After nearly 20 years in Colorado politics, Morgan Carroll joins Denver law firm

The Colorado Democratic Party's most recent chair, who was responsible for the largest number of Democratic victories in state history during the last election, is returning to law practice.

Morgan Carroll, a trial lawyer from Englewood's Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, has joined the team.

Carroll, who served as the chairperson of the Democratic Party in the state for six years and as a legislator for 12 years, said that the decision was a return to the advocacy for justice on behalf of regular people. Carroll was an attorney for 22 years before she entered state politics. She began her career as a lawyer in one of the first mother-daughter firms in California.

Carroll, who worked on cases involving personal injury, disability and social security, said that she became frustrated by the fact that some policies didn't seem to protect regular workers. Carroll said that she was frustrated by the fact that some insurance policies did not appear to protect regular workers.

Carroll told Denver Business Journal that "it was always harder than what it should have been." If this system had worked properly, these people would not have needed an attorney in the first instance.

She said that when a state rep in Carroll's District decided not to run for re-election, she saw her role expanding from one of a legal advocate to one in politics. She said that she felt more than ever that policies had to be changed.

Carroll stated that "the system was crushing people." Carroll said that she represented many people who were doing dangerous work such as refugees or immigrants, and her caseload disproportionately favored people of color.

Carroll served as a Colorado state legislator for eight years, first in the Colorado Senate and then in the Colorado House. She was also the Senate President, majority leader, and minority leader.

Carroll then said that she had noticed changes within the Republican Party, which made her feel a moral obligation to continue with politics.

Carroll stated that "it wasn't any longer a competition between two ideas." "I was deeply worried about the trajectory of Supreme Court... "I was deeply concerned about the trajectory of the Supreme Court...

Carroll stated that she had set goals for her time as the head of Colorado Democratic Party, and it ended with many victories. The most recent statewide elections saw Democratic candidates sweep every statewide position. They also tripled the number of females in Colorado's congressional delegation and gained the largest majorities ever in both chambers of state legislature.

Carroll is proud of the career she has had in politics, but feels it's time to return to the law. She said she will be interested in cases that follow an arc that she calls advocacy -- including health care, disability rights, homeowners' rights, and physical injuries.

"If you get a fair chance in the court, the legislature, and at the polls that's a healthy and functioning democracy - and for me this is the thing that ties everything together," she said.

Caroll says she does not see these issues as pitting her against business people, but rather as protecting businesses and consumers.

Carroll stated that "when good businesses follow the rules and their competitors take shortcuts, deceit, or fraud to gain a competitive edge, you've just disadvantageed those businesses who are doing the right things." Carroll said: "If we do not police our own bad actors then we have to leave it to individuals and businesses who are injured economically or physically to seek remedies."