DENVER – MAY 22, 2013 – Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP attorney Terry Miller was recently honored by the Colorado Lawyers Committee (CLC) as a “2013 Individual of the Year” for his pro bono contributions leading the defense of the school finance appeal in Lobato v. State of Colorado. Mr. Miller was recognized along with his team members from other Denver law firms, Kathleen Gebhardt, Jennifer Weiser Bezoza, and Marcy Glenn, who were also honored as Individuals of the Year.
Mr. Miller helped lead the team of appellate attorneys in formulating the plaintiffs’ appellate strategy and coordinating the preparation of twelve amicus curiae briefs, as well as personally arguing the case before the Colorado Supreme Court in March. The appellate team also included DGS attorneys Andy Low, Kenzo Kawanabe, Anna-Liisa Mullis, John Bowlin, and Kyle Brenton, who each donated significant amounts of time to the groundbreaking case.
The case is Colorado’s most historic education finance case, and may shape Colorado’s education system for the next generation of students. At issue in the appeal was whether Colorado students have an enforceable constitutional right to an adequate system of public schools, and whether the trial court applied the correct test in determining whether Colorado’s school finance system has become unconscionable. The case has become a building block in legislative efforts to reform school finance.
“We are very proud of both Terry and the team as a whole for all their efforts and dedication to serve Colorado school-children through the CLC,” said Chris Richardson, managing partner at DGS. “DGS has long been a major supporter of the CLC since its founding in 1978 and we are honored to carry on the tradition.”
About the Colorado Lawyers Committee
The Colorado Lawyers Committee is a nonpartisan consortium of 59 Colorado law firms dedicated to creating and increasing opportunities for children, the poor and other disadvantaged communities through advocacy, negotiation and litigation. The lawyers who donate their time through the Lawyers Committee focus primarily on major public policy issues and systemic changes rather than representation of individuals. For more information about the awards and the work of the CLC, visit ColoradoLawyersCommittee.org.