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Bruce Whitney Sarbaugh

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  • Boulder, CO
  • Licensed for 34 years
  • Free consultation
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Bruce Whitney Sarbaugh
Bruce Whitney Sarbaugh
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About Bruce

25+ years trial experience fighting for your rights. Free Consult! Call 303-625-6293

Having spent over 25 years in the courtrooms across the Front Range, I am a tenacious advocate with a proven trial record.  However, I realize that many times negotiating the best plea agreement does not result from threats of motions and/or trial, but understanding the prosecutor, the law, and thoroughly investigating the facts of the case.  I also spend alot of time with each client making sure they understand how the law applies to their case and what their options are at each stage of the proceeding.  Only then can my clients make a truly informed and knowledgable decision of how to best proceed with their case.  That's what sets my firm apart - the ability to communicate to our clients in understandable terms the judicial process, how the law applies to their case, and the risks, consequences, and benefits associated with each step along the way.  And if a trial is necessary, we have the experience, skill, and tenacity to fight for our clients before a jury and win!  Give me a call and let's talk about how my firm can help in your case.

 

 

 

 

Practice areas

Criminal defenseDomestic violenceDUI and DWI
  1. DUI and DWI: 65%

    7 years

  2. Domestic violence: 25%

    7 years

  3. Criminal defense: 10%

    7 years

Languages spoken

English

Photos and videos

1407625 1384184290

1407625 1386272252

1407625 1386272883

1407625 1386273070

1407625 1386273150

Contact

3223 Arapahoe Avenue.
address map

The Sarbaugh Law Firm

3223 Arapahoe Avenue.
Suite 300
Boulder, CO, 80303

Website
https://www.sarbaughlaw.com

Resume

License
StateStatusAcquiredUpdated
COActive198611/10/2020
We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.
Avvo Contributions
Legal answers124
Legal guides1
Awards
Award nameGrantorDate granted
Peer Review RatedMartindale-Hubbell2020
Top 100 LawyersAmerican Society of Legal Advocates2013
Legal Aid and Defender AwardCU Legal Aid Clinic1986
Work Experience
TitleCompany nameDuration
Owner/Principle AttorneyThe Sarbaugh Law Firm1993 - Present
Legal Advisor - Off-Campus HousingUniversity of Colorado - Boulder2003 - 2018
Of CounselCameron W. Tyler & Associates, P.C.1995 - 2016
Deputy Prosecuting AttorneyCity of Lakewood1991 - 1992
Assistant Attorney GeneralUnited States Virgin Islands1987 - 1989
Law clerkHon. Morris W. Sandstead - 20th Judicial District, Colorado1986 - 1987
Associations
Association namePosition nameDuration
National College For DUI DefenseN/A2013 - Present
Boulder County Bar FoundationN/A2003 - Present
Colorado Criminal Defense BarN/A1994 - Present
Virgin Islands Bar AssociationN/A1990 - Present
Boulder County Bar AssociationCo-Chair Bench/Bar Committee - 19951989 - Present
Boulder County Bar AssociationN/A1989 - Present
Publications
Publication nameTitleDate
CU Off-Campus Housing Landlord/Tenant GuideBoulder Landlord/Tenant Guide2009
Education
School nameDegreeGraduated
University of Colorado School of LawJD1986
Colorado CollegeBA1982
Speaking Engagements
Conference nameTitleDate
Community Living ClassCU Students and Municipal Ordinances2013
CLE SeminarFlood Relief Assistance2013
Warranty of Habitability ForumFlood Relief Assistance2013
Parents Weekend presentationCU Student Legal Issues Living Off-Campus2013
Legal cases
Case nameOutcome
People v. KhalilNot guilty after jury trial
People v. LehtiNot guilty after jury trial
People v. RomeroNot guilty after jury trial
People v. ZehnalNot Guilty after jury trial
People v. EarlyAll charges dismissed at motions hearing upon establishing rising blood-alcohol defense
People v. WilliamsDismissed after motions hearing upon showing coercive police conduct rendered roadside maneuvers and breath test involuntary
People v. SomesNot Guilty
People v. PappasNot Guilty following jury trial
People v. MillerReinstatement of probation and early termination of supervision
People v. HerreraNot Guilty after jury trial
People v. BuzzancaOriginal felony charge dismissed upon plea to petty offense
People v. LatimerObtained favorable 1-year home detention sentence upon establishing client's special needs
People v. FoutsNot guilty following trial
People v. RobertsConviction vacated upon appeal and case remanded for further proceedings

Reviews

(58)
5 Star
100%
4 Star
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1 Star
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Review Bruce Sarbaugh

The very best representation I could have hoped for

Posted by

If you have been charged with a DUI, Bruce is the man. I mean, the MAN. I could not have asked for a more compassionate, professional, or exceptional trial attorney than Bruce. Bruce recently represented me in a DUI case where I was arrested in-front on my home. Police were initially called for a welfare check, questioned me and arrested me for DUI. Bruce first allowed me to walk him through the facts of the case, then reviewed footage from the officer's body cam, read the officer’s report, related my case to others he's handled, and finally laid out options for me. Going to trial is never a "sure thing," and he made no illusions to the contrary: he advised me of the offer from the District Attorney, it’s consequences, and never sugar-coated my chances at trial. He advised me, but the decision to take my case to trial was always in my hands. We elected to state my case before a jury. It was stressful. It was nerve-wracking. I don't ever want to repeat the process, but Bruce and I went over every contingency together in such a way before trial that he left me feeling confident and prepared to testify. Without going into the gory details, I can tell you, without reservation, that I cannot imagine another attorney doing for me what Bruce did. During trial he strikes an impressive balance between pleasantness and aggressiveness, guile and humility. It's shockingly effective. He knows just how far to push a witness and how to select and appeal to a jury. He displays incredible knowledge of the facts and pertinent law of the case. Bruce's representation gave me the confidence to stand trial before my peers, and I cannot overstate his skill. Bruce Sarbaugh was my strongest advocate in my hour of darkest need, and for his diligence, dedication and outstanding representation I am forever grateful.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Best in Colorado

Posted by

Around fifteen months ago I was in bad situation that I had no clue what to do about. After calling around Boulder to find the best attorney to fight for me and my case I discovered Bruce. Bruce is not only a 5-Star attorney, who knows the law like the back of his hand, but he was the most compassionate lawyer that I talked to. He treated me like a person and was willing to do anything in his power to get me the best outcome, which he did. Thanks Bruce you are the man!
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Excellent lawyer who cares about people.

Posted by

Good lawyers are almost impossible to find these days. I tried 2 other lawyers before finding Bruce. Bruce is one of those few lawyers who knows the law, the courts, and the DAs office. Perhaps even more important Bruce has common sense and actually cares about people and having proper justice served. Bruce was able to get my criminal records sealed after I was pressured into a bad plea bargain and it literally give me my life back. If I am ever in a legal shark tank again, I would not think twice about having Bruce represent me, he saved my professional reputation.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Client Review for Bruce Sarbaugh

Posted by

Bruce is a wonderful attorney. He treated me with much compassion and spent a lot of time understanding both the details of my case and the circumstances in my life that brought it about. Bruce researched the case law related to my case and clearly explained the statutes and their implications to me. He made a strategic plan for negotiations and included me in the planning and brainstorming. He listened to my ideas and we talked through the approach together before he acted. At the conclusion of my case, Bruce spoke eloquently on my behalf to the Court in a manner that rang 100% true to my perspective and experience. I am very thankful that I had Bruce’s support through an unfortunate event in my life. If you are in need of a criminal defense attorney, give Bruce a call to discuss your case with him.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Seamless

Posted by

Bruce was not only professional, but extremely personable and relatable when I was going through one of the toughest periods in my life. An intoxicated mistake nearly landed a felony on my record before graduating college, and with Bruce's help I was able to get it sealed as a misdemeanor and work through this part of my life without it affecting my future. I absolutely recommend Bruce's services to anyone in need of an attorney who will treat you and your case with empathy, especially college students.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Mr

Posted by

My experience with Bruce Sarbaugh was excellent. My attorney, Bruce, gave my case all the time and attention that was needed to be successful. He was a calming and confident presence during very difficult times. I never once was treated as anything other than a valuable client by Mr. Bruce Sarbaugh. I very much appreciate the knowledge, guidance, and support I received.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Above and Beyond Exceptional Work!

Posted by

Before consulting with Bruce, I was having a very difficult time with my case and not able to complete all of my service hours on time because of outside obligations. I needed to work out of the state for a job around the same time of my court date and needed to move my court date. Bruce was immensely helpful in directing me exactly what to do and helping me understand everything clearly all while I was going through such a rough time. He helped me change my court date, make sense of all of the court paperwork, and accompanied me to my hearing. This made a huge difference for someone like me who knows next to nothing about the court processes and what I was supposed to do in a situation like this. I highly recommend Bruce, not only is he amazing at what he does; He also pays attention to what you need and makes the whole process easier to handle.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Recommended Without Reservation

Posted by

I recently had the opportunity to work with Mr. Sarbaugh. I write this recommendation without reservation. Mr. Sarbaugh was more than my lawyer serving my legal needs. He was a compassionate, kind human being that led me through a difficult process with no sure outcome at the end. I highly recommend Mr. Sarbaugh as a lawyer and as a person. If you are in need of legal services, you can be assured that he will treat you with dignity, work tirelessly for you and ensure that you fully understand the legal process, the alternatives you have and the possible outcomes so that you are fully informed along the path and prepared to make the best decisions for yourself knowing that he will be there to support you along the way. I am an immigrant to this country and he never treated me with negatively, judgement or bias. He was always positive throughout the process even when thing were very stressful for me and I knew that I might not have the outcome I was hoping for. He was always up front and honest, painting a clear picture of what could happen, while at the same time encouraging me to fight for the right to be heard and tell my story. He always explained the law fully, had limitless patience and never tried to influence my decisions. His guidance encouraged me to make the decisions that I knew were right in my heart even if I had to face consequences that were unfavorable. In the end, he provided me a full picture of the possibilities, worked hard for me, and I chose to stand up for my right to take my case to trial knowing full well that in not accepting a plea bargain I might receive much more severe consequences. I was fortunate and the jury found me not guilty- due to Mr. Sarbaugh and his unwavering. Had the outcome not been positive, I would still have the same thing to say her in this review as I would have known that the decisions were the right ones for me to stay true to what my own heart and maintain my own dignity regardless. Choosing to work with Mr. Sarbaugh will ensure that you receive excellent legal services but more importantly you will have the opportunity to know a kind, compassionate human being who will treat you with dignity.
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
Consulted attorney

Prepared and Effective

Posted by

Mr. Sarbaugh was highly recommended to me by a friend who had been in the same situation as I was. I am very grateful that I accepted that recommendation. Mr. Sarbaugh clearly has experience in dealing with DUI cases. His initial consultation (which was free) provided some piece of mind when it was in very short supply for me personally. Once I hired him, we got to work quickly. Mr. Sarbaugh had a plan - between starting alcohol classes right away, letters we had written to the judge, and him taking the time to have in-depth and effective conversations about our overall best strategy, I felt like I had some opportunity to impact the final result from the courts and that I had the best teammate possible in order to do that. Additionally, Mr. Sarbaugh's spoke with the DA before sentencing and was able to get the DA to recommend a lesser sentence than she ordinary does. All of the above allowed us to walk into the court room with a strong plan and walk out with a better result than expected. During this process I've had the opportunity to meet a lot of other people in the same situation and when they speak about their lawyers' approaches I am consistently grateful that I hired Bruce. Every one of these cases is different, and in addition to being intelligent, prepared, friendly, and sympathetic, he took the time to truly understand what made my case unique and what was most important to me throughout the process. Ultimately, I believe that the money I spent to hire Mr. Sarbaugh saved me money in the long-run and helped make this process much less painful than it could have been. If you have unfortunately found yourself in this situation, Mr. Sarbaugh is the person you should have in your corner.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Defendant

Posted by

From the beginning Bruce, was incredibly reassuring, compassionate, and determined to get my situation addressed with the best possible outcome. He always was reliable and eager to help, whether it was a simple or complicated question. He never failed to answer my call in time of need. He always did a great job of minimizing my anxieties. I had a very unique situation which was hard for anyone to grasp but he put his time and dedication into getting it figured out. My court date and the outcome went much better then anticipated. He truly got me the best possible outcome due to his hard work and knowledge of defense and dui cases. I would very much recommend Bruce to anyone in this situation or any other criminal troubles. He truly puts his whole heart into making sure that the defendant gets justice and is reassured that everything is okay throughout the whole very hard process.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney
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Attorney endorsements

(10)
Are you an attorney? Endorse this lawyer

Jose Hecht, Criminal defense Attorney on Dec 7, 2017
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

Bruce is knowledgeable, trustworthy, and personable. He cares a lot about his clients and works hard for them. I highly recommend him!

Barry Lancaster, Criminal defense Attorney on Mar 24, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Sarbaugh is a true champion for his clients. I have consulted with him and brainstormed with him on various strategies and can without any equivocation fully endorse this fantastic attorney.

Philip Clark, Criminal defense Attorney on Sep 15, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I strongly endorse this lawyer. I have worked with him on cases and have observed his work for many years. In my opinion he is clearly an excellent attorney.

Bradley Stephenson, Criminal defense Attorney on Nov 14, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer.

Melanie Corrin, Criminal defense Attorney on Jul 2, 2014
Relationship: Worked together on matter

I had the pleasure of working with Mr. Sarbaugh on a difficult case with potentially severe immigration consequences. He went above and beyond to ensure an excellent outcome for our combined client. I recommend him highly.

Michael Waddington, Criminal defense Attorney on Jun 12, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse Bruce. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community.

Oswaldo Mendoza-Estrada, Criminal defense Attorney on Jan 23, 2014
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

Bruce is a highly professional, caring, and competent attorney. He works in criminal defense and traffic cases, including real estate matters. I highly recommend him to all my clients and believe he is one of the best attorneys in our community.

Kyle Watson, DUI and DWI Attorney on Nov 30, 2013
Relationship: Other

I am a lawyer in San Antonio, TX. My son was a student at University of Colorado and, unfortunately, found himself in need of a DUI lawyer in Boulder. I researched good lawyers in that area and called Bruce. What a blessing! Bruce is a superb lawyer, conscientious, caring and compassionate to the cause and has a tremendous work ethic. His advise was "target on" and I recommend Bruce without hesitation. I have been practicing law for over 28 years and I can state that Bruce ranks up at the top.

Franz Frechette, Criminal defense Attorney on Oct 17, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

What makes Bruce a superb attorney is not only his vast and qualitatively in-depth, substantive knowledge of the law, but equally, if not more importantly, his even-keeled, confident and utterly respectful and dignified demeanor both in the courtroom and outside of it. Bruce is extremely intelligent and quick on his feet and never intimidated when the unexpected arises. He is one of the few attorneys I know where the unexpected is not unforeseeable and not a challenge. I attribute that critical quality in an attorney to both Bruce's extraordinary intelligence and his years of experience in the courtroom. He is simultaneously both tough and gentle in his approach -- vigorously and selflessly representing his clients without being offensive to opposing attorneys, the court or others -- a rare and gifted quality which is what I believe makes Bruce such an outstanding attorney and person, for that matter - qualities which make up extremely effective legal representation.

Kathleen Cribari, Criminal defense Attorney on Sep 5, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer. I have known Bruce for more than 20 years. He is intelligent, thoughtful, highly ethical and provides top notch personal service to his clients. He understands the law and knows how to work his way effectively through the legal system in a way that is most beneficial to his clients.

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