David S. Kaplan
David Kaplan received a bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado and
graduated from the University of Denver College of Law in 1982. Upon graduation,
he was employed as a Deputy State Public Defender in the Denver trial office.
After leaving the Public Defenders, he practiced criminal defense law in both state
and federal courts as a partner in Pozner and Kaplan, then with the firm of
Holland, Kaplan and Pagliuca.
In January of 2000, Mr. Kaplan was appointed as the Colorado State Public
Defender, a position he left on November 1, 2006. During his tenure as Public
Defender he oversaw 270 criminal defense attorneys in what is regarded as one
of the best indigent defense services in the nation and has been highly regarded
by Deputy Public Defenders, prosecutors, judges, and the Colorado legislature. He
is past president of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar and an adjunct faculty
member at the University of Denver College of Law, teaching criminal law, criminal
procedure, and trial tactics. He has lectured extensively in the areas of trial tactics,
criminal defense, and criminal justice issues. He currently is Vice Chairman of the Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, chairs the CCCJJ Post-Incarceration Supervision Task Force and is a Board Member of the Colorado Innocence Project. With his 23 years of trial experience, Mr. Kaplan's practice emphasizes
criminal litigation and attorney discipline matters.
2006 to Present: Haddon, Morgan, Mueller, Jordan, Mackey & Foreman, P.C.
Partner in firm focused on State and Federal criminal litigation
2000 to 2006: Colorado State Public Defender.
1997 to 1999: Holland, Kaplan and Pagliuca, P.C., 730 Seventeenth Street, Suite730, Denver, Colorado 80202, (303) 820-4420. Representing State and Federal Criminal Defendants.
1987 to 1997: Pozner, Hutt and Kaplan, 1890 Gaylord Street, Denver, Colorado 80206. Partner in firm with emphasis on criminal defense litigation.
1983 to 1987: Deputy State Public Defender. Colorado State Public Defender - Denver Office.
1977 to 1979: Research Director. Colorado Public Interest Research Group.
AUTHOR/SPEAKER:
Instructor: "The Colorado Method; Juror Selection Technique in Death Penalty Cases," July 2008
Speaker: Cross Examination: Advanced Impeachment Techniques, Colorado State Public Defender Annual Conference 2007, September 2007
Speaker: Effective Assistance of Counsel: Sentencing Issues, Fall Federal Practice Series, September 2007
Speaker: Ethics in Multi-Defendant Cases, Federal Criminal Justice Act Program, March 2007
Speaker: Privilege and Confidential Communications, Ethical Considerations. Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Ethics Program, November 2006
Panelist: Criminal Sentencing in Colorado, Colorado Bar Association CLE, February 2006
Panelist: First Annual Government Symposium. University of Colorado Law School. October 2005
Key Note Speaker: Rocky Mountain Government/Public Interest Legal Career Symposium, University of Colorado School of Law, March 2005
Speaker: Denver Metro Chamber Foundation and Leadership Denver Crime & Justice Day, April, 2003, 2004
Speaker: Colorado Supreme Court Attorney Regulation Counsel, Practicing with Professionalism, June 2003
Speaker: Colorado Bar Association Criminal Law Ethics Program, December 2002
Panelist: Hispanic National Bar Association Midwestern Regional Conference, The Changing Face of the Death Penalty, September 2002.
Panelist: Rocky Mountain Restorative Community Justice Conference, Plenary Panel, September 2001
Keynote Speaker: Larimer County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, May 2001.
Speaker: Colorado Bar Association Annual Spring Criminal Law Program, April 2001
Speaker: University of Denver College of Law: Equal Justice Colloquium, March 2001
Panelist: American Association of Law Schools Equal Justice Colloquium, February 2001
Keynote Speaker: Coloradans Against the Death Penalty Awards Ceremony October 2000
Speaker: Lorman Education Services Conducing An Effective Cross Examination in Colorado, July 2000
Keynote Speaker: Colorado Bar admission ceremony, May 2000
Speaker: Conducting an Effective Cross-Examination; Lorman Education Services, July, 1999
Speaker: Purpose of Cross Examination: Colorado Bar Association Litigation Seminar, June, 1999
Speaker: Colorado Bar Association, Trial Strategies & Tactics CLE. October 1997
Panelist: Federal CJA Seminar; Dealing with U.S. Probation Office, June 1997
Speaker: Repercussions of a Sexual Assault Conviction; Colorado Criminal Defense Bar. April 1997.
Co-Author Denver University Law Review: "Coerced Waiver Coerced Consent" 1997
Speaker: Denver Law Review Coercion Symposium. University of Denver College of Law. March 1997.
Speaker: Criminality and the Constitution. Metro State Political Science Department symposium. December 1996.
Speaker: 1996 COVA Conference. Violent Assault and the At-Risk Defendant. November 8, 1996.
Speaker: Children's Advocacy and Family Resources: "Skill Building for Testimony in Court". March 31, 1995.
Speaker: Skill Building for Testimony in Court sponsored by Children's Advocacy and Family Resource Center. December 10, 1993.
Speaker: 1993 COVA Conference. Prosecution, Defense and Appellate Perspectives of Victims and Defendant's Rights. October 22, 1993.
Speaker: University of Denver College of Law, Mid-year Commencement Address, January, 1993.
Speaker: Colorado Statutory and Case Law update. Presented to the First Judicial District Bar Association. March 28, 1992.
Speaker: C.T.L.A. Criminal Update. October 5, 1991.
Speaker: Managing the Indigent Client. Colorado Springs C.C.D.B. C.L.E. September 6,1991.
Speaker: The Judge’s Perspective: Child Abuse Issues in Criminal Prosecution. Evidentiary Issues: Prosecution and Defense Perspectives. April 26, 1991, Denver Colorado.
Speaker at C.C.D.B. Continuing Legal Education Seminar: Alternatives in Sentencing. "Negotiating the Plea and Sentencing Hearing, December 8, 1990, Denver Colorado.
Author: 1990 Criminal Law Legislative Update. Colorado Lawyer. October 1990.
Lecture: Basic Cross Examination Techniques. Colorado Public Defenders, Training 1990.
Speaker: Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, Colorado Law Update: Criminal Law. Denver, Colorado, Sept. 21, 1990.
Guest Speaker. Symposium entitled "Violence Against Minorities" January 27 1990. Sponsored by the Asian American Law Society, University of Denver College of Law.
Lecture. Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Continuing Legal Education program. Sexual Assault on Children. Entitled "Investigating Allegations of Child Sexual Assault". 1989.
Author: "Investigating Allegations of Child Sexual Assault" 1989.
Legislative Update: 1989 Legislative session update. Presented to C.T.L.A. continuing legal education seminar in Denver.
Speaker: 1985 Colorado Public Defender Conference; DUI Law in Colorado.
Co Author: "DUI Law in Colorado". Presented to Colorado Trial Lawyers Association annual convention 1985.
BOARDS AND COMMITTEES:
Colorado Criminal and Juvenile Justice Commission, Vice-Chairman 2007 – Present
Chair Post-Incarceration Supervision Task Force - CCCJJ 2007 - Present
Federal Criminal Case Discovery Committee 2007 – 2008
Governor’s Task Force on DNA 2007 – 2009
Colorado Innocence Project 2002 - Present
Colorado Legislative Task Force for the Continuing Study of the Treatment of Persons with Mental Illness Involved in the Criminal Justice System 2000 – 2006.
Colorado Judicial Drug Court Advisory Committee 2003 – 2006
Colorado State Court Commission on Families in the Courts 2001
Denver Community Courts Development Plan Committee 2001
City and County of Denver; No-Knock Raid Review Committee 2000
Colorado Bar Association Board of Governors 1994 - 1996
ACLU of Colorado Board Member 1991 – 1995
Denver Drug Court Advisory Committee 1993 - 1996
Colorado Criminal Defense Bar – President 1993 – 1994
TEACHING POSITIONS:
Adjunct Faculty. University of Denver College of Law; Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure and Trial Tactics.
University of Denver College of Law Evening Division Professor of the Year,1993.
Instructor: Colorado Criminal Defense Bar and University of Colorado College of Law Annual Trial Practice Institute. 1989 - 1997.
Internship Training Coordinator, Denver Public Defender, 1985 - 1987.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:
Colorado Criminal Defense Bar
President: 1993 - 1994
Board of Directors, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar. 1990 - 1992.
Chairman; Legislative Action Committee, 1990 - 1994
President elect 1992
Lobbyist. Colorado Criminal Defense Bar. Colorado Legislature: 1990 - 1995
Colorado Bar Association: Board of Governors 1994 - 1996
American Bar Association: 1996-1997, Chair of the Denver Subcommittee of the Criminal Litigation Committee.
American Civil Liberties Union - Colorado: Board of Directors, 1991 to 1995, Nominating Committee 1994, Legislative Lobbying Committee, 1991 to 1995.
Denver Drug Court Advisory Committee: 1993 to 1996 Probation subcommittee member.
National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys: 1987 - Present. National Legislative Coordinator for Colorado.
Colorado Trial Lawyers Association: Member 1987 to Present.
EDUCATION:
University of Denver College of Law, Juris Doctorate, 1982: Recipient, Moot Court Barrister's Cup, 1981; Winner American Bar Association Regional Moot Court Competition, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 1981.
University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, B.A., 1977.