Colorado Judicial Branch
Roster
Judicial Education Subcommittee on Domestic Relations
Chair: Hon. Marie Avery Moses, 2nd Judicial District Judge
Members:
Hon. Michelle Chostner, 10th Judicial District Judge
Hon. Elise Myer, 9th Judicial District Judge
Maha Kamal, Esq., Manager of Colorado Family Law Project
Courtney Sutton, Public Policy Director, Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA)
Judicial Education Criminal Subcommittee
Chair: pending
Members:
Hon. Allison P. Ernst, 10th Judicial District Judge
Amy Petri Beard, Esq. Deputy District Attorney, Weld County District Attorney’s Office
Zachary Brown, Esq., Chief Deputy, Public Defenders Office
Magistrate Dalia Labrador, 18th Judicial District
Gina Lopez, Systems Program Director, Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Judicial Officer Education Programs,
Based on Recommendations HB1108
Date: May 31, 2024
Title/Program: Domestic Violence and Children a Judicial Officer Lunch & Learn
Colorado Domestic Violence Offender Management Board Standards & Updates, 1.03 Clinical Features of Domestic Violence and Abusive Behaviors, Adverse Childhood Experiences-ACEs Assessment (materials available) and coercive control, cultural abuse, emotional abuse, financial, psychological abuse, verbal abuse, reproductive abuse.
Date: June 13, 2024
Title/Program: Domestic Relations & Probate Institute - Domestic Violence Evaluations and Intervention Options in Family Law Cases
Policy and practice pertaining to the evaluation and intervention strategies of domestic violence in the domestic relations court spaces. Information on the DVOMB white paper outlined the structural barriers as well as proposed solutions to address cases where there are concerns of domestic violence. Discussion about identifying predominant aggressors in domestic violence cases, including case examples related to the evaluation and treatment of domestic violence in non-criminal cases. Also, information included on how to support and provide resources to survivors of domestic violence, including coordination with community-based advocacy or organizations.
Date: June 13, 2024
Title/Program: Domestic Relations & Probate Institute - Domestic Violence Fatalities in Domestic Relations Cases
The lethality indicators and dynamics that play a large role in domestic violence homicides, and murder suicides, of victims and their children as well as effective intervention strategies, as studied by the Denver Metro Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team (DMDVFRT) and Fatality Review Program Manager.
Date: June 13, 2024
Title/Program: Domestic Relations & Probate Institute - Mediation to Court: Best Practices in the Shadow of Domestic Abuse
Judges, family court facilitators, and sherlock's pressures to deal with domestic abuse elements in domestic relations cases, even with incomplete facts and information. This presentation aimed to help distill best practices in pre and post decree divorce and separation matters involving domestic abuse.
Date: June 13, 2024
Title/Program: Domestic Relations & Probate Institute - Dilemmas Involving Adolescents
Cases in which teens are involved and discuss the developmental and practical considerations for the court who must make decisions regarding their best interests.
Date: June 13, 2024
Title/Program: Domestic Relations & Probate Institute - After Triage: How Can We Help (And When Do We Just Enter Orders)
APR orders judicial officers can make and the orders they can't/shouldn't; how much making orders can or cannot change a family system; the impact of delayed orders versus immediate (even imperfect) orders; being at peace with an inability to make a family function better.
Date: June 13, 2024
Title/Program: Domestic Relations & Probate Institute - Effective Use of Child Advocates: Who When Why and How
The nuances of use of child advocates in domestic relation cases, understanding which types of advocates are the best fit for which types of cases, statutory changes, and Kaden's Law.
Date: September 15, 2024
Title/Program: The Violence Against Woman Act (VAWA) Institute, Judicial Conference - Impact of Trauma on Brain and Behavior.
Amber McDonald, Ph.D., LCSW is the Deputy Director of and Assistant Professor for the Stress, Trauma, Research, Trauma & Adversity (START) Clinic at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. Kara Napolitano is a human rights advocate and trainer. Kara holds an MA in International Development with concentration in International Human Rights Law from the University of Denver. Kristina Wilburn is the Associate Manager of Training and Education for the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking. Nil Buckley is an expert in Mental Health Counseling with an emphasis in addiction from the University of Colorado, Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Addiction Counselor.
Empirical research on the impact of traumatic exposures on children and adults. Participants engaged in a facilitated discussion with the presenter on the impact of these traumatic exposures, pointedly on brain and behavior, and the crucial role of judges in mitigation.
Date: September 15, 2024
Title/Program: The Violence Against Woman Act (VAWA) Institute, Judicial Conference - Trauma Responsive Courtrooms: The Intersections of Intimate Partner Violence, Sexual Violence and Human Trafficking and the Impact on Children and Youth
Amber McDonald, Ph.D., LCSW is the Deputy Director of and Assistant Professor for the Stress, Trauma, Research, Trauma & Adversity (START) Clinic at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry.
Kara Napolitano is a human rights advocate and trainer. Kara holds an MA in International Development with concentration in International Human Rights Law from the University of Denver. Kristina Wilburn is the Associate Manager of Training and Education for the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking. Nil Buckley is an expert in Mental Health Counseling with an emphasis in addiction from the University of Colorado, Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Addiction Counselor.
Minors who have been trafficked are dropping out of school, using substances to cope with their trauma, and filling up our youth detention centers; understanding the distinction between choosing to engage in criminal behavior and coerced sexual acts or forced criminality; nuances of trauma and knowing the existing resources to support survivors. The crime of human trafficking intersects with many other vulnerabilities and experiences. Those who experience trafficking being victims of child abuse or domestic violence, they may be experiencing homelessness or go on multiple runs, or they may suffer from mental illness or substance abuse disorders. Judges and other professionals supporting systems involved youth must collaborate to understand these nuanced situations without doing more harm. Situate trafficking in a local context and provide recommendations for more trauma-responsive courtrooms.
Date: September 15, 2024
Title/Program: The Violence Against Woman Act (VAWA) Institute, Judicial Conference - Protecting Futures: Navigating Intimate Partner Violence and Children’s Well-Being in Court Proceedings Coercive control identified as a domestic violence typology since 2007, Colorado statutes now recognizing the importance of understanding and assessing for its presence in both criminal and civil cases and how judicial officers and affiliated professionals can recognize whether coercive control exists in a domestic violence case and how to address it.
Kara Napolitano is a human rights advocate and trainer. Kara holds an MA in International Development with concentration in International Human Rights Law from the University of Denver. Kristina Wilburn is the Associate Manager of Training and Education for the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking. Nil Buckley is an expert in Mental Health4 Counseling with an emphasis in addiction from the University of Colorado, Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Addiction Counselor.
Date: September 18, 2024
Title/Program: Judicial Conference, Domestic Day, Setting the Stage: The Culture of Your Courtroom
Cognitive bias, implicit bias, cultural competence, effect of judge demeanor on a process of case, motivational interviewing techniques to help people feel heard
Date/Program: September 18, 2024
Title: Judicial Conference, Domestic Day, Reading the Signs Dynamics of Domestic Violence, Reading the Signs, Judicial Decisions in Domestic Relations Cases
Date: September 15, 2024
Title/Program: The Violence Against Woman Act (VAWA) Institute, Judicial Conference Included inclusive subject experts in IPV, sexual violence, and children impacted by violence. Those inclusive subject experts were as follows: Amber McDonald, Ph.D., LCSW is the Deputy Director of and Assistant Professor for the Stress, Trauma, Research, Trauma & Adversity (START) Clinic at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry.
Kara Napolitano is a human rights advocate and trainer. Kara holds an MA in International Development with concentration in International Human Rights Law from the University of Denver. Kristina Wilburn is the Associate Manager of Training and Education for the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking. Nil Buckley is an expert in Mental Health4 Counseling with an emphasis in addiction from the University of Colorado, Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Addiction Counselor.
Date: Dec. 13, 2024
Title/Program: The New Judge Orientation, Domestic Training Setting the Stage: The Culture of Your Courtroom - Cognitive and Implicit Bias and Cultural Competence
The presentation focuses on DR cases in particular and where we may hit bias pitfalls (immigration, relocation, domestic violence, disabilities, gender identity). Lawyers’ duties in the courtroom are what the judicial officer’s canons require. Cultural competency and strategies to reduce bias and ways to think through the issues of bias and how it applies to the variety of evaluations/experts the DR docket has involved.
Date: Dec. 13, 2024
Title/Program: The New Judge Orientation, Domestic Training - Personal Identity Characteristics and Creating a Courtroom of Respect, Trauma Informed Courtroom
Discussion on individual identity characteristics of the people who come before us and how that can impact how we are ultimately respectful to them – and how that impacts the climate and culture of a courtroom. I’ll give people tools to figure that out, how these things impact decision-making, and ways to create a respect-driven courtroom environment.
Date: Dec. 13, 2024
Title/Program: The New Judge Orientation, Domestic Training - A Conversation: What I Wish I Knew About a Domestic Relations Docket, Children Victims
This is a conversation-based presentation by a panel of judicial officers that have been on domestic dockets with new judicial officers or those judicial officers that are transferring to a domestic docket. Session is meant to discuss challenges and wins. Sample situations and templates will be shared. It will break down a domestic case. APR orders judicial officers can make and the orders they can't/shouldn't; how much making orders can or cannot change a family system; the impact of delayed orders versus immediate (even imperfect) orders; being at peace with an inability to make a family function better.
Date: Dec. 13, 2024
Title/Program: The New Judge Orientation, Domestic Training - Domestic Orders/Active Case Management
This is a conversation-based presentation by a panel of judicial officers that have been on domestic dockets with new judicial officers or those judicial officers that are transferring to a domestic docket.
Date: Feb.7, 2024
Title/Program: Understanding Judicial Obligations Under the Victim Rights Act (VRA) VRA Updates and everything a judicial officer needs know (including pitfalls) from the legal team.
Date: March 7, 2025
Title/Program: Lunch & Learn Webinar Recording: Tribal Courts
Presented by Gina Lopez, Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CCASA) and Zach Brown, Public Defenders Office.
Date: May 22,2025
Title/Program: Advanced New Judge Orientation, Domestic Training - Neurological Impact of Chronic or Complex Trauma, How It Manifests and Practices to Being Trauma-Informed Psychological aspects of trauma, ACES, neurological impacts of trauma, stress & coping responses of trauma, what it means to be trauma informed and trauma informed in a court room, tools for judges to use in a courtroom to be trauma informed, having trauma informed staff
Date: May 22,2025
Title/Program: Advanced New Judge Orientation, Domestic Training - Protection Orders Protection Order legislative updates including a conversation with victim advocates; discuss common situations and use templates; presentation will provide updated bench cards
Date: May 22,2025
Title/Program: Advanced New Judge Orientation, Domestic Training – A Unique Way to Do ISC This 101 step-by-step will break down the ISC hearing to make it manageable for you and all the parties involved.
Date: May 22, 2025
Title/Program: Advanced New Judge Orientation, Domestic Training - Domestic Orders/Active Case Management
This is a conversation-based presentation by a panel of judicial officers that have been on domestic dockets with new judicial officers or those judicial officers that are transferring to a domestic docket.
Date: June 4, 2025
Title/Program: Domestic Relations & Probate Institute - Coercive Control in DR Cases: A Review of New Statutory Language
Legislative updates that impact cases involving domestic violence and children. This includes Title 14, especially with regards to coercive control and domestic violence considerations in domestic relations cases; and to Title 13 with regards to awarding care s
Date: June 4, 2025
Title: Domestic Relations & Probate Institute – Child focused parenting plans in a DV aware Culture Developmentally appropriate child focused parenting plans are key to long term healthy parent/child relationships. Discussion of attunement, parenting skills through the lens of DV legislation, burden of proof, attachment theory, harm of a damaged attachment, and the role of executive parent.
Date: June 4, 2025
Title: Domestic Relations & Probate Institute – Refuse Resist Cases: Why are there so many and what can we do?
Post decree parenting struggles are often founded in poorly crafted parenting plans. We will discuss what child behaviors indicate that a plan is not working for a child, the differing capacities of children, the special needs of neurodiverse children, and the impact of parenting deficits through the lens of DV/coercive control as a family system problem. Learn the harm of generalization, the risks of not intervening, and some interventions available.
Date: June 5, 2025
Title: Domestic Relations & Probate Institute – Effective Appointments and Use of CFIs and/or PREs in Complex Cases
Using case examples and reputable authorities in family law, this session will guide judicial officers in assessing the credibility, reliability, and evidence-based practices of CFI/PRE reports, empowering them to make informed, balanced decisions serving the best interests of the child for the APR.
Date: June 5, 2025
Title: Domestic Relations & Probate Institute – Kayden’s Law and Its Implications
Detailed overview of Kayden’s Law focusing on the requirements, limitations and implications of the law with a focus on practical, everyday application in the courtroom.
Date: June 5, 2025
Title: Domestic Relations & Probate Institute – Domestic Violence in Court Proceedings: What is DV really?
Develop an understanding of dynamics of DV to properly address legal issues arising in family law cases such as credibility, intimidation, recantation and factors to recognize when evaluating the best interests of the child.
Date: June 5, 2025
Title: Domestic Relations & Probate Institute – Data Unveiled: A Deep Dive into Americans Experience and Resolve Family and IPV Issues
IAALS will soon be releasing a report highlighting the family and IPV data from its 2021 Justice Needs study that assessed the needs of people of all income levels and across all regions of the country. This session will share that data and offer recommendations for how to address these vital needs.
Date: March 27, 2026
Title/Program: Protection Orders in Domestic Violence Cases
Join Senior Judge Douglas Miles for an interactive presentation about Protection Orders in Domestic Violence Cases. This presentation was developed to address the questions, concerns, and responses obtained in the pre-training survey (Aug 2025) that was sent to Judges statewide. He will review Domestic Violence Dynamics, Typologies, and Coercive Control. Additionally, he will discuss Temporary/Permanent Civil Protection Orders, Criminal Mandatory Protection Orders, and Dissolution of Marriage Protection Orders. Attendees will receive guidance on best practices and application.
Date: June 3, 2026
Title/Program: Domestic Relations & Probate Institute -
Understand Domestic Violence as Social and Domestic Behavior
This presentation will take on discussion in a presentation with question-and-answer format to create growth and understanding of the complex issues a judicial officer faces when supported or unsupported allegations of IPV/DV/coercive control are made either early in proceedings or later.
Date: June 4, 2026
Balancing Mental Health and Best Interest in Assessing & Considering Parenting Plans
This presentation examines how mental health and disability intersect with Colorado’s best interest standard in parenting plans. It addresses legal definitions, functional assessments, and ADA safeguards while outlining evidence-based interventions to balance parenting time and decision making.
Date: June 5, 2025
Title/Program: Domestic Relations & Probate Institute -
Incident v. Pattern: How to Address DV in the Courtroom
This workshop will explore ways courts can identify and address both criminal and non-criminal behavior of DV, keep victims safe, and hold perpetrators meaningfully accountable.
Date: June 5, 2025
Title/Program: Domestic Relations & Probate Institute -
14-10-127.5: The Why, What, and How
This session will help attendees better understand the legislative intent of new statute; review and become more familiar with the definition of coercive control; understand requirements for various legal/judicial professionals of statute.
Date: June 5, 2025
When It Is Too Much: The Emotional Toll of Divorce on Children — What Courts and Legal Professionals Can Do
Children often absorb adult conflict during separation and litigation, showing it through stress signals long before they can name it. This session gives judicial officers and legal professionals practical, developmentally sound tools to reduce that load without inflaming cases.
Date: June 12, 2026
Title/Program: Lunch & Learn Webinar Recording: A Review of Key Legislative Changes to Protection Orders
Presented by Judge Dalia Labrador, 18th Judicial District & Zak Brown, Chief Deputy Public Defender
[Then Magistrate] Dalia Labrador and Chief Deputy Public Defender Zak Brown will lead the upcoming lunch and learn on significant legal changes surrounding criminal protection orders. This includes changes to CRS 18-1-1001 and CRS 18-6-803.5 and their issuances; current statutory provisions for domestic violence (DV) cases and VRA crimes; Review of current statutory provisions for DV and sex offenses; the firearm relinquishment process, and changes to prohibitions on alcohol/drug use; and finally, an overview of the tribal court jurisdiction and their protection order process.
Upcoming scheduled HB 1108 Lunch and Learns:
- Human Trafficking with Judge Laurie Clark & Kara Napolitano, Education and Partnerships Director of Combat Human Trafficking - Oct 23, 2026
- The Role of the Guardian Ad Litem with Katie Hecker, OCR – Jan 8, 2027
- TBD Session with Linda Johnston, Project Director of Ending Violence Against Women Project
- Extreme Risk Protection Orders with Molly Siegel, Director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention