Every year, around 45 adjunct faculty teach a wide range of upper-level courses. With a mix of theoretical and practice-minded perspectives, adjuncts are an essential part of the Colorado Law community. In this series, we are thrilled to highlight a few of our amazing adjuncts and learn what they enjoy most about training the next generation of lawyers. First up, we have Martha Fulford. Professor Fulford teaches Consumer Protection Laws and Policies here at Colorado Law, a course that will be offered once again in Fall 2025.  

Martha Fulford is an Assistant Deputy at the Colorado Attorney General's Office. She leads the office's civil rights work, including housing and worker protections, and pattern or practice investigations. She also serves as the consumer credit administrator, enforcing laws related to consumer lending, private education lending, student loan servicing, mortgage servicing, debt collection, and debt settlement.  
 
Before joining the AG's office, Fulford was senior counsel at the National Student Legal Defense Network, representing student loan borrowers in impact litigation against student loan servicers and the U.S. Department of Education.  
 
From 2012 to 2018, Fulford served in the Legal Division at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, where she advised agency leadership on administrative law, Dodd-Frank authorities, and federal consumer financial law, and served as the student lending lead for the Legal Division.  
 
Fulford clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Tucker L. Melançon and for Judge Michael A. Chagares on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. She graduated magna cum laude from Yale University with a double major in history and international studies. Fulford earned her J.D. from Columbia University School of Law, where she was a James Kent Scholar and managing editor of the Columbia Law Review.  

Learn more about Fulford in the Q&A below!  

What do you enjoy most about being an adjunct at Colorado Law?   

MF: I enjoy getting to know students and encouraging them to consider careers in consumer protection and public service generally.  

How has your work as an adjunct impacted your own practice of law, and vice versa?  

MF: I am impressed with the consumer protection problems students identified from their own lives and the creative legal solutions they came up with to address these problems.  

Can you tell me more about your course, Consumer Protection Laws and Policies? What do you hope students will get out of taking the course?  

MF: The course will focus on protections we all rely on, when taking out student loans, making an online purchase, using a bank account, accessing rental housing, or buying a home.  When these protections fail, real people suffer and the ripple effects can be systemic, such as in the Financial Crisis. In addition to substantive topics of consumer protection, the course will include policy, statutory interpretation, agency regulation, administrative law, and constitutional law. Finally, you'll learn to be a discerning consumer, aware of your rights, and able to protect yourself as you navigate an ever more complicated landscape for consumers. 

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Richard Drury Irvin ‘73 passed away on December 9, 2024. An active member of the 91������ legal community for many years, Irvin will be remembered for his integrity and sense of humor. He was a past president of the 91������ County Bar Association (2010-2011) and remained active in BCBA and the wider legal community until multiple sclerosis forced him to retire in 2016. Even in retirement, Irvin was always ready to get together with the many colleagues who became friends over the years.

“I came to know Rich well during my three terms as 91������ District Attorney,” said Stan Garnett ’82, Partner at Garnett Powell Maximon Barlow & Farbes. “Rich was a thoughtful, vigorous and effective advocate for justice in any setting…The community is filled with people who benefitted from his lawyering and above all, I counted him an important friend in the legal community who would always tell the truth.”

Irvin was born September 19, 1946. After graduating with honors from Ohio University, Irvin worked in the Lake County Department of Social Services by day while attending Cleveland State University College of Law at night until 1971, when he transferred to the University of Colorado School of Law, where he received his JD in 1973. 

During his time at CU, Rich was involved with its clinical program and credited his law school experiences with leading him into a career that he dearly loved. Upon his admittance to the Bar in 1974, Rich joined the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender, serving in Denver and 91������. He loved to tell the story of having a jury trial on his second day on the job. And as those who knew him could attest, he had many other stories he would often recount as a public defender and later in private practice (1980-2016). In 2019, Irvin received the 91������ County Bar Association’s highest honor, the Ron Porter Award of Merit.

Irvin’s involvement in the Colorado Law alumni community was vast – and ranged from attending Homecoming events, CLE presentations, annual lectures, and some class reunions. Additionally, Irvin was involved with the CU Alumni Association and the Directors’ Club (now Forever Gold), where he served on the Board and was its President.

Those who worked alongside Irvin will recall his colorful and passionate style in the courtroom and his dedication to providing a zealous defense to clients from all walks of life. As his daughter Margo commented at an early age to a friend, Irvin went to court “to make things fair.”

“Rich had a distinguished career as an attorney and was acknowledged as one of the County’s legal leaders,” said Hon. David. A. Archuleta ’89. “Rich and I had many cases together and, while he always tried to optimize the outcomes for his clients, he was always also completely professional and thoughtful. Notwithstanding his legal accomplishments, his best attribute is probably his lifelong quest for justice and a mature appreciation for people and their circumstances.”

Rich was a true extrovert who lived life to the fullest and thrived on good conversation, novel experiences, and an appreciative audience for his stories and (bad) jokes. He was passionate about history, movies, music, travel, and the CU Buffs.

Irvin married Ruth Kromminga (now Irvin) in 1987 after meeting at a Colorado Trial Lawyers Association conference, and for many years they practiced law together as Irvin & Irvin. Their daughter, Margo, is married to Scott Baez (also a lawyer), and they live in California. 

Gifts in Irvin’s name may be made to the  at the University of Colorado Law School (you may donate online or make your check out to CU Foundation, write fund #D-0024359 on the check, and mail it to University of Colorado Foundation, P.O. Box 17126 Denver, CO 80217-9155) or the 91������ Philharmonic (1600 Range St., #200, 91������, CO 80301).

A celebration of life will be held on May 4 at the Byron White Club lounge at CU’s Folsom Field. .

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Congratulations to , who was recently listed as a   

In its third iteration of this study, the authors focus on recent publications as opposed to career-long research outputs. This helps recognize a broader range of scholars, emphasizing current impact.  

The pool of authors from which the study pulled is large, with ABA 509 data indicating that there are roughly 9,663 full time faculty members across reporting schools. Kaminski was ranked 91st based on citations to law review articles published in the HeinOnline Law Journal Library from 2018 through 2020, and 65th when co-authorship was considered.  

“I’m honored to be included on this list, which includes incredibly impressive scholars I’ve long admired,” Professor Kaminski said. “No one study perfectly captures impact, but I appreciate the authors’ thoughtfulness about the metrics they chose. It is truly exciting to find out about the relative level of impact of my recent work. I’m very grateful to my co-authors, and to colleagues in my field and at Colorado Law for crucial feedback. I am also grateful for the support I have received for my scholarship from Fulbright, and at various academic institutions, including Colorado Law.” 

Kaminski’s work specializes in the law of new technologies, focusing on information governance, data privacy, and freedom of expression. Recently, her research has focused on AI Law; she is currently drafting a leading co-authored casebook in the field. 
 
In 2018, Professor Kaminski conducted research on comparative data privacy law at the University of Amsterdam's Institute for Information Studies (IVIR) and Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna as a recipient of the Fulbright-Schuman Innovation Grant. In 2024, she conducted research on comparative AI Law at the European University Institute (EUI) as a Fernand Braudel Senior Fellow and recipient of a 2024 Fulbright-Schuman Grant.  

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Faculty Publications 

Maryam Jamshidi,  2024 U. Chi. Legal F. 161 (2025). 

Vivek Krishnamurthy,  25 Chi. J. Int'l L. 417 (2025). 

Amanda Parsons, The Shifting Economic Allegiance of Capital Gains,in  79 (2025). 

Harry Surden,  SSRN.com(forthcoming, 96 U. Colo. L. Rev. 376 2025). 

Media Mentions 

[Jonathon Booth], Matt Sedensky,  Associated Press (Feb. 15, 2025). 

[Deep Gulasekaram], Celeste Bott, Law360 (Feb. 14, 2025). 

[Jud Lohnes, Korey Wise Innocence Project], Marianne Goodland,  Denver Gazette (Feb. 20, 2025). 

[Mark Squillace], Lesley Clark & Niina H. Farah,  E&E News (Feb. 19, 2025). 

[Harry Surden], Sara Merken,  Reuters (Feb. 18, 2025)(reprints include Denver Gazette). 

[Silicon Flatirons Center Conference],  Telecommunications Reports (Feb. 15, 2025)(Lexis login required). 

Faculty & Staff Activities 

James Anaya (speaker), Kristen Carpenter & Emiliano Salazar (moderators),  (upcoming, Feb. 24, 2025). 

Paul Campos, Lawyers, Guns, & Money (Feb. 14-21), blog posts  

Kristen Carpenter (speaker),  (upcoming, Feb. 27, 2025). 

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Widely recognized for its intellectual diversity and originality, the faculty at Colorado Law encompasses an array of prominent legal scholars who are widely cited, both in academia and throughout the national media landscape. We invite you to catch up on the latest faculty publications and media mentions with this weekly round up.

Faculty Publications  

Amanda Parsons, , 58 U.C. Davis L. Rev. 1745 (2025). 

Media Mentions 

[Violeta Chapin], Rossana Longo-Better,  91������ Reporting Lab (Feb. 11, 2025). 

[Deep Gulasekaram], Maia Spoto,  Bloomberg Law (Feb. 12, 2025). 

[Chris Winter, GWC], Elise Schmelzer,  Denver Post (Feb. 9, 2025)(Lexis link ) 

Faculty and Staff Activities 

[Kristen Carpenter, Deep Gulasekaram, Blake Reid, Jonathan Skinner-Thompson, Scott Skinner-Thompson], Matthew Engebretsen, The Byron White Center Hosts 2025 Scotus Preview, Colorado Law (Feb. 10, 2025). 

Paul Campos, Lawyers, Guns, & Money (Feb. 7-14), blog posts  

[Amanda Parsons], Paul Caron TaxProf Blog (Feb. 7, 2025) &  TaxProf Blog (Feb. 13, 2025)(presenting Tax Law for Informational Capitalism as part of the Duke Tax Policy Seminar (Feb. 13, 2025). 

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Widely recognized for its intellectual diversity and originality, the faculty at Colorado Law encompasses an array of prominent legal scholars who are widely cited, both in academia and throughout the national media landscape. We invite you to catch up on the latest faculty publications and media mentions with this weekly round up.

Faculty Publications

Nadav Orian Peer,  (SSRN.com, U. of Colorado Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 25-5). 

Media Mentions 

[Violeta Chapin], Marty Lenz & Jeana Gondek, , KOA Radio (Feb. 5, 2025). 

[Violeta Chapin], Nicole Brambila,  Denver Gazette (Feb. 4, 2025). 

[Deep Gulasekaram], Carly Moore,  KDVR (Feb. 5, 2025). 

[Maryam Jamshidi],  Hyphen (Feb. 6, 2025). 

Scott Skinner-Thompson,  Slate (Feb. 3, 2025). 

[Mark Squillace] Kate Groetzinger & Aaron Weiss,  Center for Western Priorities (Jan. 31, 2025). 

[Mark Squillace], Bobby Magill,  Bloomberg Law (Feb. 4, 2025). 

[Silicon Flatirons Conference], Lucas High,  Daily Camera (Feb. 4, 2025) (first published in BizWest, Lexis login required). 

Faculty & Staff Activities 

Brad Bernthal (moderator), Deep Gulasekaram (keynote speaker), Margot Kaminski (panelist), Vivek Krishnamurthy (moderator), Blake Reid (moderator & debater), Harry Surden (panelist), , Silicon Flatirons (Feb. 2-3, 2025). 

[Dean Lolita Buckner Inniss & Skyler Arbuckle],  (upcoming webinar, Feb. 19, 2025 at 11am MST)(presenting on their article “”). 

Paul Campos, Lawyers, Guns, & Money (Feb. 1-7), blog posts . 

[Deb Cantrell], Emily Battaglia,  Colorado Law (Jan. 23, 2025). 

Rebecca Ciota,  Colorado Law (Feb. 4, 2025). 

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The Byron White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law kicked off the spring semester with its annual SCOTUS Preview event, offering the Colorado Law community a glimpse into key cases before the United States Supreme Court. , the Director of the White Center, served as the moderator, guiding discussions on constitutional protections, religious freedoms, environmental policy, and digital rights. 

The discussion began with a case addressing Tennessee’s law prohibiting gender-affirming care for minors. The law, part of a broader trend of restrictions on transgender rights, was challenged under the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. examined whether alleged discriminatory intent—such as —plays a role in determining constitutional violations and whether Bostock v. Clayton County (2020), a landmark LGBTQ+ rights case, might influence the Court’s reasoning. 

Next, was highlighted for its potential impact on religious freedoms and Indigenous sovereignty. explained the case’s focus on Oak Flat, a sacred site for the Western Apache that sits atop one of the world’s largest copper deposits. Despite its significance for Apache religious practices, the federal government considers it public land and has approved mining operations that would permanently destroy it. The case raises questions about First Amendment protections and the 1852 treaty between the U.S. and the Apache, as well as whether current precedent adequately protects Indigenous sacred sites. 

Environmental law took center stage with , a case addressing the scope of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). led the discussion on whether federal agencies must assess broader environmental consequences, such as increased wildfire risks and potential oil spills, when approving projects like the proposed railway spur line for crude oil transport. He emphasized the need for clearer standards on the depth of environmental impact reviews required under NEPA. 

In the realm of free speech and digital regulation, guided the conversation on two significant First Amendment cases. In , he explored Texas’s age verification law for online pornography and whether it imposes an undue burden on adults’ access to protected speech. The case revisits longstanding precedent and questions whether rational basis review, rather than strict scrutiny, is the appropriate standard. 

emerged as one of the most high-profile cases of the term. TikTok is challenging the federal government’s Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which bars app stores from hosting TikTok and imposes severe penalties for violations. Professor Reid analyzed the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision to uphold the law and its implications for free speech in the digital age, particularly regarding government control over foreign-owned platforms. 

With a docket filled with high-stakes constitutional questions, the 2025 SCOTUS term promises to shape critical areas of law. moderation ensured a dynamic and engaging discussion. The Byron White Center’s annual preview continues to provide an accessible and insightful forum for students, faculty, staff, and community members to analyze the Court’s evolving jurisprudence. Stay tuned for future events as these cases unfold and impact constitutional law nationwide. 

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February is Black History Month. At Colorado Law, we are reflecting on nearly 130 years of our Black students making their mark on our law school and uplifting others within the wider community. 

The legacy of Black students who have come before continues to shape the experiences of current law students in profound ways. As we strive to broaden representation and foster a more welcoming and equitable environment within the law school and throughout the wider legal profession, the contributions and stories of these alumni provide both inspiration and a foundation for ongoing progress. 

Law schools in the United States have, like some other institutions, historically reinforced structural inequalities that have disadvantaged certain groups, particularly Black men. This meant that in the early years of law schools, there were relatively few Black law students. The earliest known Black law school applicant, John Mercer Langston, applied to a proprietary law school in Ballspa, New York, in 1850. He was rejected for admission, so Langston pursued apprenticeship to become an attorney. Nearly 30 years later, Harvard Law School admitted the first known university-trained Black lawyer, George Lewis Ruffin, in 1868.¹ Howard University, a historically Black University, opened its law school a year later;² and the University of South Carolina and University of Michigan Law Schools admitted Black students in the 1870s.³ While Black colleges and universities opened law schools and expanded educational access for aspiring Black lawyers, the majority of predominantly white institutions did not admit Black students for almost 100 years.⁴

The University of Colorado Law School is a rare exception, enrolling at least eight Black students from its opening in 1892 to the start of its Affirmative Action program in 1968.

The 91������ opened in 1877 with a somewhat gender-diverse, though not racially diverse, student body.⁵ Many of the university’s earliest alumni showed a penchant for legal studies, earning degrees first in Colorado before pursuing law degrees in the east.⁶ In 1892, the University of Colorado Law School opened its doors.⁷ The University of Colorado has never had an official system or policy of segregation regarding race or ethnicity,⁸ which meant that its law school also had no racial or ethnic discrimination policy either.

The absence of a formal policy of segregation allowed these five Black men and one Black woman to attend the University of Colorado Law School decades before most other predominantly white institutions opened their doors to Black students in the late 1960s,⁹ due to gains made during the Civil Rights Movement. Each of these six students were forerunners and, in their own ways, pivotal to the law school, the university, the state of Colorado, the Black community, and American society at large. Read their stories here. 

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Widely recognized for its intellectual diversity and originality, the faculty at Colorado Law encompasses an array of prominent legal scholars who are widely cited, both in academia and throughout the national media landscape. We invite you to catch up on the latest faculty publications and media mentions with this weekly round up.

Faculty Publications 

James Anaya, The Role of International Law, in (2024 ed.) 

Reya Roussel & Jonathan Skinner-Thompson, 50 HUM. RTS. 22 (2024). 

Media Mentions 

[Jonathon Booth], Brian L. Frye, Ipse Dixit (Jan. 27, 2025). 

[Violeta Chapin], Louise Callaghan , The Sunday Times (Jan. 25, 2025). 

[Violeta Chapin], Nicole C. Bramila, The Denver Gazette (Jan. 27, 2025). 

[Deep Gulasekaram], Elliot Davis Jr., US News (Jan. 27, 2025). 

[Deep Gulasekaram], AirTalk with Larry Mantle, KPCC (Jan. 21, 2025)(Gulasekaram's interview begins around 9:04). 

[Mark Squillace], Debra K. Rubin & Johanna Knapschaefer, ENR East (Jan. 27, 2025). 

Faculty & Staff Activities 

[James Anaya, Dean Lolita Buckner Inniss, Kristen Carpenter, CU Law], NARF (Jan. 24, 2025). 

Paul Campos, Lawyers, Guns, & Money (Jan. 24-31), blog posts  

[Scott Skinner-Thomspon], Lawrence Solum, Legal Theory Blog (Jan. 29, 2025)("highly recommended). 

[Scott Skinner-Thompson], Tracy Thomas, Gender Law Blog (Jan. 31, 2025). 

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Ursula Davy '25 and Nicole Genevieve Ela '25 share their experiences in the Civil Practice Clinic and reflect on their clinical experiences as a whole. Through their insights, they discuss how the clinic has influenced their career paths and the important role it plays in providing access to justice.

What drew you to the Civil Practice Clinic, and how does it align with your career goals?

UD: I’ll be focusing on labor and employment law at the firm I’ll be joining after graduation, which is why I was drawn to this clinic. I knew it would give me hands-on experience with issues related to my future practice. Since I’m pursuing litigation, I also saw it as a valuable opportunity to gain court experience.

NGE: I was looking for a way to gain practical experience in law school, something beyond what we learn in the classroom. I wanted to both prepare for my career and explore what areas of law I might be interested in, so I could test things out before committing to a job. Clinics offer one of the most in-depth ways to get that experience. Internships and externships are valuable, but you don’t have the same level of responsibility on cases as you do in a clinic.

What role do clinics like this play in economic justice?

UD: Clinics play a critical role. Most of our clients are low-income, and while there are other resources, this clinic provides one of the most realistic opportunities for these individuals to receive justice. I often wonder what would happen if they couldn't get legal representation—this clinic is essential in providing that support.

NGE: Many people go through the civil justice system without representation which is why I think the clinics play such a massive role in economic justice. Legal information can be hard to find and navigate, and there’s limited legal aid available. Clinics help fill in those gaps, offering a training ground for students while providing essential support to people who can’t access other legal services.

Has your clinic experience been what you expected?

UD: I would say it’s been even better than expected. Initially, I was nervous because I wasn’t sure what the cases would be like. Landlord-tenant law wasn’t an area I had considered, but I’ve come to appreciate it as a really important field. Professor Mountin is incredible! Even though the work is challenging, he’s made it enjoyable and rewarding.

NGE: In some ways, yes, and in other ways, no. I definitely got the hands-on experience I was hoping for, but it’s also expanded in ways I didn’t anticipate. Through the clinic, I’ve been involved with access-to-justice projects and other groups at the law school. The clinic has not only given me the skills and practice I wanted but also led me to other internships, research projects, and a deeper passion for a new area of justice.

What advice would you give someone considering clinics?

UD: I highly encourage everyone to do a clinic at some point. Externships are great—I did one myself—but in a clinic, you get to apply what you've learned in a real-world setting. It’s a great way to explore your interests while still having the guidance and support you need. You’re not just thrown into the deep end; you have mentors to help you along the way.

NGE: Clinics are an incredibly valuable experience. They offer something unique compared to other internships because you take ownership of your own cases, which you don’t get elsewhere. That responsibility is invaluable. It’s given me a lot of confidence going into practice because I understand how certain legal processes work. You’re guided by a clinical professor who helps you think through every step, and you also have a partner to work through any issues. The support system in place makes the experience much less intimidating.

There’s really no other experience like a clinic if you want to actually work with clients and handle real cases. It’s an invaluable opportunity that you can’t get from other types of legal experience or class.

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