June 16, 2015
“An employer has a legitimate interest in ensuring that employees are not impaired while on the job.  But an employer has no legitimate interest in worker’s off-the-job conduct that does not interfere with on-the-job performance.    When there is no impact on doing the job, a worker’s off-duty use of medical marijuana is none of the employer’s business and should not be grounds for termination.   We regret that the Colorado Supreme Court has upheld the firing of Mr. Coates.
“We urge the Colorado Legislature to fix this problem by making it clear in Colorado law that employees cannot be fired for off-duty conduct that is legal in this state and that does not impair their on-duty performance, including use of medical marijuana. “

It is with a very heavy heart that we at the ACLU of Colorado mark the passing on Sunday, June 7, of Martha Sattler, a lifelong champion of civil rights and civil liberties whose selfless dedication to justice, in large measure, made our work possible.
Martha’s contributions to the ACLU of Colorado were immense and indispensable. She served multiple terms on the Board of Directors, worked as both Intake Director and Associate Director, organized volunteer and fundraising events, and represented Cuban refugees before INS panels on behalf of the ACLU.  As chair of the Amicus fundraising campaign, Martha helped to raise more charitable contributions for the ACLU of Colorado than any other volunteer in the history of our organization.
In addition to her work for the ACLU, Martha volunteered for many other organizations.  Among them was Project Safeguard, where she advocated for battered women in restraining order hearings, and Community Shares, a grassroots organization that supports local investment in a variety of Colorado non-profits.  She also served on the Board of Directors for Summer Scholars, a literacy program for at-risk children, and she worked on special education issues at the Legal Center, which assists people with disabilities.
In 2000, Martha received the Martha Radetsky Award in recognition of decades of service to the ACLU of Colorado and the cause of civil liberties.  In receiving the award, she said, “The ACLU’s mission of defending and expanding the rights that the Constitution guarantees citizens is the driving force in devoting my time and energy to the ACLU.”  Not only did the ACLU benefit immensely from Martha’s time and energy, but all who met and worked with her were forever changed by her drive, her commitment, and her wry sense of humor.
We send our heartfelt condolences to Martha’s husband Bruce, himself an essential part of the ACLU of Colorado family as a long-time board member, contributor, leader, and volunteer. While we are all saddened by Martha’s passing, we know that her legacy will live on in the hearts of all who were touched by her extraordinary life.
At Martha’s insistence, there will be no memorial service. The Sattler family has generously requested that contributions in memory of Martha be made to the ACLU of Colorado.  Memorial contributions can be made at: https://action.aclu.org/secure/aclu-colorado-tribute-gift-form.

June 9, 2015
DENVER – The Denver Police Department announced this morning that it has officially changed its policy regarding officers shooting at moving vehicles.  Under the new policy, officers can no longer fire on a moving vehicle because they believe that the vehicle is being used as a weapon.  Officers are also instructed to use good judgment and stay out of the path of moving vehicles.
The ACLU of Colorado called for similar changes to the Department’s policy, as well as more effective training for officers, at a press conference held days after Denver police officers shot and killed 17-year-old Jessie Hernandez.
Today, ACLU of Colorado Executive Director Nathan Woodliff-Stanley issued the following statement:
“The ACLU of Colorado is encouraged that the Denver Police Department will follow the trend of departments throughout the country and no longer allow its officers to consider a vehicle as a weapon in order to justify firing on the driver.  Safety and common sense dictate that officers should get out of the way of a moving vehicle rather than using potentially deadly force on the occupants.  As the new policy correctly states, ‘shooting at moving vehicles is dangerous because it rarely stops a vehicle and disabling a driver creates an out-of-control car that is also a danger.’

“It is unfortunate that it took four officer-involved shootings at moving vehicles in less than a year, including the killing of unarmed 17-year-old Jessie Hernandez, for the Denver Police Department to finally make this change.  It is imperative, in order to prevent more unnecessary deaths and injuries, that every officer is fully trained and held accountable to the new directives of this policy.”