Professor Ann England of the University of Colorado Law School has received the Chase Faculty Community Service Award in recognition of her extensive contributions to Colorado’s legal community. England, who holds the Schaden Chair for Experiential Learning and serves as a Clinical Law Professor at Colorado Law, directs the school’s Criminal Defense Clinic and is known for her commitment to justice and pro bono work.
England established the Korey Wise Innocence Project (KWIP) at Colorado Law in 2015, supported by a donation from Korey Wise, an exoneree from the Central Park Five case. The project has evolved into a nationally recognized program staffed by attorneys, student advocates, and policy leaders. KWIP offers free legal services to incarcerated individuals in Colorado with credible innocence claims, works on policy reform initiatives, and provides educational programs about wrongful convictions to high school students. England continues to volunteer as faculty director without compensation.
In addition to her work with KWIP, England co-leads the National College of Capital Voir Dire, which trains death penalty defense attorneys in jury selection techniques. She organizes an annual conference at CU Boulder that brings together about 100 lawyers to learn the “Colorado Method,” a standard for capital jury selection used nationwide. Her efforts have contributed to improvements in capital defense and a reduction in death sentences over the past decade.
Before joining CU’s faculty, England spent nearly ten years as a public defender. She continues representing indigent clients during summer breaks when students are away. Colleagues note that she manages numerous cases each week with limited support and is driven by her dedication to justice.
England also provides training and technical assistance to municipal court attorneys across Colorado, aiming to improve representation for low-income residents. She is described by judges and attorneys as an essential resource for enhancing fairness in local courts.
Her community involvement extends beyond legal work; she serves on the board of ACLU Colorado, coaches high school mock trial teams, and volunteers as a designer for fundraising events at Boulder Valley Women’s Health Center.
Students mentored by England have gone on to become public defenders and advocates themselves. The award committee cited her influence on exonerations, policy reforms, mentorship, and grassroots advocacy.
She will be honored at a reception at CU Boulder on Monday.
“Professor Ann England’s unwavering commitment to justice and tireless advocacy for the wrongfully convicted have transformed Colorado’s legal landscape, making her so deserving of the Chase Faculty Community Service Award,” said Joe Coleman, JPMorgan Chase business banking market manager. “Through founding the Korey Wise Innocence Project and leading national efforts in death penalty defense, she has inspired generations of lawyers and elevated the quality of representation for those most in need. JPMorgan Chase is proud to sponsor this award, celebrating extraordinary service and leadership that strengthens our communities and advances the cause of justice.”
The Chase Faculty Community Service Award was established in 1991 through a $100,000 donation from JPMorgan Chase Foundation via the CU Foundation. It provides an annual $10,000 award funded by an endowment for full-time University of Colorado faculty members who demonstrate exceptional community service.
