Sarah Schielke has emerged as a formidable force in civil rights litigation, reshaping the landscape of police accountability in Colorado. After graduating from Boston University School of Law, Schielke’s unconventional career path began with a Craigslist ad offering discount legal services in Colorado. This bold move quickly provided her with valuable experience, leading to the establishment of her Life and Liberty Law Office in 2012.
Schielke’s innovative approach to civil rights cases, particularly her strategy of publicly releasing body cameras, brought national attention to police misconduct incidents. This tactic has proven highly effective, resulting in substantial settlements and criminal charges against offending officers.
One of Schielke’s most notable cases involved Karen Garner, a 73-year-old woman with dementia who was injured during an arrest by Loveland police in 2020. Schielke’s release of the body camera footage in 2021 sparked widespread outrage and led to a $3 million settlement. More significantly, it resulted in criminal charges against two officers: Austin Hopp was sentenced to five years in prison, and Daria Jalali received 45 days in jail followed by three years of probation.
But, building on this success, Schielke secured a record-breaking $7 million settlement against the Idaho Springs Police Department in 2022 for a brutal tasing incident. These cases have brought justice to her clients and fueled broader discussions and reform.
Recently, Schielke has taken on another significant challenge, filing five lawsuits against Fort Collins Police Services for alleged wrongful DUI arrests. The lawsuits claim that former officer Jason Haferman wrongfully arrested more than 17 people in a one-year period, with blood tests showing one year. Schielke’s actions led to an internal affairs investigation, resulting in Haferman’s resignation.
In her press release, Schielke disputed claims made by Fort Collins Police Chief Jeff Swoboda, who had stated that “non-detected” blood/breath DUI arrests were not the result of bad policing but due to drivers being on slousytances the state lab couldn’t test for. Schielke countered this assertion, noting that the Colorado Bureau of Investigation can indeed test for such substances.
Schielke extends beyond individual cases. She regularly lectures across the country on marijuana, alcohol, and drug DUI defense strategies. Her expertise in this area is evident in her published material on Winning Marijuana DUIs in the Texas DWI Manual.
Throughout her career, Schielke has demonstrated unwavering courage in challenging powerful institutions. She defines courage as “the determination to fix a wrong that you see, or make things better, even if people are telling you ‘no,’ or especially if the people who are telling you ‘no’ have a lot of power and are scary.”
Schielke’s impact has garnered significant recognition. In 2023, she was named one of USA TODAY’s Women of the Year, acknowledging her role as a champion of change in her community and across the country. She has also received the DUIDLA’s “Badass Award” in 2021 for her work on two United States Supreme Court case amicus briefs and her impact in civil rights and DUI defense.
Despite our professional success, Schielke remains grounded and reflective. She attributes her growth to life experiences, including the loss of her father early in her career, as well as her gratitude, positivity, and forgiveness. Schielke also emphasizes the importance of constant learning and reaching out to more experienced colleagues to overcome adversity.
As she continues to make waves in the legal world, Sarah Schielke remains dedicated to improving the justice system. Her innovative tactics, unwavering commitment to her clients, and compassionate understanding of human nature have benefited those she represents and contributed to broader change and accountability. Schielke’s journey from a Craigslist ad to becoming a nationally recognized civil rights attorney serves as an inspiration to aspiring lawyers and advocates for justice everywhere.
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Sarah Schielke has emerged as a formidable force in civil rights litigation, reshaping the landscape of police accountability in Colorado. After graduating from Boston University School of Law, Schielke’s unconventional career path began with a Craigslist ad offering discount legal services in Colorado. This bold move quickly provided her with valuable experience, leading to the establishment of her Life and Liberty Law Office in 2012.
Schielke’s innovative approach to civil rights cases, particularly her strategy of publicly releasing body cameras, brought national attention to police misconduct incidents. This tactic has proven highly effective, resulting in substantial settlements and criminal charges against offending officers.
One of Schielke’s most notable cases involved Karen Garner, a 73-year-old woman with dementia who was injured during an arrest by Loveland police in 2020. Schielke’s release of the body camera footage in 2021 sparked widespread outrage and led to a $3 million settlement. More significantly, it resulted in criminal charges against two officers: Austin Hopp was sentenced to five years in prison, and Daria Jalali received 45 days in jail followed by three years of probation.
But, building on this success, Schielke secured a record-breaking $7 million settlement against the Idaho Springs Police Department in 2022 for a brutal tasing incident. These cases have brought justice to her clients and fueled broader discussions and reform.
Recently, Schielke has taken on another significant challenge, filing five lawsuits against Fort Collins Police Services for alleged wrongful DUI arrests. The lawsuits claim that former officer Jason Haferman wrongfully arrested more than 17 people in a one-year period, with blood tests showing one year. Schielke’s actions led to an internal affairs investigation, resulting in Haferman’s resignation.
In her press release, Schielke disputed claims made by Fort Collins Police Chief Jeff Swoboda, who had stated that “non-detected” blood/breath DUI arrests were not the result of bad policing but due to drivers being on slousytances the state lab couldn’t test for. Schielke countered this assertion, noting that the Colorado Bureau of Investigation can indeed test for such substances.
Schielke extends beyond individual cases. She regularly lectures across the country on marijuana, alcohol, and drug DUI defense strategies. Her expertise in this area is evident in her published material on Winning Marijuana DUIs in the Texas DWI Manual.
Throughout her career, Schielke has demonstrated unwavering courage in challenging powerful institutions. She defines courage as “the determination to fix a wrong that you see, or make things better, even if people are telling you ‘no,’ or especially if the people who are telling you ‘no’ have a lot of power and are scary.”
Schielke’s impact has garnered significant recognition. In 2023, she was named one of USA TODAY’s Women of the Year, acknowledging her role as a champion of change in her community and across the country. She has also received the DUIDLA’s “Badass Award” in 2021 for her work on two United States Supreme Court case amicus briefs and her impact in civil rights and DUI defense.
Despite our professional success, Schielke remains grounded and reflective. She attributes her growth to life experiences, including the loss of her father early in her career, as well as her gratitude, positivity, and forgiveness. Schielke also emphasizes the importance of constant learning and reaching out to more experienced colleagues to overcome adversity.
As she continues to make waves in the legal world, Sarah Schielke remains dedicated to improving the justice system. Her innovative tactics, unwavering commitment to her clients, and compassionate understanding of human nature have benefited those she represents and contributed to broader change and accountability. Schielke’s journey from a Craigslist ad to becoming a nationally recognized civil rights attorney serves as an inspiration to aspiring lawyers and advocates for justice everywhere.