You've found your way to this page for one reason. You were accused of misconduct at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and you were found responsible for (guilty of) that misconduct. Now you're looking to file an appeal. You probably wouldn't be bothering with an appeal unless the sanction you're facing is serious—suspension, dismissal, or removal from campus housing. You're in trouble, and you need the best help possible.
You've come to the right place. The Lento Law Firm is the premier law firm in the country when it comes to student defense. Our Student Defense Team was founded specifically for the purpose of protecting student rights. We know what state and federal law have to say about university education. We also know CU Boulder's judicial system and how to use the various components of that system to your advantage. We've helped hundreds of students file appeals.
What can we do for you? Call 888-535-3686 to find out, or use our online questionnaire to tell us more about your situation. Don't wait, though. The window for filing an appeal closes quickly at CU Boulder, and once you've missed it, you've lost your chance to challenge the outcome of your case.
The Appeals Process at the University of Colorado, Boulder
As a starting point, it's important you recognize just what you're up against. An appeal is not the same as a hearing. The issues at stake are very different. So are the processes and procedures. You'll likely need to adjust your thinking before you file your CU Boulder appeal.
- The university guarantees you the right to a presumption of innocence (“Not Responsible”) when you're charged with a misconduct offense. You are innocent until such time as the university can prove you committed that offense. The burden of proof is squarely on the university, and if it can't meet that burden, it cannot find you guilty or assign any sanction against you. Now, however, you've been through a hearing. Rightly or wrongly, you were found guilty, and that changes the entire playing field. The burden is now on you to prove the university treated you unfairly in some way, and the university has the presumption of “innocence.”
- “Unfairness” isn't a matter of simple disagreement. You can't file an appeal simply because you don't like the outcome of the hearing. You're trying to establish “grounds” for an appeal and reasons why you deserve a second chance to defend yourself. Your choice of arguments is extremely limited.
- You can argue that some procedural error occurred that prevented you from a fair verdict.
- You can argue that new evidence has arisen, evidence that wasn't available at the time of your hearing, that could potentially alter the hearing outcome.
- Likewise, your choice of evidence is limited. You can present any new evidence you might have uncovered. Otherwise, any arguments you present must be backed by specific reference to the record of the hearing. This is not a chance to convince officials that something was missed before.
- Appeals don't involve formal hearings. That is, you will not have a chance to make your case directly to hearing officers. Everything rests on your ability to make a clear, compelling argument on paper.
- Finally, an appeal isn't about deciding your guilt or innocence. The hearing officers' only option if they accept your grounds for appeal is to order a new hearing. That means starting your case again.
What's at Stake
As all of this suggests, you're at a disadvantage now. That doesn't mean, however, that you should simply walk away. You have nothing to lose by continuing to fight and everything to gain.
If you've been dismissed from the university at this point, your entire academic future is on the line. Of course, dismissal means leaving CU Boulder and giving up all the academic progress you've made there to this point. It means leaving your friends behind, the community that you've built up around you. All that can be traumatic. In addition, though, you'll have to deal with a transcript notation about the nature of your dismissal. That will almost certainly hurt any applications you might make to other schools. The bottom line is that dismissal could be the end of your academic career altogether.
If CU Boulder has suspended you, you can return to school once you've served that suspension and finished your degree. Many students find it hard to do this, though. Once you've been away from the university, coming back and taking classes again can be difficult. Even if you should manage to graduate, though, you'll still have a notation on your transcript that explains your offense. That can raise serious questions when you go to apply for jobs.
Your back is against the wall. Students can and do win appeals, though. Consider exactly what happened during your investigation and hearing. Your case wasn't in the hands of a seasoned prosecutor relying on evidence gathered by skilled law enforcement professionals. The decision wasn't rendered by a learned judge with a law degree and years of experience on the bench. A handful of faculty, administrators, and students made all the decisions, including what evidence to allow, what questions you could ask witnesses, and ultimately, whether or not you were Responsible for the offense. Under those conditions, mistakes are bound to happen. And you shouldn't wind up suspended or dismissed because of a mistake.
Finally, you're not fighting this battle alone. This time, you have the Lento Law Firm on your side. We're well-versed in processes and procedures at CU Boulder, and we know exactly what it takes to overturn a Responsible finding.
Fight For Your Future
The Lento Law Firm cannot guarantee to win your appeal. No one can do that. At this point, you've exhausted a number of your most important rights. The appeals process at the University of Colorado, Boulder, exists for a reason, though. You deserve justice, and what the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team can promise you is that they will fight hard to get you that justice. They're here to protect your rights and to make sure you get the best possible resolution to your case.
As we said in the beginning, though, you cannot afford to wait. There is a time limit on filing your appeal. Get started now. Contact the Lento Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or use our online form.
