About the Task Force & Final Report
HB23-1108 created the Victim and Survivor Training for Judicial Personnel Task Force and a Domestic Relations Working group. Members were appointed in July and the Task Force met monthly through January 2024. The Task Force consisted of members who have experience representing or working with victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, or other violent crimes; or are members of the judicial community.
The Task Force was required to analyze the current training provided to judicial personnel (judges and magistrates) in Colorado and around the country on the topics of domestic violence, sexual assault, other violent crimes, and victim rights in order to determine best practices for training delivery and training requirements and to make a determination about any gaps that may exist.
The Task Force provided its report to the House Judiciary Committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee, their successor committees, and the Judicial Department on February 1, 2024. The recommendations contained in the report had to be approved by a majority of the Task Force members. The report also contains the additional report from the Domestic Relations Working Group which was required to bring forth recommendations to the full Task Force for consideration and approval by November 2023.
The Task Force report is a reflection of the collaborative work done by the Task Force and the working groups and it sets forth some helpful recommendations for judicial education moving forward.
Meeting Details
Past Task Force Meetings
Meeting Dates:
- July 13, 2023
- August 29, 2023
- September 15, 2023
- October 20, 2023
- November 17, 2023
- December 15, 2023
Past Meeting Agendas & Minutes
- July
- August
- September
- October
- November
- December
Legislative Appointments
Task Force Members
Statewide Representative that serves Domestic Violence Victims
Roshan Kalantar
Violence Free Colorado
Statewide Rep. that supports Victims (not DV or SA)
Courtney Sutton
COVA
Rep. providing Legal Services to Victims
Emily Tofte Nestaval
Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center
Family Law Attorney
Chris Radeff
Radeff and Hart, PC
Rep. of Culturally Specific Organization working with DV or Sexual Assault Victims
Briana Geter
Kingdom Builders
Statewide Rep. that serves Sexual Assault Victims
Gina Lopez
CCASA
Representative of a Family Justice Center
Margaret Abrams
Rose Andom Center
Rep. of a statewide Organization that treats children who are victims of DV and provide expertise on child abuse
Steven Berkowitz, MD
Kempe Center
Private criminal defense attorney w/ experience representing victims of DV or Sexual Assault
Dalia Labrador
Rep. of the Office of the State Public Defender w/ experience representing victims of DV or Sexual Assault
Zak Brown
Public Defender's Office
A State Court Judge
Hon. Michelle Amico
Judicial Office
An Individual Other than a Judge who is court personnel
Jennifer Mendoza
Judicial Office
A District Court Judge with experience in Domestic Matters
Hon. Jill Brady
Judicial Office
A County Court Judge
Hon. Kolony Fields
Judicial Office
A Judge from a rural County
Hon. Valarie Robison
Judicial Office
Prosecutor (non voting member)
Christine Rinke
20th Judicial District Attorney's Office
Domestic Relations Working Group
Working Group Chair
Chris Radeff
Radeff and Hart, PC
Mental Health Professional with Dispute resolution in Domestic Relations
Dr. Kate McNamara
Private Practice
Family Law Attorney
Ann Gushurst
JAMS Dispute Resolution Systems
Family Law Attorney
Rajesh Kukreja
Financial Professional with Dispute resolution in Domestic Relations
Sandi Gumeson
Well Spring Divorce
The Chief Justice or his designee
Hon. Jill Brady
4th Judicial District Attorney's Office