About Karen Steinhauser
Karen Steinhauser is a Denver-based attorney, judge and adjunct law professor known for her presentations, trainings and workshops on the topic of implicit bias and how to interrupt it.
Prior to entering private practice, Karen served the Denver District Attorney’s Office as Deputy and Chief Deputy District Attorney from 1981-2001. In her tenure as a prosecutor, Karen tried over 250 cases, both to juries and the court, with a focus on domestic violence, sexual abuse and child abuse. While in the District Attorney’s Office, Karen established the Domestic Violence Unit—the first of its kind in Colorado—and as chief of the unit, she supervised and trained more than 50 lawyers.
Karen has appeared on and been quoted by many prominent media outlets, including Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, CBS News, CNN, Global Toronto, NPR, CPR and Fox News. She has been interviewed for Good Housekeeping, the Denver Post, Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee, Toronto Messenger, the Associated Press and the London Evening Standard. She is often called upon by the Denver media to serve as a legal analyst for high-profile criminal cases, including the Aurora theater shooting.
A recognized leader in trial advocacy and a faculty member for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy since 1992, Karen has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law since 1990. She has been a Colorado Super Lawyer from 2011-2020 and maintains the AV Preeminent® Martindale Hubbell, the highest possible rating for an attorney for both ethical standards and legal ability. She was selected as a 5280 Magazine Top Lawyer for 2017-2019 and Law Weeks Barristers' Best People's Choice Award for Best Criminal Defense Lawyer in 2015. In 2017, she was recognized by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy with the Prentice Marshall Faculty Award for the Development of Innovative Teaching Methods, specifically a training on the subject of implicit bias.
“The National Institute for Trial Advocacy honored Karen Steinhauser with the Prentice Marshall Faculty Award for pursuing an innovative idea by presenting a powerful session on implicit bias training.”
Karen has spoken on the subject of implicit bias to businesses, organizations and agencies, including:
Aurora Bar Association
Aurora Public Defenders Office
Cherry Creek Academy
Chi Omega Sorority - University of Denver
City of Aurora (Colo.) Judges, Prosecutors, Probation Officers and Other Court Personnel
Colorado Administrative Law Judges
Colorado Bar Association - Litigation Summit
Colorado County Attorneys Association (Annual Conference)
Colorado Guardianship Association
Colorado Inns of Court
Colorado Municipal Judges Association
Colorado Trial Lawyers Association
Colorado Women's Bar Association
Community Economic Defense Project
Denver Junior League (Board, Nominating Committee)
Department of Regulatory Affairs (DORA - Real Estate Division)
DNSFILTER (software company)
Douglas County Bar Association
Englewood Municipal Court
Fall Workers Compensation Update
Gordon Rees Law Firm Associates
Holland & Hart
Law Bank Solo Practitioners
National Institute for Trial Advocacy, National Session
OSHRC Judicial Conference
Race and the Law Symposium
Recent Developments in State and Federal Practice
State Employees Leading Colorado
University of California Hastings Alumni Association
University of Denver Sturm College of Law (orientation for first year law students)
Wind Crest Adult Residential Community
Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association