April Meeting – A Provocative Evening With Attorney General John Suthers

For the April Meeting, Judge Gorsuch’s Group presented the program “THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S DUTY TO DEFEND THE LAW” featuring guest speaker former Colorado Attorney General, John Suthers.

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Former Colorado Attorney General and candidate for Mayor of Colorado Springs John Suthers.

 

Mr. Suthers, currently a candidate for Mayor of Colorado Springs, interacted with Inn Members during the cocktail hour and talked about the transition from being the Attorney General of Colorado to a candidate in a mayoral election.

Former Attorney General John Suthers presenting a very interesting and sophisticated talk on issues including federalism and constitutional law.
Former Attorney General John Suthers presenting a very interesting and sophisticated talk on issues including federalism and constitutional law.

During his speech, Mr. Suthers explained to the Inn members his view of the office of Attorney General and what he believed were consitutional and appropriate actions to take.  He emphasized that as Attorney General, his role was not to take positions based on his personal views or public policy, but was duty bound to defend state laws regardless.  This included, for example, his defending Colorado’s gun control laws despite the fact that members of his own party greatly opposed them.  Mr. Suthers also guided the members through his reasoning for his actions during the controversy over gay marriage laws in Colorado.   Mr. Suthers opposed attorneys general from utilizing what he has coined a “litigation veto,” which is failing to defend a state law because that A.G. believes the law to be unjust or bad policy.  When challenged by Inn Members, Mr. Suthers also defended his decision to join the states’ lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act.

 

Read an OP/ED by Mr. Suthers on these topics here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-veto-attorneys-general-shouldnt-wield/2014/02/02/64082fc8-887e-11e3-a5bd-844629433ba3_story.html

 

 April Private Practice Training Great Success

The latest Doyle Inn training, open to members of all Colorado Inns, entitled “How to Navigate Private Practice-What You Need to Know” was held April 15, 2015 with a great turn-out.  The two-hour CLE included a panel discussion on what lawyers need to know before entering into private practice. The topics included: the importance of finding a mentor, partner’s expectations-what the new attorney should know, finding the right Firm-fit, work/life balance, mistakes to avoid as a new attorney at a firm, transitioning to partner, and solo/small firm practice.

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Elizabeth Howard (at lectern) moderates as (from left to right) John Watson, Doyle Inn President Craig May, and Nancy Rogers participate on the panel.

 

The Training was organized and moderated by Elizabeth J.M. Howard of Childs McCune.  The instructors on the panel included John Tatlock, Special Counsel at Harris Family Law, Craig May, Partner at Wheeler, Trigg and O’Donnell, Nancy Rodgers, Partner at Kissinger & Fellman, John Watson, Partner Bernbaum Weinshienk, P.C., and Wadi Muhaisen, Partner Muhaisen & Muhaisen, LLC.

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John Tatlock shares his advice to the attendees based on his decades of private legal practice experience.

 

 

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The Doyle Inn once again thanks Holland & Hart, LLP for hosting the training at their Downtown Denver office.