Norman R. Mueller

With his unique combination of trial and appellate skills, Norm Mueller has vigorously represented thousands of clients in state and federal trial and appellate courts around the country. He has handled hundreds of appeals, both civil and criminal. He is highly regarded for his meticulous and creative approach to his appellate cases.

After graduating from Yale Law School in 1974, Norm returned to Colorado (where he had worked one summer helping construct the Eisenhower Tunnel) to begin his legal career as a Deputy State Public Defender. He worked in both the Appellate Division and the Denver Regional Trial Office, serving as Chief Appellate Deputy from 1978-1980. Norm formed the firm of Allen, Foreman and Mueller in 1980 before joining Haddon, Morgan and Foreman in 1983.

Norm’s commitment to the legal profession is long standing. He has been appointed to numerous commissions and served on many committees and boards seeking to improve both the criminal justice system and the skills and knowledge of attorneys.

Commitment to community is just as important to Norm. After coaching youth sports for many years, Norm has served as a mentor at Denver’s East High School since 2004. He has also volunteered at Aurora Central High School, supporting the school’s CBA mock trial program. Norm is proud to be a board member of Together with the Children, a 501(c)(3) that raises funds for JUCONI (Juntos con los Niños), an organization that works with street-involved children and their families in Puebla, Mexico.

SELECTED SPEECHES

“Appellate Practice Update 2015,” Colorado Bar Association, Denver, November 2015

“Avoiding Ethical Lapses and Sanctions on Appeal,” Colorado Bar Association, Denver, July 2014

“How to Lose a Winning Appeal,” National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Aspen, January 2012 (with Ty Gee)

“Keeping Your Ticket: Some Guidance for Modern Ethical Dilemmas,” National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Portland, November 2009

“Special Considerations in Criminal Appeals,” Colorado Bar Association, Denver, November 2006

“What to do if you are Grieved,” American Immigration Lawyers Association, Denver, March 2006

“Investigation and Pre-trial Motions,” San Antonio Bar Association, San Antonio, November 2005

“Ethics and Getting Your Job Done,” The National Defenders Association, Boston, April 2004

“Ethics and Experts: Avoiding Traps for the Unwary,” National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Denver, August 2003

“Ethics and Appellate Practice,” Federal Judicial Center, Washington, D.C., May 1998

PUBLICATIONS

“Sabbaticals Off the Grid,” 42 Litigation, No. 3, Spring 2016, at 55

Chapter author, Colorado Appellate Handbook

“The (Absolute) Basics of a State Criminal Appeal,” Rap Sheet (newsletter of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar), summer 2005

“Grand Jury Abuse: The Remedy After Mechanik and Kilpatrick,”: 17 Colorado Lawyer 647 (1988)

SELECTED REPORTED CASES

People v. Wakefield, 2018 COA 37

McLaughlin v. BNSF Ry. Co., 300 P.3d 925 (Colo. App. 2012)

U.S. v. Burgess, 576 F.3d 1078 (10th Cir. 2009)

People v. Summers, 208 P.3d 251 (Colo. 2009)

Antolovich v. Brown Group Retail, Inc., 183 P.3d 582 (Colo. App. 2007)

People v. Stanley, 170 P.3d 782 (Colo. App. 2007)

Auman v. People, 109 P.3d 647 (as amicus) (Colo. 2005)

Coors Brewing Co. v. Cabo, 114 P.3d 60 (Colo. App. 2004)

Kohn v. Burlington Northern and Santa Fe R.R.,77 P.3d 809 (Colo. App. 2003)

People v. Jensen, 55 P.3d 135 (Colo. App. 2001)

Springer v. City and County of Denver, 13 P.3d 794 (Colo. 2000)

Osteguin v. Southern Pacific Transp. Co., 144 F.3d 1293 (10th Cir. 1988)

Sauer v. Burlington Northern R. Co., 106 F.3d 1490 (10th Cir. 1996)

Boatright v. Derr, 919 P.2d 221 (Colo. 1996)

Green v. Denver & Rio Grande Western R. Co., 59 F.3d 1029 (10th Cir. 1995)

Wilson v. Union Pacific R. Co., 56 F.3d 1226 (10th Cir. 1995)

Hill v. Boatright, 890 P.2d 180 (Colo. App. 1994)

Anderson v. Eby, 998 F.2d 858 (10th Cir. 1993)

Scholz v. Metropolitan Pathologists, P.C., 851 P.2d 901 (Colo. 1993)

Matter of Estate of Rienks, 844 P.2d 1295 (Colo. App. 1992)

Mumford v. Hughes, 852 P.2d 1289( Colo. App. 1992)

Morgan v. Board of Water Works, 837 P.2d 300 (Colo. App. 1992)

Matter of Title, Ballot Title and Submission Clause, and Summary Pertaining to Campaign and Political Finance Initiative Adopted on Feb. 12, 1992, 830 P.2d 954

Resolution Trust Corp. v. Cruce, 785 F.Supp. 147 (D.Kan. 1992)

Faucett v. Hamill, 815 P.2d 989 (Colo. App. 1991)

U.S. v. Gahagan, 881 F.2d 1380 (6th Cir. 1989)

U.S. v. Gahagan, 865 F. 2d 1490 (6th Cir. 1989)

Moland v. People, 757 P.2d 137 (Colo. 1988)

People v. Drake, 748 P.2d 1237 (Colo. 1988) (as amicus)

Vista Village Mobile Home Park v. Basnett, 731 P.2d 700 (Colo. 1987)

Qureshi v. District Court In and For Second Judicial Dist., 727 P.2d 45 (Colo. 1986)

People v. Mares, 705 P.2d 1013 (Colo. App. 1985)

People v. Curtis, 681 P.2d 504 (Colo. 1984)

People v. Lee, 630 P.2d 583 (Colo. 1981)

People v. Botham, 629 P.2d 589 (Colo. 1981)

People v. Martinez, 628 P.2d 608 (Colo. 1981)

People v. Marcy, 628 P.2d 69 (Colo. 1981)

People v. Cohen, 617 P.2d 1205 (Colo. 1980)