Craig L. Truman

For more than 40 years, attorney Craig L. Truman has been defending the rights of the accused throughout Colorado. From his Denver law office, Mr. Truman offers discreet and comprehensive legal services on behalf of people charged with serious felonies and high-level crimes.

As an experienced criminal defense lawyer, Mr. Truman understands that early intervention in criminal cases is an important first step toward protecting his client’s rights. If you believe you are under investigation, it is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible. In many cases, Mr. Truman has been able to negotiate resolutions to complex legal matters even before a formal criminal charge has been filed.

Although Mr. Truman handles a wide range of criminal charges, many clients come to him because they are facing very serious charges that come with potentially life-changing penalties. Such serious charges include sex offenses, homicide, manslaughter, felony assault and drug charges.

Craig L. Truman has extensive knowledge of Colorado courts and their procedures, having worked as a public defender and having years of experience in private practice. Mr. Truman is admitted to practice before the state and federal courts in Colorado as well as the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Colorado State Supreme Court, 1974.

United States District Court for the District of Colorado, 1974.

United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, 1982.

United States District Court for the District of Wyoming, 1985.

United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 1984.

United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, Denver, Colorado, 1985.

United States Supreme Court, 1985.

University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado.  Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science, 1971

University of Colorado School of Law, Juris Doctor, 1973

 

1985‑Present         Craig L. Truman, P.C., Denver, Colorado

1983‑1985              Deputy State Public Defender ‑ In Charge, Littleton, Colorado

1982‑1983              Partner, Law Firm of Miller, Gray, Hale & Truman, Boulder, Colorado

1978‑1982              Chief Deputy State Public Defender, Denver, Colorado

1975‑1978               Deputy State Public Defender ‑ In Charge, Brighton, Colorado

1973‑1975               Deputy State Public Defender, Boulder, Colorado

1973                         Legal Aid and Defender Program, Board of Directors and Senior Council, University of Colorado School of Law

1972                         Chief Deputy Probation Officer, Boulder Juvenile Court

2016                        America’s Top 100 Attorneys Lifetime Achievement

1981 – present      Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell

1987 – present      Best Lawyers in America – Criminal Defense – White Collar and Non-White Collar

2015 – present       National Association of Distinguished Counsel

2006 – present      Colorado Super Lawyers – Criminal Defense

2004                        University of Denver College of Law – Outstanding Ethical Conduct Award – Phi Delta Phi – Brewer Inn

1997 – present      Fellow, American Board of Criminal Lawyers

1996 – present      Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers

1982                        First Annual Defender Service Excellence Award – National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA)

Founding Member, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Association, 1980-present

Member, Colorado Bar Association, 1980-present

Sustaining Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1985-present

Minoru Yasui Inn of Court, 1996-present

Fellow, Colorado Bar Foundation, 2000-present

1978                           Colorado State Public Defender Conference. “Cross Examination of a Pathologist.”

1979                           Colorado State Public Defender Conference.  “Preparation of a Death Penalty Case.”

1979                           Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Association.  “Cross Examination of a Forensic Toxicologist.”

1982                           Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Association.  “Cross Examination of a Psychiatrist.”

1983                           Colorado Bar Association.  “Ethics and the Criminal Defense Lawyer.”

1983                           Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Association.  “Opening Statements in a Criminal Trial.”

1983 – 2010              Western Regional Institute for Trial Advocacy, Laramie, Wyoming.  Instructor in seven day advanced Trial Advocacy Course.

1983                           Colorado Trial Lawyers Association.  “Prior Similar ‑ Establishing Criminal Activity by Plan, Scheme or Design.”

1984                           Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Association.  “Cross Examination of a Child in Sex Assault Cases.”

1984                           Colorado Bar Association.  “Self Defense For Trial Lawyers, or Handling the Media in the Hot Case.”

1984,                          Colorado District Attorney’s Council.  “Preparing the Difficult Arson Case for Trial.”

1984 -1985                Adjunct Professor, University of Colorado School of Law, Courses in Advanced Trial Advocacy, 1984‑1985.

1985                           Northern Colorado/Western Wyoming Detectives Association.  “Testimony for Homicide Detectives.”

1985                           Colorado Association of Victim’s Rights.  “New Techniques in Sex Assault Cases.”

1985                           Colorado District Attorney’s Council.  “Cross Examination of Expert Witnesses in Arson Cases.”

1985                           California Public Defender’s Association.  “Cross Examination of a Pathologist in Murder Cases.”

1985                           Washington State Department of Criminal Justice.  “Cross Examination of Pathologists in Murder Cases.”

1986                           Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, “Plea Bargaining.”

1986                           Southwestern Association of Forensic Document Examiners, “The Document Expert and The Law.”

1986                           Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, “Defending the Sex Assault on a Child Case.”

1986                           Colorado Bar Association, “Freedom of the Press v. Right to Privacy.”

1986                           Colorado District Attorneys Council, “The Bar Press Compact.”

1986                           Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy, “Courtroom Testimony.”

1986                           Colorado District Attorneys Council. “Defense Tactics In Sex Assault Cases.”

1986 – 1987               University of Denver, Ethics Seminar.

1987                           Colorado District Attorney’s Council, “Sanity and Impaired Mental Condition.”

1987                           Colorado District Attorney’s Council, “The Defense Attorney’s Role and Perspective In Child Abuse Cases.”

1987                           Colorado Trial Lawyers Association.  “Ethical Considerations in Criminal Defense.”

1988                           International Association for Identification, “Defense Expectations of Expert Witnesses.”

1988                           The Association of Colorado Parole Officers, “The Challenge: A Perfect Case.”

1989                           Trial Advocacy in Colorado, National Business Institute Seminar, Denver.

1989                           Trial Techniques, International Practicum Institute, Denver.

1990                           Colorado District Judges Association. “Sex Assault On Children.”

1990                           Colorado Criminal Defense Bar.  “Cross Examination.”

1990                           National Business Institute.  “Evidence In Trial Practice in Colorado.”

1990                           Continuing Legal Education in Colorado.  “1990 Annual Ethics Institute.”

1991                           Western Colorado Peace Officers Association.  “Court Room Testimony.”

1991                           Denver Police Department.  Domestic Assault Seminar, Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

1991                           City & County of Denver, Attorney Training.  “Cross Examination Techniques and Concepts.”

1992                           Colorado Bar Association.  “A Trial Lawyer’s Course in Voir Dire and Jury Instructions.”

1992                           Children’s Advocacy and Family Resource Center.  “Child Abuse Investigation:  Medical/Legal Death Investigative Issues.”

1993                           Colorado Association of Robbery Investigators, Courtroom Testimony.

1993                           State of Colorado Department of Social Services, Colorado Child Protection Team Conference.  “Decision Making and Case Planning.”

1993                           Colorado State Investigators’ Association.  Criminal Investigative Techniques.

1993                           National Business Institute, Inc.  “Evidence in Trial Practice in Colorado.”

1993                           Alaska Academy of Trial Lawyers, 1993 Criminal Defense Conference.  “The Art of Effective Cross Examination of Mental Health Experts.”

1994                           Colorado Association of Sex Crimes Investigators.  Court Presentation and Testimony.

1994                           Colorado State Investigators’ Association.  Criminal Investigative Techniques.

1994                           Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance.  Representing Defendants Accused of Child Abuse.

1995                           Colorado Department of Human Services.  “Judges Perspective:  Criminal and Civil Prosecution of Child Abuse and Neglect.”

1995                           First Judicial District Bar Association.  Ethics – Criminal Law.

1995                           Arapahoe County Bar Association.  “How to Represent a Client in a Criminal Matter — and Never Go To Court.”

1996                           Arapahoe County Bar Association.  Civil/Criminal Jury Selection.

1996                           Office of the Attorney General.  Death Penalty Standards Committee.

1996                           Colorado State Investigator’s Association.  “Trial Preparation, Testimony, and Defense Perspective.”

1997                           Arapahoe County Bar Association.  Law Day. “The Death Penalty and the 8^th Amendment.”

1994 – 2001              Aurora Police Training Academy.  “Role of Defense Attorneys.”

1994 – 2001              Denver Sheriff’s Department.  “Inmates Constitutional Rights.”

1998                           Colorado Criminal Defense Bar.  Spring Conference.  “Basic Cross-Examination.”

1998                           International Association for Identification.  Fall Training Conference.  “Issues for the Defense.”

1999                           Colorado Bar Association.  Seminar:  Child Abuse:  Litigating Civil and Criminal Cases.  “Defending a Child Abuse Case.”

1999                           University of Colorado School of Law.  Homecoming CLE Ethics Program.  “Current Topics in Legal Ethics.”

1999                           Colorado Judicial Conference.  “Voir Dire in a Changing Age.”

2003                          Aurora Police Training Academy.  “Role of Defense Attorneys.”

2004                          University of Denver College of Law.  Second Annual Legal Ethics Symposium.

2004                          Colorado Bureau of Investigation.  Mock Courtroom Training.

2005                          University of Denver College of Law.  Criminal Defense Panel.

2005                          University of Denver College of Law.  Criminal Defense Clinic.

2006                          Boulder Police Department. Preparation and Courtroom Presentation.

2006                          Colorado Association of Robbery Investigators.  2006 Western Robbery Conference.  “Case Preparation and Courtroom Preparation.”

2007                          Colorado Bar Association. Colorado Judicial Conference-Vail. Sentencing Feedback.”

2007                          Colorado Auto Theft Investigators. 34^th Annual Rocky Mountain Vehicle Crimes Training Seminar-Glenwood Springs.

2007                          Boulder Police Department.  Training Facility: “Role of the Criminal Defense Lawyer and How to Present a Case.”

2007                          Colorado State Investigators Association Conference. Colorado School of Mines. “Presenting the Perfect Case in Court.”

2008                          Colorado Bar Association CLE.  “Preventing Legal Malpractice.”

2008                          Adams/Broomfield  Bar Association.  “Colorado Law Day” tribute.

2008                          National Institute for Trial Advocacy. “2008 Christopher A. Miranda Advocacy Institute – Teaching the Art of Advocacy.”

2008                          International Association of Financial Crime Investigator’s – Rocky Mountain Chapter – Conference. “Defending Your Case:  How to Think Like a Defense Attorney.”

2008                          Denver Children’s Advocacy Center. “Child Interview Training.”

2008                          Adams County District Attorney’s Office. “New District Attorney Training.”

2008                          Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. “Investigation and Testifying for the Prosecution in Criminal Hearings.”

2009                          Colorado State Judicial Department CLE Conference for Judges.  “Voir Dire Done Right.”

2010                           Colorado Bar & Denver Bar Association CLE. “Preventing Legal Malpractice”

2011-2012                 Colorado State Judicial Department.  “Sentencing Considerations” at New Judge Orientation and Training.

2012                           Denver Children’s Advocacy Center. “Child Interview Training.”

2012                           Colorado Bar & Denver Bar Association CLE.  “Ethics & Professionalism”

2012                           Colorado Bar & Denver Bar Association CLE.  “Evidence for the Civil & Criminal Practitioner & Special Evidentiary Issues of Criminal Law”

2012                           Colorado Bar Association CLE.  “Prosecutor on Trial: The Rule of Law or Unfettered Discretion”

2012                           Colorado State Investigators’ Association.  “2012 Annual Training Conference”

2013                           Colorado Homicide Investigators Association.  Quarterly Training, Boulder Police Department.  “Court Room Testimony presentation re: Murder of Susan Chase”

2013                           Denver District Attorney’s Office.  “Cross Examination”

2013                           Office of the State Court Administrator, Faculty Member.  Advanced New Judge Orientation – “Sentencing Considerations”

2013                            International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators / Rocky Mountain Chapter.  “Scaling the Mountains of Fraud” training presentation.

2013                           Jefferson County Citizen’s Academy presentation.  “The Defense Perspective”

2014                           Jefferson County New Detectives’ training.  “View from the Defense:  Welcome to the Jungle”

2014                           State Court Administrators New Judges’ Orientation.  “What Happens in the Courtroom at Sentencing”

2014                           Sungate Child Advocacy Center presentation

2014                           40^th Annual Rocky Mountain Vehicle Crimes Training Seminar presentation, Glenwood Springs, CO (sponsored by Arapahoe County)

2014                           Jefferson County District Attorneys’ Citizen Academy presentation

2015                           Ralston House presentation.  “A View from the Dark Side – A Defense Lawyer’s Perspective”

2015                           18^th Judicial District Attorney & Douglas County Sheriff Courtroom Training.  “Defense Perspective”

2016                           Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office presentation “Major Case Course”