DENVER - May 20, 2014 - Two Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP attorneys were honored today at the Colorado Lawyers Committee (CLC) 2014 Awards Luncheon. Geoffrey Klingsporn was recognized with the "Community Contribution Award" for his pro bono work on the voting rights case, Jones v. Samora.
The case arose out of a contested municipal recall election in Center, Colorado. The results were challenged, and the district court voided the election on the ground that the secrecy of some absentee ballots could potentially have been violated - despite finding that no one's right to a secret ballot had in fact been violated. The election officials and some of the winning candidates in the voided election petitioned the Supreme Court for relief. Mr. Klingsporn drafted the CLC's amicus brief on behalf of the petitioners. The Colorado Supreme Court decided in favor of petitioners, reversing the trial court's decision and reinstating the results of the recall election. In addition to his work on this case, Mr. Klingsporn also serves as the Secretary of the CLC's Election Task Force. Mr. Klingsporn is an associate in the Trial Department at DGS, where he specializes in appellate law and commercial litigation.
Peter Schwartz was also nominated as a "2014 Individual of the Year" for his leadership of the Nonprofit Working Group and Clinic in a Box. The Nonprofit Working Group provides direct representation, seminars, clinics, and educational sessions for the nonprofit community in Colorado. During 2012, 53 lawyers from 17 different law firms provided transactional-type legal assistance to 46 nonprofits whose operating budgets do not permit them to retain legal counsel. Additionally, in January 2013, the Task Force co-sponsored a Clinic in a Box half-day program where more than 49 legal volunteers provided 20 nonprofits with a free assessment of their legal health.
"We are very proud of both Geoff and Peter for their continuing dedication to pro bono efforts 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."