Lead Beyond is this year’s theme for Colorado Women’s Bar Association CWBA, the second largest women’s bar association in the nation. Listen in on this delightful and inspiring episode recorded September 2020 as Law Talk Global Network founder Krystyn Hartman visits with CWBA Board President 2020 Miranda Hawkins, an estate planning attorney with the law firm of Goddard & Hawkins in Cherry Creek, on the magic behind the ongoing success of the organization. “We added 71 new members just this summer,” Hawkins says of the 1500-member CWBA. “We’ve never been an organization that sits and waits; we get things done; we are on it.” Growing up in a small Texas town “with a Barbie doll in one hand and a BB gun in the other; and growing up there as a girl; it was not expected that I would be in the career I’m in today,” she says, adding, “although, my uncle still reminds me that I can always fall back on my 10 years as a classically trained pianist if it doesn’t work out.” After the discussion on CWBA as a leadership organization, Hawkins shares some of her valuable insights on estate planning and how she went from “litigator to estate planner.” Thank you for listening!

To know more about the Colorado Women’s Bar Association, go to CWBA.org.

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Credits: Piano clips by Kimiko Ishizaka 

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First in our Trauma & The Law Conversations series, Law Talk Colorado founder Krystyn Hartman sits down with Grand Junction Police Chief Doug Shoemaker in Western Colorado to learn about "Trauma In Policing," as a starting point, timely on the heels of passage of Colorado Senate Bill 20-217 to Enhance Law Enforcement Integrity. "I do bristle a little bit when they say that it is all a policing problem," Shoemaker explains. "No, I think there's a societal problem. And is that societal problem real? I think we need to have more conversations and get more comfortable with one another. I think we need to understand perspectives. I think we need to listen more than we talk -- on all sides," he says, adding that "not all police departments are the same." Chief Shoemaker was featured on Episode 004 where we learned of his background as Incident Commander of the peaceful protest march following the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, prior to joining Grand Junction Police Dept as Chief.

"Chief Shoemaker has a unique background as both a police officer and peace officer that I felt, editorially, presented us with an equally unique opportunity of perspective in today's climate," says Law Talk Colorado founder Krystyn Hartman, a career journalist and retired magazine publisher. "I  was inspired to attempt this series after listening to attorney Hannah Proff's interview on protestor rights [Episode 010]. She said, 'I know it's hard, but try to manage your traumas,' when being approached or questioned by police during a protest, and that just stopped me in my tracks. She had nailed something that both citizen and police were experiencing in certain situations. I saw it as a vital editorial thread that could touch a lot of people -- and could be a key factor in bridge building. I had to know more. The more I heard the trauma word in news clips, the more we recognized the need to pursue it."

We appreciate Chief Shoemaker for his willingness to sit down at the table with us to openly share his perspectives on such a sensitive and timely topic, making it clear that "each agency is different; we're not all the same."

Follow us on your favorite podcast platform for immediate notification as we explore and release more Trauma & The Law Conversations. 

Related episodes (click to link to episode):

• 011. Colorado Senate Bill 20-217 to Enhance Law Enforcement Integrity: A Closer Look with Denver Attorney Laura Wolf.
• 010. Protesting In Colorado? Know Your Rights with Denver Attorney Hannah Proff.
• 004. Public Safety & COVID19 with Police Chief Doug Shoemaker of Grand Junction
• 002. How is COVID19 Impacting Divorce Filings, Child Custody, and Domestic Violence Cases in Colorado? with Lakewood Attorney Hannah Westmont.

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Colorado is a dynamic state of unique communities from high-density metro to cozy mountain towns to remote rural areas across the state. In this episode, Law Talk Colorado news anchor Angeline Roles visits with Sara Blackhurst of ACTION 22, a coalition of 22 counties in Southeast Colorado comprised primarily of small rural communities. Blackhurst speaks openly about the financial crises facing rural communities "if something isn't done about Gallagher," referring to Colorado's Gallagher Amendment to the state's Constitution "that doesn't work with TABOR" the state's Tax Payer Bill Of Rights. "They're like two kids who are great by themselves, but when you put them together, they just get in trouble," Blackhurst says, with additional explanation from state Senator Bob Rankin of Carbondale in Western Colorado as featured in Law Talk Colorado Episode 008 Is REPEAL the solution to Colorado's Gallagher Amendment property tax problem?. Blackhurst also shares how a National Popular Vote could impact rural America based on discussions among ACTION 22 members. If you'd like to know more about ACTION 22, go to action22.org Thank you for listening!

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Colorado Senate Bill 20-217, referred to as the "Enhance Law Enforcement Integrity" bill "concerning measures to enhance law enforcement integrity," passed with a 53-13 vote and was signed by Governor Jared Polis on June 19, 2020. Listen in on this special episode as Law Talk Colorado board director Adrian Romero interviews Denver Civil Rights attorney Laura Wolf, partner in Wolf Guevara LLP, who explains what this landmark bill means to both law enforcement and citizens. For example, requiring body cameras, "which is a really important piece with respect to transparency," she explains, adding that most police officers really are out there with the intention of "protecting our rights" and the increased levels of transparency protect them too. Wolf discusses many other key aspects of the bill, including the removal (or diminishing) of Qualified Immunity for law enforcement at the state level, even though it still exists in Federal law. "Qualified Immunity is out of control," she says. The full text of Colorado Senate Bill 20-217 is lengthy, but if you're interested, you can click here to read the full text of the bill. Thank you for listening!

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Check out this important and timely episode on protestor rights as Law Talk Colorado news anchor Angeline Roles interviews attorney Hannah Proff, who is founder of LYRIC (Learn Your Rights In the Community), a 501c3 organization purposed with educating youth on their basic Constitutional rights under the law. From what you do and do not have to provide if asked by police at a protest (whether a minor or adult), to possible impacts when "parents step in to help," to questions on filming and posting on social media, and more. Raised "in a small Alaskan prison town," and an experienced protestor for Indigenous Peoples' rights, Proff is committed to helping "close the gap between the law and education. Your armor is your knowledge of the law," she explains. We learn, for example, in addition to writing your one-call number on your arm "old school" with a Sharpie, if you are arrested for lawfully protesting and you don't have an attorney, you can contact the National Lawyers Guild of Colorado to request legal assistance. For more information on LYRIC or to request a LYRIC program in your school, go to LYRICommunity.org. Thank you for listening!

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Get your baseball season opening fix with this delightful extended episode with Law Talk Colorado anchor Michael Moran who sits down with Boulder Attorney Ted Waitkus, son of Eddie Waitkus, the baseball player who the fictional character Roy Hobbs in the movie The Natural was based on, as portrayed by Robert Redford. Listen in as Waitkus discusses the real story behind the movie -- including clarifying that in the movie his dad's character was shot by his stalker with a pistol, while in real life "she shot him with a rifle;" and what it was like growing up meeting greats like Ted Williams, Mickey Mantle, and Babe Ruth -- and how the game of professional baseball has changed over the decades. "There was no National Football League or National Basketball Association back in the 1940s; baseball was it; was everything," he explains in a colorful New York accent, which he still has even after 35 years practicing law in Colorado. If you're a baseball fan, true crime fan, or old movie fan, this is a fun extended episode. Thank you for listening!

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Second in our ongoing series about the Gallagher Amendment's property tax impact on Colorado communities, Law Talk Colorado News Anchor Angeline Roles interviews Colorado State Senator Bob Rankin of Carbondale who argues that repeal of Gallagher is the most practical next step in solving the problem. A complicated issue that bumps into TABOR, the Taxpayer Bill Of Rights, Senator Rankin explains that rural communities are going to be hit the hardest because the State can't continue to cover the growing property tax shortfalls to the districts. Colorado residents enjoy one of the lowest residential property tax rates in the nation, while Colorado commercial property tax rates are some of the highest in the nation, which presents particular challenges to rural areas with a higher residential to commercial ratio. The formula for determining these ratios is locked into the Gallagher Amendment. "The good news is, we can repeal Gallagher and freeze residential property tax rates at the current low rate," Rankin says. He supports proposed legislation that will put repeal of the Gallagher Amendment to Colorado voters on the 2020 ballot. "We hope people will educate themselves on this," he says. "Contact your Fire District, School District, ask them how the property tax shortfalls are impacting them and their communities; they'll tell you. This is a complicated issue and we have got to do something to solve it." For more, check out Episode #6 where Building A Better Colorado's Reeves Brown discusses the property tax impact research and collaborations among community leaders and agencies from across the state.

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Join us as Law Talk Colorado news anchor Angeline Roles interviews employment law attorney Dave Scanga, partner with Hoskin Farina & Kampf, about new rules, guidelines, and resources for Colorado employers and employees to consider as businesses reopen in the Age of COVID-19. Scanga shares, for example, that some businesses have designated COVID-19 mitigation teams comprised of several employees to monitor guidelines and distribute the updates and company policy guidelines throughout the organization as a way to manage the rapid changes while ensuring their employees are safe. Questions of concern include: Does your business require masks per the rules? Does your organization require temperature-taking? What does that mean? How do you do it? Who does that? What are the liabilities? Where does the information go? Does the temperature-taking device touch the forehead? Are there privacy concerns? What if someone tests positive for COVID-19? What about paper? How long does the virus stay on paper? Did someone bring in paper? Discussion continues on employer responsibilities and worker rights with examples that include working remotely, Family Medical Leave Act, Cares Act and OSHA considerations, and more. Episode recorded April 30, 2020. Hoskin Farina & Kampf is headquartered in Grand Junction and has attorneys in Denver and an office in Gunnison. Thank you for listening!

Helpful websites with specific guidelines referenced in this episode:

• Colorado Dept of Labor
• US Dept of Labor
• EEOC
• ADA
• OSHA
• CDC

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If you own or are planning to own property in Colorado, listen in on this extended episode of Law Talk Colorado as news anchor Angeline Roles interviews Reeves Brown of Building A Better Colorado who explains the 1982 Gallagher Amendment to Colorado's state Constitution and the unforeseen consequences of policies driven by the Amendment over the decades since. Brown, formerly with Club 20 (a coalition of western Colorado counties that, as a group, give voice to rural communities when it comes to legislative issues), presents specific examples of how the Amendment has, is, and will hit rural Colorado specifically. The good news is, there are groups such as Building A Better Colorado actively pursuing solutions. "We have to muster the courage to deal with Gallagher [Amendment] proactively," Brown insists, adding that the need to solve it reaches beyond partisan agendas, citing numerous examples of bi-partisan agreement. For more information, visit buildingabettercolorado.org Thank you for listening!

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Listen "beyond the soundbite," as Law Talk Colorado news anchor Michael Moran talks with Western Colorado's Sheriff Matt Lewis of Mesa County in this extended podcast episode. Sheriff Lewis shares insights into the new challenges, approaches, and discusses interpretations of the state's rulings relevant to law enforcement in this time of COVID19. An excellent followup to episode #4 featuring Grand Junction's Police Chief on the public safety aspects of the COVID19 rulings as the two agencies often work together. Sheriff Lewis reminds us through his detailed responses that not every community is a reflection of national news headlines; that it is all too easy "to take that national information and extrapolate it to the men and women here locally... that's not who we are." The information shared and questions answered by Sheriff Lewis are not only relevant to Western Coloradans, but an overall excellent listen to those interested in how one community's law enforcement is managing its protests, stay-at-home orders, and more during the COVID19 pandemic. Thanks for listening!

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