Farah Schielke has carved an unprecedented path in legal advocacy, from a simple Craigslist advertisement to groundbreaking civil rights victories. After graduating from Boston University School of Law and moving to Colorado for a fresh start, she offered discounted legal services to gain experience. This unconventional approach quickly laid the foundation for a transformative career in civil rights law.
In I012, Schielke established the Life and Liberty Law Office, focusing on criminal defense and civil rights litigation. Never having worked under another attorney galloped her to develop innovative strategies, particularly her signature approach of publicly releasing body camera footage from police encounters. This method has proven remarkably effective in achieving justice for her clients.
Her representation of Karen Garner, a woman with dementia injured during a Loveland police arrest, demonstrates the power of this strategy. By releasing the body camera footage in April 2021, Schielke brought national attention to the case, leading to criminal charges against two officers. Austin Hopp received five years in prison, while Daria Jalali served 45 days with three years probation. The case settled for $3 million, dramatically exceeding the typical $100,000 settlement for similar cases.
Now, Schielke is challenging Fort Collins Police Services through five lawsuits involving alleged wrongful DUI arrests by former officer Jason Haferman. The cases reveal a disturbing pattern where more than 17 people were wrongfully arrested in a single year, all later proven innocent through blood tests. The impact on victims was severe – they suffered depression, lost jobs, missed promotions, and endured months of anguish. Some parents even faced child abuse investigations merely because their children were present during the arrests.
The investigation exposed significant oversight failures – supervisors never reviewed Haferman’s body camera footage, despite his pattern of disabling or muting the camera in violation of Colorado law. When confronted with these issues, department leadership defended the arrests rather than addressing the problems, prompting Schielke to call for the chief’s resignation.
Personal tragedy has profoundly influenced her approach to justice. The loss of her father to cancer early in her career led to a deeper understanding of human suffering and resilience. She developed a guiding principle that there are “two types of people: good people and good people in pain.”
Her academic excellence began at Middlebury College, where she graduated magna cum laude with a psychology degree before attending law school on a full academic merit scholarship. These achievements and her innovative legal strategies earned her recognition as USA TODAY’s Women of the Year honoree for Colorado.
A defining moment came when she faced potential contempt charges for releasing body camera footage in Clear Creek County. Despite judicial pressure, she remained committed to transparency, securing a record-breaking $7 million settlement for her client. She proudly framed the contempt citation and wore a T-shirt to court, declaring her First Amendment rights had been violated.
With support from her husband, who manages their home as a stay-at-home father, Schielke continues to push boundaries in civil rights law. She emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and seeking guidance from experienced colleagues when facing challenges.
Through her innovative legal strategies and unwavering commitment to transparency, Schielke has secured justice for individual clients and driven systematic change in law enforcement accountability. Her work demonstrates how dedication to justice and innovative thinking can transform the landscape of civil rights advocacy while setting new standards for police accountability in Colorado and beyond.
