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Derek Samuelson

Criminal Defense Specialist - Top 100 Trial Lawyer & Colorado Super Lawyer

25 years of experience
Criminal Law, Domestic Violence, DUI & DWI ...
Colorado

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Biography

Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers since 2013
Colorado Super Lawyer since 2019
AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Matindale-Hubbell since 2013
AVVO Superb 10/10 rating since 2015
Colorado Defender of the Year recipient by Colorado State Public Defender

Practice Areas

Criminal Law: Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes

Domestic Violence: Domestic Violence Criminal Defense, Domestic Violence Restraining Orders

DUI & DWI

Juvenile Law

Video Conferencing

Skype
Zoom
Microsoft Teams

Fees

Free Consultation
Credit Cards Accepted

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice

Colorado
Since 1999

10th Circuit
Since 2010

10th Circuit Court of Appeals
Since 2011

Languages

English: Spoken, Written

Professional Experience

Attorney: Samuelson Law, PC; 2009 - Current

Attorney: Colorado State Public Defender; 1999 - 2009; Fort Collins, Greeley and Denver Regional Offices. Also, Capital Defense Unit member.

Education

University of Denver: J.D.; Honors: Order of St. Ives (top 10% of class), Law Review

Awards

Top 100 Trial Lawyer: National Trial Lawyers; 2023; since 2013

Colorado Super Lawyer: Super Lawyers; 2023; since 2019

AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated: Martindale-Hubbell; 2023; since 2013

Superb - 10/10 Rating - Client's Choice Award: AVVO; 2023; since 2015

Attorney of the Year: Colorado State Public Defender; 2008

Order of St. Ives: University of Denver Law School; 1999; Top 10% of graduating class

Law Review: University of Denver Law School; 1998; 1998-1999

View More Awards ›

Professional Associations

Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Association: Member; Current

Larimer County Bar Association: Member; Current

National Legal Aide and Defender Association: Faculty; Current

National Legal Aide and Defender Association: Member; Current; Activities: Advisory Committee Member

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers: Faculty; 2011 - Current; Activities: Death Penalty Jury Selection

U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit: Member; 2011 - Current

Criminal Justice Act Panel: Member; 2010 - Current

U.S. District Court District of Colorado: Member; 2010 - Current

Colorado Bar Association: Member; 1999 - Current

Federal Grant Training: Oklahoma Indigent Defense System: Faculty; 2011 - 2011

Louisiana Public Defender Board: Advanced Capital Training Seminar: Faculty; 2011 - 2011

View More Associations ›

Publications

Articles & Publications

Trends in DUI Discovery, 2013 ed.: Aspatore Books; 2013

Speaking Engagements

Speaker, Psychology and the Law, Colorado State University: November 7, 2022; Department of Psychology

Speaker, The Role of Toxicology in Criminal Cases, Colorado State University: May 5, 2020; Dept. of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences

Speaker, The Role of Toxicology in Criminal Cases, Colorado State University: April 30, 2019; Dept. of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences

Speaker, Title IX - Defending Sexual Misconduct Claims in Schools, Colleges & Universities, Boulder, Colorado: 2019; National Institute for Trial Advocacy

Speaker/ Instructor, Capital Jury Selection: The Colorado Method, Martinez, California: 2018; Contra Costa County Public Defender

Speaker, The Role of Toxicology in Criminal Cases, Fort Collins, CO: 2018; Colorado State University, Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Science

Speaker, Larimer County Bar Association Professionalism Committee's Annual Ethics Seminar,, Fort Collins, CO: 2017; Larimer County Bar Association

Instructor, Capital Voir Dire Training: Theory and Intense Practice, Tampa, FL: 2017; Florida Public Defender Association

Instructor, National College of Capital Voir Dire, Boulder, CO: 2017; CU Law School/ National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys

Instructor, National College of Capital Voir Dire, Boulder, CO: 2016; CU Law School/ National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys

Panelist, The Fourth Amendment (with 8th Judicial District Attorney Cliff Reidel and Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith), Loveland, CO: 2015; Society for Constitutional Education

Instructor, National College of Capital Voir Dire, Boulder, CO: 2015; CU Law School

Speaker/ Instructor, Capital Jury Selection (with David Lane), Cleveland, OH: 2014; Cuyahoga County Public Defender's Office

Instructor, National College of Capital Voir Dire, Boulder, CO: 2014; CU Law School/ National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys

Panelist, Discussing the Death Penalty (with Ben Autobee, Senator Rhonda Fields, and Adams County District Attorney Dave Young), Denver, CO: 2014; Colorado Independent

Speaker, Jury Selection in Media Cases, Greeley, CO: 2014; Colorado Criminal Defense Bar

Speaker, Jury Deselection that Works … and Doesn't Alienate Your Judge (with District Court Judge Thomas French), Fort Collins, CO: 2013; Larimer County Bar Association

Instructor, Capital Voir Dire Training, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: 2013; South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense

Instructor, Capital Voir Dire Seminar: Theories and Intense Practice, CU Law School, Boulder, CO, Boulder, CO: 2013; CU Law School/ National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, Southern Center for Human RIghts

Instructor, Capital Voir Dire Seminar: Theories and Intense Practice, Boulder, CO: 2012; CU Law School/ National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys/ Southern Center for Human RIghts

Instructor, Colorado Method of Capital Jury Selection, Tempe, AZ: 2012; Arizona Public Defender Association

Instructor, Federal Grant Training - Capital Jury Selection, Norman, Oklahoma: 2011; Oklahoma Indigent Defense System

Instructor, Colorado Method of Capital Jury Selection, Life in the Balance, Annual National Conference, Orlando, FL: 2011; National Legal Aid & Defender Association

Instructor, Capital Voir Dire Seminar: Theories and Intense Practice, Boulder, CO: 2011; CU Law School/ National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys/ Souther Center for Human Rights

Instructor, Capital Voir Dire Seminar: Theories and Intense Practice, Boulder, CO: 2010; CU Law School/ National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys/ Southern Center for Human RIghts

Speaker, Mitigation Themes, ADC Death Penalty Mitigation Program, Denver, CO: 2010; Colorado Alternate Defense Counsel

Speaker, Tying Trauma to the Colorado Method: Application of Theory to Practice, Denver, CO: 2010; Colorado Alternate Defense Counsel

Speaker, Courts in the Community Workshop (with Judge Dave Furman, Colorado Court of Appeals), Fort Collins, CO: 2009; Colorado Judicial

Speaker, Proper File Documentation (with Tamara Brady, Chief Trial Deputy, Colorado State Public Defender), Broomfield, CO: 2009; Colorado State Public Defender

Instructor, Capital Voir Dire Training: Theories and Intense Program, Boulder, CO: 2009; CU Law School/ National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys/ Southern Center for Human RIghts

Speaker, Overview of the Colorado Method of Capital Jury Selection (with Doug Wilson, Colorado State Public Defender), Crested Butte, CO: 2008; Colorado State Public Defender

Speaker, Cross-Examining the Snitch Witness, Crested Butte, CO: 2009; Colorado State Public Defender

Instructor, Capital Voir Dire Training: Theories and Intense Training, Boulder, CO: 2008; CU Law School/ National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys/ Southern Center for Human RIghts

Panelist, Criminal Justice Panel Discussion (with Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck and Weld County District Court Judge Marcelo Kopkow), Greeley, CO: 2006; Weld County Chamber of Commerce

Speaker, The Role of the Prosecutor vs. Defense Counsel (with Chief Deputy Weld County District Attorney Zeke Knox), Greeley, CO: 2005; University of Northern Colorado

Speaker, Sane Nurses and Debunking Medical Mythology in Sex Assault Cases (with Deputy State Public Defenders Jamie Roth and Sheryl Uhlmann), Breckenridge, CO: 2004; Colorado State Public Defender