Jeralyn E. Merritt is a criminal defense lawyer in private practice in Denver, Colorado. Her practice is limited to criminal defense and related civil and criminal forfeiture actions. She primarily defends persons accused of complex federal drug and white collar crimes. She provides representation at all stages of criminal proceedings, including Pre-indictment, Trial, Appeal, and Post-Conviction.
Ms. Merritt is very active in the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers [N.A.C.D.L.]. She is an elected member of the N.A.C.D.L. Board of Directors and serves on the Lawyers' Assistance Strike Force and Champion Advisory Board. For the past two years, she has been a Co-Chair of the N.A.C.D.L. Legislative Committee, which is directly involved with lobbying Congress on criminal justice issues and legislation. She is a frequent contributor of articles to N.A.C.D.L's The Champion on legislative and drug related issues. She is also a member of N.A.C.D.L.'s White Collar Crime and Nominating Committees. She is currently Co-Chair of the NACDL Legislative Committee.
She is an elected Fellow and a member of the Board of Governors of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, and a frequent lecturer at legal seminars around the country on topics such as the federal sentencing guidlines, defense of drug cases, criminal and civil forfeitures, bail and detention hearings, cross-examination, wiretaps and new legislation.
Honors
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First recipient of the annual N.A.C.D.L. Marshall Stern Outstanding Legislative Achievement Award, 1995.For related story and photograph click here. | |
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Judicially appointed Panel Attorney District Representative for the District of Colorado to the first Criminal Justice Act National Panel Attorney Conference, Atlanta, GA, March 1995. | |
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Judicially Appointed Chair (1995-) and Member and Co-Chair (1994 - 1995) of Standing Committee on the Criminal Justice Act for the U.S. District Court, Colorado. |
Education
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Bachelor of Arts Degree, Political Science Major, 1971
University of Denver, College of Law, Denver, CO.
Juris Doctorate Degree, December, 1973.
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