In May 2021, Judge Anita Schutte reached out to Judge Sueanna Johnson with an idea of creating a diversity bar. Judge Schutte, who has severe bilateral hearing loss, and Judge Johnson, who is visually impaired, were colleagues at the Colorado Attorney General's office before Judge Johnson's appointment to the Colorado Court of Appeals. Judge Schutte's hereditary hearing loss had progressed to severe in recent years. Where she was able to self-accommodate for most of her life, her need for minor reasonable accommodations was occurring with more frequency. On one occasion, her request for accommodations was ignored, preventing her from participating in a court proceeding where she was supervising a younger attorney. That circumstance left her feeling humiliated and frustrated, but also motivated to make sure the legal profession and the State's judicial officers were better educated when it comes to the requirements of the ADA and how to be intentionally inclusive.
One meeting between Anita and Judge Johnson was all that was necessary to start rallying others with disabilities in the legal profession to this project. The pair learned quickly that people were more than ready and willing to speak about their experiences and promote the cause. Mere weeks later, a group was formed that included Judge Schutte, Judge Johnson, and founding members:
- Kevin Williams
- Brittany Barrient
- Magistrate Jamin Alabiso
- Gregg Carson
- Spencer Kontnik
- Scott LaBarre
- Matthew Simonsen
- Amanda Upson
- Julie Busby
The group is comprised of talented attorneys with disabilities as diverse as their legal areas of expertise, along with committed allies.
Dubbing themselves originally the "Lawyers with Disabilities Committee," the group got right to work. Judge Schutte, a member of the Colorado Women's Bar Association's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusiveness (EDI) Committee worked closely with subcommittee members Ruth Moore, Beth Robinson, Merrily Newcomb, Jennifer Guzman, Katie Steefle, and CWBA leadership - Magistrate Judge Kathryn Starnella, Gina Glockner, and Kim Sporrer to create a "Bang for your buck" Continuing Legal Education (CLE) series. The series provides a forum for members to present innovative topics and offers free CLE credits for members. Judge Schutte organized and moderated the first CLE in the series - a panel discussion that took place in October 2021, which highlighted the Lawyers with Disabilities Committee and focused on the benefits of hiring lawyers with disabilities. Kevin Williams served as the legal expert presenting an overview on the ADA, and Brittany Barrient, Gregg Carson, and Judge Johnson served as panelists sharing their personal stories. The event attracted over 100 attendees resulting in several new members to the Lawyers with Disabilities Committee. The group was quickly invited to speak to other entities, including to University of Colorado School of Law and University of Denver Law School students in January 2022; the Colorado District Court Judges' Association and Colorado County Court Judges' Association in January 2022, and the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association Blockbuster seminar co-chaired by Spencer Kontnik in February 2022.
With each additional speaking engagement, inspired individuals reached out to the group sharing their stories and wanting to get involved. It was clear that this was a long overdue, welcome addition to the legal community. Finally, people with disabilities had a place to share their stories, express their concerns, share in their victories, and come together to advocate for and be a part of real change. Indeed, as the group has gained the invaluable leadership and enthusiasm of other attorneys, law students, judicial officers, and administrative staff who work in the legal field, they have recognized that educating the legal community generally on the ADA is, in essence, an access to justice issue. For it is not just lawyers and judicial officers who might need reasonable accommodations to effectively engage in the legal process, but clients, witnesses, and even court observers as well.
Just over a year later, the group incorporated as a nonprofit and voted to name the entity the Colorado Disability Bar Association.
Feedback from members and individuals that have heard the group members speak has been tremendous and a common theme has developed: Legal professionals with disabilities are thrilled to be part of a collective voice that has been overlooked for far too long. The Colorado Disability Bar Association is a welcome, necessary addition to Colorado's specialty and diversity bar associations, those latter organizations already inspiring, lifting up, and supporting countless Colorado legal professionals from their respective formations to date.
The Colorado Disability Bar Association is just getting started, and its growth depends on the volunteer time and talents of its dedicated members. Anyone who would like to join the group or who has questions about the group and its mission is encouraged to reach out directly to codisabilitybarassn@gmail.com.
