah Krakoff, The Meridians Ahead: Ideas for the Next Century of Natural Resources Laws, ABA Energy, Environment, & Natural Resources (Sept./Oct. 2026).

Delaram Takyar, Opting Out: Access to Justice Beyond Family Courts (SSRN.com, forthcoming Maryland L. Rev. 2027).

Media Mentions

[Maryam Jamshidi], Nicole C. Brambila & Matt Kyle, Students Skip Class, as Colorado ICE Protest Turns Violent, Denver Gazette (Sept. 4, 2026).

[Ann Lipton], Patrick Temple-West & Sujeet Indap, US Regulator Sues ISS as it Steps Up Scrutiny of Proxy Advisors, Financial Times (Sept. 5, 2026).

Faculty & Staff Activities

[Dean Lolita Buckner Inniss], Colorado Law Achieves ABA Reaccreditation, Colorado Law (Sept. 11, 2026).

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

Ann Lipton, Business Law Prof Blog posts available here.

Mailbag, Rule 14a-8 Edition (Sept. 9, 2026), Shareholder Primacy (with Mike Levin, Apple podcasts link).

[Govind Persad], Faculty Leadership Institute Selects 16 Faculty Fellows for 2026-27, Colorado Arts & Sciences Magazine (Sept. 9, 2026).

Blake Reid, "Everything You Thought �Ǹ�Թ� Separation of Powers Was a Lie," Mini Law School (upcoming, Sept. 16).

[Scott Skinner-Thompson], Law Review Symposium to Discuss Voting Rights, KU News (upcoming, Oct. 9, 2026).

Jack Schmidt, Anne Castle, Eric Kuhn, Kathyrn Sorensen, Katherine Tara, The Colorado River Water Supply Crisis in a Few Graphs: Part 2 Agricultural Water Use in the Lower Basin, Getches-Wilkinson Center (Sept. 10, 2026).

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Colorado Law Achieves ABA Reaccreditation

Kellen Wilson — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 15:49:53 +0000

Colorado Law Achieves ABA Reaccreditation Kellen Wilson Fri, 09/11/2026 - 09:49

The American Bar Association approved the reaccreditation of the University of Colorado Law School in August 2026, affirming that the school offers a rigorous legal education program that prepares students to work responsibly as legal professionals.

The accreditation process considers key metrics including bar exam passage rates, employment outcomes, academic curriculum, faculty support, library and technology resources, availability of student services and more.

It is intended to prevent students from being taken advantage of and to protect clients, the public and the legal system by helping ensure lawyers are competent to fulfill their professional responsibilities.

“We are pleased to receive full accreditation from the ABA and to continue offering a world-class legal education to outstanding students from across Colorado and beyond,” said Dean Lolita Buckner Inniss. “Reaccreditation is a testament to the strong engagement of our faculty and staff members, who bring care and attention to ensuring our students thrive.”

The reaccreditation process for established law schools occurs every 10 years. It relies on extensive data submitted by the school and a four-day site visit that occurred in March 2026, along with periodic monitoring between formal visits.

Colorado Law is among 198 ABA-accredited law schools in the United States and was first accredited in 1923, the same year as Columbia, Harvard, Yale and numerous other leading American law schools.

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

Cecelia Tecu — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 15:20:05 +0000

ICYMI: Faculty Publications, Media Mentions, and Faculty & Staff Activities Cecelia Tecu Wed, 09/09/2026 - 09:20

Faculty Publications

Staci Pratt, Coached by a Custom ChatGPT and Ready for Trial, 55 Colo. Law. 12 (Sept./Oct. 2026).
Adam Sopko, State Constitutionalism's Fragile Wall, 121 Northwestern L. Rev. 213 (2026).

Media Mentions

[Vivek Krishnamurthy], Matt Kyle, Waymo Constantly Records Inside and Outside its Cars-- How is that Data Stored and Used?, Denver Gazette (Aug. 31, 2026).

[Ann Lipton], Norah Rami, Trump Backlash Adds New Risks to the Stocks the Government Owns, Bloomberg Law (Aug. 29, 2026).

Stephanie Findlay, The Texas Experiment, Financial Times (Sept. 2, 2026).

Faculty and Staff Activities

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

Violeta Chapin, "Defending Immigrants in Turbulent Times," Mini Law School (upcoming, Sept. 9)(more on Mini Law returning).

[Doug Kenney, GWC], Scott Franz, 'Like Driving Off a Cliff at 2 mph': A Water Expert's Take on What's Coming for the Colorado River, CU �Ǹ�Թ� Today (Sept. 2, 2026).

Ann Lipton, Business Law Prof Blog posts available here.

[Colorado Law adjunct faculty Thomas Ward], Governor Polis Makes Appointments to the 4th and 17th Judicial Districts, Colorado Office of Governor Polis (Aug. 28, 2026).

[Juvenile & Family Law Clinic], Colorado Law Earns A- Rating in Family Law, Colorado Law (Sept. 2, 2026).

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