What's New

QuikFacts (short law-related notes) now appear on the Publications page.

Nathan Dunlap death sentence reprieve executive order

New (February 2013), and critical, evaluation of Coloraodo DOC's Sex Offencer Treatment Program (SOTP).

Video clip of Phil Cherner's comments on Holmes case for KDVR-TV, July 24, 2012.

Phil Cherner is mentioned in this July 21, 2012 Denver Post article.

Phil Cherner is mentioned in this June 16, 2012 Denver Post article.

Phil Cherner is mentioned in this May 9, 2012 Denver Post article.

DOC has released a new report on solitary confinement. DOC uses "ad seg" at nearly 7 times the national average, but to its credit has cut the population by nearly 300 over the last few months.

There's a new report from the SOMB evaluating the effictiveness of standards-based sex offender treatment. The report concludes the data does not support the conclusion that the treatment reduces recidivism. "The policies prescribed by the Adult Standards and Guidelines for the management and treatment of adult sex offenders appear to limit sexual recidivism post–release from supervision for adult sex offenders who successfully completed either probation or parole. Notwithstanding the literature, the data alone does not provide sufficient independent evidence to support this claim and is therefore less conclusive." See the report at: http://dcj.state.co.us/odvsom/sex_offender/SO_Pdfs/2011%20Adult%20Standards%20and%20Guidelines%20Outcome%20Evaluation.pdf

Phil Cherner published an article in the February 2010 The Colorado Lawyer, which described in detail why felons sentenced in Colorado serve, on average, 70% of their sentence.

A copy of the article is available here.

Events

In November Phil Cherner completed hosting "CSI Colorado in 2011" for CLE, Inc. Over 100 lawyers attended.

Over the years, Phil has spoken on numerous aspects of criminal defense, the law, and society. He has spoken before many of the area's leading legal groups.

The Colorado Bar Association, Denver Bar Association, and Colorado Women's Bar Association are among the groups that Phil Cherner has spoken before. Additional groups include the Criminal Defense Bar, Colorado State Public Defenders, and National Lawyer's Guild, among others.

Photography

In addition to being a highly-respected attorney in Denver, Phil Cherner is an avid photographer.

Photos by Phil Cherner have appeared in a variety of publications.

Some of Phil's photos were recently displayed at the Festimatge 2012 exhibition in Calella, Spain, in April.

Petra, Jordan

The ancient city of Petra, Jordan.

Visit the photography section of the site to see many examples of Phil's photography.

AV rate 15 yearss Top Attorney 2011
Professional Membership Logos for Phil Cherner

The Web Site of Phil Cherner

Denver attorney Phil Cherner, now retired, represented the accused in Colorado state and federal trial and appellate courts since 1975. Phil's professional experience includes over 160 felony trials, and numerous appeals. Martindale-Hubbell AV rated. Winner of the Coloradans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty Abolitionist of the Year Award (2005), the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar's Jonathan Olom Award (2006) and Alvin Lichtenstein Lifetime Achievement Award (2017), the Sam Cary Bar Association's Warrior for Justice Award (2013) and the 2017 Rupert-Tate Game Changer Award from the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coaltion.

Criminal Defense

Phil Cherner specializes in defending serious criminal charges, including:

  • Homicides
  • Vehicular Homicides
  • Sexual assaults
  • Drug cases
  • Assaults
  • Thefts
  • Robberies
  • White collar defense

Attorney Grievance Defense

For over 25 years Phil Cherner has also practiced attorney grievance defense, including representation of candidates for the bar.

Photo of Phil Cherner

 

Broad Professional Expertise

Phil Cherner has broad professional expertise. Phil has spoken before many professional groups, serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Denver Law School, and has published numerous law articles. He is a member of the Colorado Supreme Court Evidence Rules Committee, the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Board of Directors, the Coloradoans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty Board of Directors, and many leading professional associations.

Contact Phil Cherner to benefit from his extensive legal expertise.