Awards

Carle E. Whitehead Civil Rights and Liberties Award
Darold Killmer, David Lane and Mari Newman were awarded the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado’s 2010 Carle E. Whitehead Award for “dedication to defending civil liberties and the rule of law.”  Click here to watch the 2010 Carle E. Whitehead Award Video

Access to Justice Award
Darold Killmer, David Lane and Mari Newman were awarded the 2010 Colorado Trial Lawyers Association’s Access to Justice Award, honoring “perseverance, courage and character shown over and over in cases of extraordinary circumstances.”

Southern Center for Human Rights’ Frederick Douglass Human Rights Award
Each year the Southern Center for Human Rights honors those who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of human rights.  In 2007, Darold Killmer and Mari Newman were co-recipients of the Frederick Douglass Human Rights Award for representation of six Yemeni men detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  The firm’s representation of detainees held indefinitely by the United States government is consistent with our mission to defend the rights of our clients against oppressive and illegal government conduct.

Denver's Best Lawyers, Best Lawyers®, 2012
Darold Killmer, David Lane and Mari Newman were each selected by Peer Recognition as among Denver's Best Lawyers.  David Lane was selected one of the Lawyers of the Year in the area of First Amendment, and one of Denver's Best Lawyers in the areas of Civil Rights, Criminal Defense and First Amendment.  Darold Killmer and Mari Newman were each selected as among Denver's Best Lawyers in the area of Labor and Employment law.

Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado Access to Justice Recognition
Killmer, Lane & Newman, LLP was recognized by the Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado in 2011 for its important contributions to improving access to justice in the State of Colorado.

Colorado Trial Lawyers Association Case of the Year, 2010
In 2010, the David Lane and Darold Killmer were recognized for the case of Masters v. Gilmore, et al., for the wrongful conviction of an innocent man.  Click here to watch the 2010 CTLA Case of the Year Award Video

Colorado Trial Lawyers Association Case of the Year, 2009
In 2009, the Mari Newman and Darold Killmer were recognized for the case of Hall v. Zavaras, et al., against the Colorado Department of Corrections for the sexual assault of an incarcerated woman by a guard.  This case resulted in significant changes in the Colorado Department of Corrections’ training and monitoring of prison guards, as well as monetary payments to Ms. Hall.  Click here to watch the 2009 CTLA Case of the Year Award Video

Colorado Trial Lawyers Association Finalist for Case of the Year
2010, 2008, 2007, 2003
The Guantanamo Litigation was one of three finalists for the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association’s 2010 Case of the Year Award.  Darold Killmer, Mari Newman and David Lane represent five Yemeni men who are imprisoned by the United States government, although they have never been charged or tried for any crime.  The firm’s representation of these men is pro bono.

Darold Killmer and Mari Newman were finalists for Colorado Trial Lawyers Association’s 2008 Case of the Year Award for the case of Rice v. City of Denver, et al., wherein the firm represented the estate and parents of a young woman who died after she was denied medical care while in the Denver jail.  Click here to watch the 2008 CTLA Case of the Year Finalist Video

Bonner v. City of Aurora was one of three finalists for the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association’s 2007 Case of the Year Award.  Darold Killmer and Mari Newman represented the family and estate of Jamaal Bonner, an unarmed, young African-American man who was shot and killed by members of the City of Aurora Police Department.  The case resulted in a significant monetary settlement and substantial procedural changes and training within the Aurora Police Department.

Mari Newman was a finalist for the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association’s 2003 Case of the Year Award for her work in the case of Montez, et al. v. Owens, et al., a class action lawsuit against the Colorado Department of Corrections for its improper treatment of disabled inmates.

Colorado Super Lawyers
Darold Killmer, David Lane, and Mari Newman have each been consistently designated as Colorado Super Lawyers, an honor limited to five percent of the attorneys in Colorado.  In 2013 and 2012, Darold Killmer and Mari Newman were each named as among the Top 100 Colorado Super Lawyers, and Mari Newman was also designated one of the Top 50 Women Colorado Super Lawyers for each of these years.  In 2011, Mari Newman was named one of the Top 25 Women Colorado Super Lawyers.  In 2010, Darold Killmer was designated as one of the Top 50 Lawyers in the State.

Best Lawyers in America
Darold Killmer has been selected for The Best Lawyers in America, Labor and Employment Law from 1995 - present.  David Lane was selected for The Best Lawyers in America, First Amendment, 2008 - present.  Mari Newman has been selected for The Best Lawyers in America, Labor and Employment Law from 2010 - present. 

Supreme Court of Colorado Pro Bono Award
Killmer, Lane & Newman, LLP has been consistently awarded for its outstanding contribution, service and commitment to pro bono achievement.

Colorado Criminal Defense Bar
David Lane was the recipient of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar’s prestigious Jonathan Olom Award in 1995 for exceptional service and sacrifice in the representation of the criminally accused.

College of Labor and Employment Lawyers Fellow
Darold Killmer was named a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers (2008 - present) in recognition of his devoted and distinguished career in the practice of labor and employment law. 

“Barrister’s Best” Plaintiff’s Employment Lawyer
Mari Newman was named by Law Week Colorado as the “Barrister’s Best” Plaintiff’s Employment Lawyer in both 2012 and 2011.

Colorado Trial Lawyers Association’s Young Trial Lawyer of the Year
Mari Newman was named the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association’s 2008 Outstanding Young Trial Lawyer of the Year.  Click here to watch the Young Trial Lawyer of the Year Award Video

2009 Center For American and International Law Commitment Award
David Lane was recognized for years of working with Texas capital defense lawyers to improve their trial skills.

Denver Bar Foundation Richard Marden Davis Award
Mari Newman was honored with the 2009 Richard Marden Davis Award, a joint award of the Denver Bar Foundation, the Davis Family, and the Law Firm of Davis, Graham and Stubbs, presented to a Denver lawyer under the age of 40 who combines excellence as a lawyer with creative civic, cultural, educational and charitable leadership. 

Colorado Legal Initiatives Project Barrister of the Year
Mari Newman was named the 2007 Barrister of the Year by the Colorado Legal Initiatives Project.

Newsed Community Development Civil Rights Award
David Lane was the recipient of the Newsed Community Development Award in 1997.

Denver Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year
Mari Newman was named the 2012 Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year by the Denver Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council Dan B. Davidson Award 
David Lane was recognized in 2011 for his exceptional service to the Colorado disabilities community.

Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Gideon Award 
Killmer, Lane & Newman attorney Jessica Jones recieved the 2009 Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Gideon Award for remarkable effort to fulfill the promise of Gideon v. Wainwright and dedication to advocacy on behalf of the poor.

Lowrey Kelley Memorial Boot Camp Award
Killmer, Lane & Newman attorney Faisal Salahuddin received the Lowrey Kelley Memorial Boot Camp Award in 2010 for performance at the Colorado Public Defender Boot Camp training seminar.

Denver Business Journal’s Forty Under Forty
Mari Newman has been named as one of the Denver Business Journal’s 2009 “Forty Under Forty,” recognizing forty outstanding local professionals under age 40 for their business success and community contributions. 

Out Front Colorado Power List
Mari Newman was recognized in 2011 as one of “45 LGBT leaders, volunteers and organizations that are making a difference.”

Colorado Bar Foundation Fellow
Mari Newman has been named as a Fellow of the Colorado Bar Foundation (2008 - present), a designation bestowed upon no more than five percent of the lawyers in Colorado for “outstanding dedication to the welfare of the community, the traditions of the profession and the maintenance and advancement of the objectives of the Colorado Bar Association.”