House Resolution 25-1003
Page 1, Line 101Concerning the recognition of the importance of a diverse
Page 1, Line 102legal community in Colorado and honoring the
Page 1, Line 103contributions of the Colorado Women's Bar
Page 1, Line 104Association.
Page 1, Line 1WHEREAS, The legal profession upholds the nation's values,
Page 1, Line 2including the rule of law, equal justice, judicial independence,
Page 1, Line 3accountability, excellence, advancing justice, and upholding the highest standards of the legal profession; and
Page 1, Line 4
Page 1, Line 5WHEREAS, Historically, women faced significant barriers to
Page 1, Line 6entering the legal field, and, even after admission, they have continued to encounter challenges; and
Page 1, Line 7
Page 1, Line 8WHEREAS, In 1894, Jeannette Dunham Bennett and Ann Hunt
Page 1, Line 9became the first women to earn law degrees in Colorado, marking the beginning of women's formal entry into the state's legal profession; and
Page 1, Line 10
Page 1, Line 11WHEREAS, In 1897, the Colorado General Assembly enacted a
Page 1, Line 12statute ensuring that no person could be denied a license to practice law
Page 1, Line 13on account of race or sex, reflecting the state's early commitment to inclusivity in the legal profession; and
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Page 2, Line 2WHEREAS, In 1903, Ida L. Gregory became Colorado's first
Page 2, Line 3female judge, setting a precedent for women's leadership in the judiciary; and
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Page 2, Line 5WHEREAS, In 1917, Clara Ruth Mozzor was appointed as
Page 2, Line 6Assistant Attorney General of Colorado, becoming the first woman to serve in such a role in any American state; and
Page 2, Line 7
Page 2, Line 8WHEREAS, Gale Norton served as Colorado's Attorney General
Page 2, Line 9from 1991 to 1999, becoming the first woman to hold this position in the state; and
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Page 2, Line 11WHEREAS, In 1994, Claudia J. Jordan became the first African
Page 2, Line 12American female judge in Colorado, further diversifying the state's judiciary; and
Page 2, Line 13
Page 2, Line 14WHEREAS, In 1997, Theresa M. Cisneros became the first
Page 2, Line 15Hispanic American female judge in Colorado's Fourth Judicial District; and
Page 2, Line 16
Page 2, Line 17WHEREAS, In 2016, Chelsea Malone, who is of Korean descent, became the first Asian American female state judge in Colorado; and
Page 2, Line 18
Page 2, Line 19WHEREAS, In 2024, Monica M. Márquez became the first Latina
Page 2, Line 20and first openly gay person to serve as Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court; and
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Page 2, Line 22WHEREAS, As of 2024, women comprised 41% of attorneys in Colorado, reflecting significant progress over the past decades; and
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Page 2, Line 24WHEREAS, The Colorado Women's Bar Association (CWBA)
Page 2, Line 25has been instrumental in promoting the advancement of women in the
Page 2, Line 26legal profession and advocating for a more diverse and representative legal system; and
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Page 2, Line 28WHEREAS, The CWBA's Judicial Committee assists qualified
Page 2, Line 29women statewide in applying for judicial positions and openings on
Page 2, Line 30judicial nominating commissions, encouraging the advancement of
Page 2, Line 31women in the judiciary and fighting bias and discrimination against
Page 2, Line 32women in the courtroom; and
Page 3, Line 1WHEREAS, The CWBA works to increase access to justice and representation in all areas of the legal system, including the judiciary; and
Page 3, Line 2
Page 3, Line 3WHEREAS, A diverse legal community enhances the quality of
Page 3, Line 4justice and ensures that the legal system serves all citizens effectively; and
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Page 3, Line 6WHEREAS, March is nationally recognized as Women's History
Page 3, Line 7Month, a time to honor women's contributions in American history; now, therefore,
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Page 3, Line 9Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Seventy-fifth General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
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Page 3, Line 11(1) That we recognize the vital importance of diversity within
Page 3, Line 12Colorado's legal community and commend the Colorado Women's Bar
Page 3, Line 13Association for its unwavering commitment to supporting the
Page 3, Line 14advancement of women and strengthening the legal profession in our state; and
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Page 3, Line 16(2) That we encourage continued efforts to foster a legal
Page 3, Line 17environment that values merit, integrity, and the diverse perspectives of
Page 3, Line 18all its members, ensuring that the legal system remains fair and just for every Coloradan.
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Page 3, Line 20Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Resolution be sent to
Page 3, Line 21the Colorado Women's Bar Association and the Colorado Bar Association.