Standing Committees of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar

Handles challenges that the Criminal Defense Community faces throughout the year, the CCDB creates and maintains standing committees. The committees are made up of both Board Members and Members at large and are responsible for much of the substantive work that the organization accomplishes every year. These committees meet on a regular and ongoing basis and are always in search of energetic and committed criminal defense practitioners.

Your level of involvement in the CCDB depends on your interests. Please take a moment to review the brief descriptions of the CCDB's Standing Committees. Feel free to contact any of the Committee Chairs or Members to talk about how you can get more involved in the activities of the CCDB.

You do not have to be a Board Member and you do not have to live in Denver to sit and serve on a committee. Participation and membership on any one of the CCDB's Standing Committees is dependent on your interest. Get Involved!

Membership – Membership and member dues are the heart of CCDB and the CCDB budget.  This committee tracks membership renewals and new member sign ups.

Professional Development – One of the greatest services to our members is our CLE offerings.   This committee develops the CLE topics, contacts potential instructors and implements the CLE budget goals.  The committee also attracts sponsors for major CLEs and scholarship donations.  This is very much a working committee.  We need information and insight into the CLE interests of our members but we also need folks to implement the plans.  

Raptor – Raptor donations, not membership dues, fund CCDB’s legislative lobbing work.   This committee oversees the entire Raptor budget, raising funds from special events and member donations.   All Board members participate in the call-a-thon to raise funds but this committee spearheads the effort.  I know people shy away from fundraising but a lot of what this committee does is fun and, of course, it is essential to our legislative success.  

Policy – This committee meets monthly December – April to assist and advise our lobbyists on key legislation.  

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – A new ad-hoc committee working on DEI issues for the Board and membership. 

Judicial - A number of years ago the CCDB Board formed a judicial nomination committee to consider whether and how CCDB might make endorsements when judicial vacancies occurred.  The judicial committee decided to handle nominations in a simple way, given our scarce resources.  For local nominations, that is county court and district court, we defer to the local CCDB chapters because you have the best knowledge of the candidates.  For the statewide offices, i.e., the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court, the Board makes the endorsement decision.  Again, for resource reasons, at all levels we only enter the fray when the three finalist’s names go to the governor (or, in Denver the mayor).  Given that the release of the three names triggers a 15-day period for the governor to act this is a fairly quick process.   

Amicus - In September 2011, the Board of Directors approved new guidelines for the CCDB’s participation in cases as amicus curiae. At the same time, an Amicus Subcommittee was formed to administer the guidelines and make recommendations to the Board about which cases the CCDB should participate in as amicus curiae.  Participation on this committee is invitation only.  But if you are interested contact Jeff.