Michael Dougherty is running for Attorney General of Colorado on a promise to seek justice without fear or favor, to keep our communities safe, protect your rights, and fight and win the most important battles against Donald Trump and Elon Musk. 

 

Michael and his family moved to Colorado to work in the Colorado Attorney General's office. A few months later, Michael became the head of the Criminal Justice Section for the Attorney General’s Office. Having served on the leadership team there, Michael understands the important role of the Attorney General in fighting for Colorado’s water, consumer protection, workers, public safety, and individual rights. He is passionate about the role and impact of the Attorney General’s Office for all Coloradans.

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Michael has served as the elected District Attorney in Boulder County for the past seven (7) years, where he has built a reputation as a leader for Boulder County and throughout Colorado. As District Attorney, his mission is to do justice, enhance community safety, fight for victims, and improve the justice system.

 

Michael has served the public for his entire career. He has spent decades prosecuting serious cases, while leading hundreds of staff in large public law offices.   

 

One recent example – Michael prosecuted the King Soopers mass murder trial in September 2024. The team he led received broad acclaim for their work in supporting victims and their families, bringing Coloradans together at a time of tragedy, and ultimately, holding the mass murderer accountable.

 

Prior to moving to Colorado, Michael served as a prosecutor with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for over 12 years. He specialized in the prosecution of sex crimes and homicide cases. He became the Deputy Chief of the Sex Crimes Unit, where he helped lead the training and supervision of forty-five sex crimes prosecutors. The District Attorney quickly promoted Michael to the executive staff. As the Administrative Assistant District Attorney. Michael helped lead the management, resources, and staffing for an office of over 1300 people. During his time in this key leadership role, Michael continued to prosecute serious cases.

 

As the head of the Attorney General’s Criminal Justice Section, he supervised several units, including Special Prosecutions, Homicide Assistance for the State of Colorado, Environmental Crimes, Financial Fraud, Securities Fraud, Insurance Fraud, Medicaid Fraud, and the Peace Officer Standards and Training Unit. He led the Colorado DNA Justice Review Project and served on the Colorado Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, which led criminal justice reform efforts for the state. He left the Attorney General’s Office to become the second-in-command for the DA’s Office in Jefferson and Gilpin Counties, where he served until becoming District Attorney for Boulder County.

 

Michael has served with numerous groups leading to significant criminal justice reform. Additionally, Michael has helped establish problem-solving courts and diversion programs. Michael recently served as the co-Chair of the Sentencing Reform Task Force. He also served on the School Safety Resource Center Advisory Board for Colorado’s District Attorneys. In 2021, he served as the President for the District Attorneys of Colorado.

 

Michael is the grandson of Irish immigrants. At an early age, a strong work ethic and love of this country became a part of his fabric. He is the son of loving, hard-working parents. His Dad’s teaching in the public school system instilled a commitment to education and left a life-long impression on Michael. Michael has taught and mentored throughout his career, and he is currently an Adjunct Professor for the University of Colorado School of Law. His Mom, a fierce advocate for the causes and people she cared about, taught him to work hard and fight for what he believed in.

 

Michael is a proud graduate of Nassau Community College – and went on to graduate from Cornell University and the Boston University School of Law. 

 

An avid ultrarunner and outdoorsman, Michael lives in Boulder with his wife, Antonia, and their two children. 

 

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