Ms. Linda Donnelly, Instructor

Downloadable CV

Bio: Linda Donnelly, J.D., joined the department in August 2011 as an Instructor in Criminal Justice. Prior to coming to the school, Linda was an Associate County Court Judge and Disciplinary Counsel for the Colorado Supreme Court for 20 years. In the latter position, she was responsible for running basically a 13 lawyer agency that took complaints against attorneys for violating ethics rules. That office investigated the complaints. If they were found to have merit, then either a disposition was negotiated (similar to plea bargaining) or the matter went to trial. These were formal trial proceedings and the appeals were heard by the Supreme Court of Colorado. As a result, Linda has an extensive background in trial work.

Other interests have included teaching. Linda began teaching as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Denver College of Law in 1990 and has taught there continuously since then. She has also taught at the University of Colorado Boulder Law School and at Metropolitan State College of Denver in the Criminal Justice Department. She has taught Legal Ethics, Trial Advocacy, Evidence, Criminal Procedure, Introduction to Criminal Justice, and Constitutional Law, among others. A major area of interest for Linda is the Constitution because it affects all of us every day of our lives.

Linda received her B.A. from the University of Colorado Boulder (1970) and her J.D. from the University of Denver College of Law (1974). She has been licensed to practice law in Colorado since 1974.

One of her favorite quotes is: "Pay Attention, Pay Attention, Pay Attention." This has been attributed to the Buddha. If one is paying attention in every moment, one is living life to the fullest and is responsible for one's live rather than letting it go by with little thought to events.

Areas of Interest: Constitutional Law, Legal Ethics

Pastimes: Hiking, reading, listening to all types of music, playing golf, and watching action movies.