Dru Nielsen

Partner

Dru focuses her practice on criminal litigation. In her ten years as a deputy state public defender, she handled thousands of felony cases in courts across Colorado—including charges of first degree murder, attempted murder, sexual assault, aggravated robbery, economic crimes, conspiracy, child abuse and kidnapping. Because of her experience, she supervised ten other felony attorneys.

Dru is on the board of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar and has lectured to hundreds of criminal defense attorneys on subjects like trial tactics and procedure. She recently served on the Colorado Jury System Standing Committee, which is charged with implementing the Supreme Court’s recommendations on jury reform.

Because of the nature of criminal defense practice, Dru prefers to keep confidential the names of her clients. She helps her client navigate at every stage of the criminal process:

Pre-emptive representation. Even before a criminal charge has been filed, Dru helps her clients take appropriate preemptive action to prevent or moderate the charge.

Trial representation. Once criminal charges have been filed, Dru helps her clients by initiating an exhaustive independent investigation of the facts. She strongly believes in the power of knowing more than the opposition, and refuses to rely only on government or police reports. Armed with these facts, she seeks a favorable disposition of the charges prior to trial or a positive outcome at trial.

Post-trial representation. When a client is convicted of a criminal act, punishment may include execution, loss of liberty, government supervision (parole or probation) or fines. In all cases, Dru helps her clients by making sure that the punishment is fair and carried out in an equitable manner. When the conviction is in question, she helps clients with an appeal.

“I sincerely believe that all people must be zealously and passionately represented in court, especially when the government seeks to deprive them of their life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Ever since spending ‘career day’ with a criminal defense attorney way back in seventh grade, I focused on a career in criminal defense and never looked back. This is the best job in the world. I can’t imagine doing anything else.”