Let All Voices Be Heard: The Critical Importance of Civil Discourse to Our Democracy
As our society has become increasingly polarized, our ability to engage in civil discourse, particularly with those with whom we disagree, has become increasingly more difficult. This is true both in society in general and in the practice of law specifically. In honor of Law Day 2024 and its theme of Voices of Democracy, Colorado Supreme Court Justice Richard L. Gabriel will give a presentation entitled, “Let All Voices Be Heard: The Critical Importance of Civil Discourse to Our Democracy.” In this presentation, Justice Gabriel will discuss the historic importance of civil discourse throughout our country's history, the decline in our ability to engage in civil conversations with one another, and the critical importance of rediscovering our ability to communicate respectfully and productively, both in society generally and the practice of law specifically.
Honorable Richard L. Gabriel was appointed to the Colorado Supreme Court in June of 2015, after serving on the Colorado Court of Appeals from 2008-15. Justice Gabriel received his B.A. in American Studies from Yale University in 1984 and his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law in 1987. Prior to his appointment to the Court of Appeals, Justice Gabriel was a long-time partner with Holme Roberts & Owen LLP (now, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner) in Denver, where his practice focused on commercial, intellectual property, probate, and products liability litigation, including appeals, and where he headed the firm's intellectual property practice group. Justice Gabriel has received numerous awards for his service to the community, including the Denver Bar Association's Award
of Merit (that Association's highest award), a Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center Champions for Children award and its In the Pursuit of Justice Lifetime Achievement Award, recognition by Marquis Who's Who as a Distinguished Humanitarian, and the Richard Marden Davis Award (given to a lawyer under the age of 40 who has combined excellence in the practice of law and creative community leadership). He is a member of the state bars of New York and Colorado, the bars of numerous federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court, and the American, Colorado, New York, and Denver Bar Associations, where he has served (and continues to serve) on many committees. Justice Gabriel is also actively involved on the board of the Colorado Judicial Institute, the executive council of the Minoru Yasui Inn of Court, and the Our Courts civics education program. He writes and speaks frequently on matters relating to the judiciary, trial and appellate practice, and
professionalism. In his spare time, he plays the trumpet professionally.
Applied for 1 general CLE credit.
Lunch will be served for those who attend in person!