1972, February, Pg. 34. HEARD ON THE HILL.

• Author: by James P. Thomas

1 Colo.Law. 34

Colorado Lawyer

1972.

1972, February, Pg. 34.

HEARD ON THE HILL

341972, February, Pg. 34HEARD ON THE HILLby James P. ThomasJim Thomas is Public Relations and Legislative Counsel of the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations.This column will report the fate of bar-sponsored or related legislation. Owing to press deadlines the information reported herein will not be as current as your daily paper or the "tube"---as I write this, for example, the legislature has not convened---but it is the purpose of this space to give you a deeper and more detailed look at the actions of the Colorado General Assembly, especially as those actions relate to the legislative efforts of the bar.

To date the CBA's Board of Governors has taken a positive stand on only one issue---no-fault auto insurance. In September at Steamboat Springs the Board voted to request Governor Love to include no-fault in his "Call" for the 1972 session, and all indications are that the Governor will do just that. At its January 15 meeting in Denver, the Board will be requested to take some position on the second-phase revision of the Criminal Code (Chapter 39, C.R.S.). Chapter 40 revision was enacted during the last session with the assistance of the CBA. Without doubt other bills will receive bar attention during the course of the session once the Governor's Call is known and specific constitutional amendments are introduced.

Lawyers in the LegislatureThere is a widespread myth that historically lawyers have controlled the General Assembly. In fact, so much credence is given to this that even some legislators believe it. A look at the figures below should put this flight of fancy to rest for the moment at least.

Colorado General Assembly

100 Members (Senate, 35; House, 65)

Year No. of Lawyers R D

1941 20 9 11

1951 18 8 10

1961 23 7 16

1963 24 11 13

1965 30 12 18

1967 19 6 13

1969 19 7 12

1971 19 7 12

Figures are given for odd-numbered years because they follow each general election. Notice that the highest number of lawyers serving in the legislature for any two-year session (1965) is only 30, or less than 30% of the total membership. Further, consider that these 30 were divided into 12 Republicans and 18 Democrats, so that the possibility of lawyers actually controlling our lawmaking body is rather remote.35Note also that Democrats have always...