Miles Cortez: a Profile of the New Colorado Bar Association President

• Publication year: 1996
• Pages: 19
• Citation: Vol. 25 No. 7 Pg. 19

25 Colo.Law. 19 Colorado Lawyer 1996.

1996, July, Pg. 19. Miles Cortez: A Profile of The New Colorado Bar Association President

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Vol. 25, No. 7, Pg. 19

Miles Cortez: A Profile of The New Colorado Bar Association President

by Diane Hartman

From His Friends

Phil Dufford (after telling several stories followed by "you can't print that")

He's an exceptional, outstanding lawyer. He's such a fine human being, warm and kind, and great fun. He hasn't had it terribly easy during his life. I know of situations where people treated him unkindly, but he has no resentment about those people at all. He's forgiving, a decent human being. He's devoted to his parents, to his wife and family.

Jim Bunch (after telling several stories, followed by "you can't print that")

I remember walking with him in Chicago after he got back from Vietnam. He got shin splints from being on a sidewalk after being in the jungle for a year.... In law school, he was a star. Everyone knew him and liked him. He was one of the most colorful people in our law class.... When we were studying for the bar exam together, we were laughing and making jokes---a group rose up and said, 'You're not taking this seriously enough.'... He got me involved in the ethics committee; he brought so many people like me with him into bar work.... He's a real accomplished athlete and tennis player... and he does a great Ross Perot imitation.

Sheldon Friedman (after telling several stories, followed by the requisite "you can't print that"):

My friend is an extremely competent, caring, compassionate human being and lawyer.... We are indeed blessed and lucky to have such a leader.

Jan Cortez (Miles's wife):

He has a great sense of humor and he can remember jokes. You'll be talking to him and he'll say, "That reminds me...' and you know what's coming. I don't laugh at his jokes anymore; I've heard them! His strength is also his weakness: he only sees the good qualities in people. He's worked very hard in his life. He's a giving, loving person and true friend. When he does get mad, it blows over in ten minutes. People really like him; he has a tremendous ability to make people feel comfortable.

Picture a hot and dusty Laredo, Texas day.

Five-year-old Miles Cortez and his younger brother Roger climbed up on a cool water tank. Miles told Roger to jump off; Roger did and soon lay in a heap, crying.

Along came dad, asking: "Roger, why did you jump off that water tank?"

"Because he told me to!" (The finger pointed to Miles.)

Dad motioned Miles to the ground. Miles says: "There was only one way I was getting off that building. I've never been so scared as having to jump off that building."

Typically, Miles took that as a lesson.

"When I went to Vietnam...