First Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
ENGROSSED
LLS NO. R25-0867.01 Katelyn Guderian x3205 HR25-1003
House Committees
HOUSE RESOLUTION 25-1003
C
ONCERNING THE RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF A DIVERSE101
LEGAL COMMUNITY IN COLORADO AND HONORING THE102
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE COLORADO WOMEN'S BAR103
A
SSOCIATION.104
WHEREAS, The legal profession upholds the nation's values,1
including the rule of law, equal justice, judicial independence,2
accountability, excellence, advancing justice, and upholding the highest3
standards of the legal profession; and4
WHEREAS, Historically, women faced significant barriers to5
entering the legal field, and, even after admission, they have continued to6
encounter challenges; and7
WHEREAS, In 1894, Jeannette Dunham Bennett and Ann Hunt8
became the first women to earn law degrees in Colorado, marking the9
beginning of women's formal entry into the state's legal profession; and10
WHEREAS, In 1897, the Colorado General Assembly enacted a11
statute ensuring that no person could be denied a license to practice law12
on account of race or sex, reflecting the state's early commitment to13
HOUSE
Final Reading
March 26, 2025
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Joseph and Espenoza, Bacon, Duran, English, Feret, Garcia, Gilchrist, Hamrick, Jackson,
Lieder, Lindsay, Lukens, McCormick, Phillips, Ricks, Rydin, Sirota, Smith, Stewart K.,
Stewart R., Story, Titone, Velasco, Willford, Zokaie, Bird, Boesenecker, Brooks, Brown,
Caldwell, Camacho, Clifford, Froelich, Garcia Sander, Gonzalez R., Johnson, Lindstedt,
Mabrey, Martinez, Mauro, McCluskie, Paschal, Pugliese, Rutinel, Soper, Suckla, Weinberg,
Woodrow
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. inclusivity in the legal profession; and1
WHEREAS, In 1903, Ida L. Gregory became Colorado's first2
female judge, setting a precedent for women's leadership in the judiciary;3
and4
WHEREAS, In 1917, Clara Ruth Mozzor was appointed as5
Assistant Attorney General of Colorado, becoming the first woman to6
serve in such a role in any American state; and7
WHEREAS, Gale Norton served as Colorado's Attorney General8
from 1991 to 1999, becoming the first woman to hold this position in the9
state; and10
WHEREAS, In 1994, Claudia J. Jordan became the first African11
American female judge in Colorado, further diversifying the state's12
judiciary; and13
WHEREAS, In 1997, Theresa M. Cisneros became the first14
Hispanic American female judge in Colorado's Fourth Judicial District;15
and16
WHEREAS, In 2016, Chelsea Malone, who is of Korean descent,17
became the first Asian American female state judge in Colorado; and18
WHEREAS, In 2024, Monica M. Márquez became the first Latina19
and first openly gay person to serve as Chief Justice of the Colorado20
Supreme Court; and21
WHEREAS, As of 2024, women comprised 41% of attorneys in22
Colorado, reflecting significant progress over the past decades; and23
WHEREAS, The Colorado Women's Bar Association (CWBA)24
has been instrumental in promoting the advancement of women in the25
legal profession and advocating for a more diverse and representative26
legal system; and27
WHEREAS, The CWBA's Judicial Committee assists qualified28
women statewide in applying for judicial positions and openings on29
judicial nominating commissions, encouraging the advancement of30
women in the judiciary and fighting bias and discrimination against31
women in the courtroom; and32
1003
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representation in all areas of the legal system, including the judiciary; and2
WHEREAS, A diverse legal community enhances the quality of3
justice and ensures that the legal system serves all citizens effectively;4
and5
WHEREAS, March is nationally recognized as Women's History6
Month, a time to honor women's contributions in American history; now,7
therefore,8
Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Seventy-fifth9
General Assembly of the State of Colorado:10
(1) That we recognize the vital importance of diversity within11
Colorado's legal community and commend the Colorado Women's Bar12
Association for its unwavering commitment to supporting the13
advancement of women and strengthening the legal profession in our14
state; and15
(2) That we encourage continued efforts to foster a legal16
environment that values merit, integrity, and the diverse perspectives of17
all its members, ensuring that the legal system remains fair and just for18
every Coloradan.19
Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Resolution be sent to20
the Colorado Women's Bar Association and the Colorado Bar21
Association.22
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