Sarah Schielke’s journey to becoming a prominent civil rights attorney in Colorado is marked by determination, innovation, and a commitment to justice. After graduating from Boston University School of Law in 2008, Schielke found herself in Colorado seeking a fresh start. With no local legal connections, she took an unconventional approach to launching her career by posting an ad on Craigslist offering discount legal services.
This bold move quickly provided Schielke with valuable experience. In 2012, she founded the Life and Liberty Law Office, specializing in criminal defense and civil rights litigation. Schielke’s decision to never work under another attorney allowed her to forge her path, particularly in rights cases.
Schielke’s innovative strategy of publicly sharing body camera footage from her clients’ cases has proven highly effective. This approach has brought national attention to incidents of police misconduct and resulted in substantially larger settlements than typical for similar situations.
One of her most notable cases involved Karen Garner, a woman with dementia injured during an arrest by Loveland police in June 2020. Schielke’s release of the body camera footage in April 2021 sparked widespread outrage and prompted internal and external reviews of the incident and the police department. The case settled for $3 million, far exceeding the typical amount for similar cases. More importantly, it led to criminal charges against two officers involved, with Austin Hopp sentenced to five years in prison and Daria Jalali receiving 45 days in jail, followed by three years of probation.
Building on this success, Schielke secured another landmark victory in 2022 with a record-breaking $7 million settlement against the Idaho Springs Police Department for a brutal tasing incident. These cases have brought justice to TS and contributed to conversations about police accountability and reform.
Recently, Schielke has taken on another significant challenge, filing five lawsuits against Fort Collins Police Services for a series of alleged wrongful DUI arrests by a former officer. These cases highlight her commitment to holding law enforcement accountable and protecting citizens’ rights. Schielke’s approach involves legal action, transparency, and reform within police departments.
In one of these cases, Schielke represents Harris Elias of Fort Collins, who claims Loveland Police Officer William Gates wrongfully arrested him. Arrested lawsuits allege that former officer Jason Haferman had wrongfully arrested more than 17 people in one year for DUI while showing no alcohol present in any of the individuals’ blood.
Schielke’s work has earned her significant recognition. In 2023, she was named one of USA TODAY’s Women of the Year, acknowledging her impact as a champion of change in her community and across the country. She has also repeatedly been a lawyer for DUI Defense from 2018 to the present.
Hilke is willing to take on powerful institutions and challenge the status quo. Her courage is defined by her determination to right wrongs and effect positive change, even when faced with formidable opposition. She attributes her success to constant learning, reaching out to more experienced colleagues, and the support of her family.
Schielke’s philosophy is rooted in empathy and understanding. She believes there are fundamental types of people: good people and good people in pain. This perspective informs her approach to her legal work and interactions with others, allowing her to see beyond surface-level behaviors and address underlying issues.
As she continues to make waves in the legal world, Sarah Schielke remains dedicated to learning, growing, and improving the justice system. Her innovative tactics, unwavering commitment to her clients, and compassionate understanding of human nature have benefited those shots and enhanced law enforcement accountability. Schielke’s journey from a law school graduate to a nationally recognized civil rights attorninspires to aspiring lawyers and advocates for justice everywhere.