Jerry Pratt Presents at 2016 James Otis Lecture Series

At the Judicial Excellence Dinner on November 16, 2023, eight members of the Colorado Chapter of ABOTA were presented the Colorado ABOTA "Sentinel of the Seventh Amendment Award" for their service over a period of more than two years in getting the Colorado Legislature to enact a bill establishing September 5 each year as Jury Appreciation Day in Colorado. 

This award recognizes Colorado Chapter members "who have steadfastly protected our Seventh Amendment right to trial by jury in their law practice, as an ABOTA member, and beyond.  Sentinels not only embody ABOTA's high standards of civility and ethics, they stand guard against those forces that seek to take away our constitutional rights.  Sentinel award recipients are those members who have always answered the call without question." 

The eight members who were presented this award were: Brad Ross-Shannon, Dennis Brown, Peter Burg, Rich Kaudy, Caleb Meyer, Gerald Pratt, Jeff Reubel, and Hon. Laura Tighe.

Jury Appreciation Day recognizes that our country's founders included the right to be tried by a jury of our peers, a safeguard against tyranny, in the Bill of Rights, that serving on a jury promotes civic participation as it is one of the most impactful ways for citizens to participate in our system of government, and that jurors make important sacrifices regarding personal time, family, and professional life to devote the necessary time to serve as jurors. 

Click here to learn more about the Colorado Chapter of ABOTA.

The American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) is a national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial right provided by the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The organization was founded in 1958 by a group of attorneys who felt that the civil jury trial system was under threat. ABOTA has more than 7,600 members in 97 chapters in all 50 states. Membership is by invitation only and is open to trial lawyers who meet certain criteria including being of high personal character and having an honorable reputation. Click here to learn more about ABOTA.

The Colorado Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) hosted a James Otis Lecture Series on November 11, 2016 to help students understand the United States’ history regarding the rule of law, the process of self government, and the importance of the preservation of the individual liberties guaranteed by the Constitution.

Jerry Pratt Named Denver Bar Association Volunteer Lawyer of the Year for 2016

Gerald Pratt elected President of ABOTA Colorado Chapter

The Denver Bar Association awarded Gerald D. Pratt its 2016 Volunteer Lawyer of the Year Award in recognition of the pro bono legal services he provides to clients of limited means and his ongoing dedication to serving the legal profession and the community at large through the DBA and other organizations.

At the awards ceremony, Mr. Pratt delivered brief remarks which focused on humility and offering support to those experiencing difficulties. He opened his remarks by paraphrasing a quote about baseball which says, 'there are two kinds of players, those who are humble and those who are about to get humble.' He said that the same principle applies to the practice of law and to life in general. He thanked those who have helped him overcome challenges in his life and in his practice, and he expressed gratefulness for those times he has been able to help others.

The Volunteer Lawyer of the Year is one of several annual awards given by the DBA. For more information about the award recipients, please visit the Denver Bar Association website: www.denbar.org or read the feature in the May 31, 2016 issue of The Docket.