George Brauchler hails growing up with 'a sense of duty'
Some rip ties to cop unions, others say he seeks justice
By April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published August 7, 2008 at 10:32 p.m.
Photo by Brian Lehmann © The Rocky
George Brauchler joined the Jeffco DA's office after graduating from the University of Colorado law school in 1995. As a young prosecutor, he earned a reputation for being ethical and hard-charging.
When a young woman accused NBA star Kobe Bryant of raping her at a Vail resort five years ago, Eagle County prosecutors needed a tough cross-examiner.
They turned to George Brauchler. Then a Jefferson County prosecutor, he was picked to prepare the young woman for the hostile questioning she could expect on the stand.
In a secret mock trial, Brauchler peppered her with hard-ball questions. She fell apart - as would the prosecution's case against Bryant.
It's a moment in Brauchler's career that he would rather forget. But disappointment comes with the territory, he said.
"For a long time, I felt guilty that we were unable to get the right results for the victim," Brauchler said in an interview.
Brauchler's friends and former colleagues say the event illustrates his trial skills and how he goes to the mat in pursuit of justice for victims.
They say it's why he's a good choice to replace Arapahoe County District Attorney Carol Chambers in Tuesday's GOP primary.
Brauchler also was one of two assistant district attorneys to get a conviction in the Columbine High School shootings. He helped send to prison Mark Manes and Phillip Duran for their role in supplying guns to the killers.
"He was a real go-getter when it came to looking for opportunities to distribute justice," said attorney Dan Deasy, a longtime friend and colleague.
Relatively unknown
Three months ago, Brauchler, 38, was relatively unknown in the 18th Judicial District, which covers Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties.
The race for chief prosecutor has intensified in recent weeks as he takes his candidacy to the rank-and-file Republicans and touts the endorsements of seven police and sheriff associations and unions.
Brauchler and police unions criticize Chambers' leadership, saying she's created tension between her office and police.
"There would be no reason for me to run against an incumbent DA if there wasn't so many gaping issues," he said. "They (cops) see me as vehicle for change."
Given that the district votes Republican, the winner of the primary will likely be the next DA.
Brauchler, who petitioned his way onto the primary ballot, faces an uphill battle. GOP party activists are backing Chambers.
The incumbent's husband is Nathan Chambers, who took a leave as chairman of the Arapahoe County Republican Party to stump for his wife.
He maintains that Brauchler will likely do the bidding of the police unions if elected.
But Brauchler supporters believe he can repair strained relations between the DA's office and law enforcement.
"We're not looking for more influence in the DA's office - we are looking for a better relationship," said Don James, president of the Aurora Police Association.
Had military ambitions
Brauchler, who grew up in Lakewood, didn't set out to become a prosecutor when he graduated from the University of Colorado in 1992. He set his sights on a full-time career with the military, driving tanks, becoming the next George S. Patton and following in the footsteps of his father who served in Vietnam and uncle who served in World War II.
"I grew up with a sense of duty and paying something back," he said.
A superior officer convinced him to become a military lawyer.
He remained in the Army Reserves, where he rose to the rank of major and now trains military prosecutors.
He joined the Jeffco DA's office after graduating from CU law school in 1995. As a young prosecutor, he earned a reputation for being ethical and hard-charging.
After leaving the Jeffco DA's office in the spring of 2001, Brauchler briefly went into private practice.
That same year, he was called to active duty at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs for a homeland defense mission.
Most recently, he was with the firm of Caplis and Deasy before leaving for another law firm. He also recently left as a fill-in radio talk show host for the Caplis and Silverman show on 630 KHOW.
During one radio show, Brauchler made waves when he said that allowing gays to openly serve in the military would be "like a kid in a candy store."
He said he's not anti-gay and that his comments were taken out of context.
"Soldiers have to trust in one another to make life-and-death decisions," he said. "If we can't regulate sexual urges, that can destroy a mission. I simply meant to say that I don't want sexuality to distract from the military mission."
George Brauchler
* Occupation: Attorney at Feldmann, Nagel and Associates; former Jefferson County prosecutor.
* Residence: Highlands Ranch.
* Age: 38, born in Staten Island, N.Y.
* Family: Wife, Marcia; children Amanda, 5, Trey, 3, Geoffrey, 11 months.
* Education: Bachelor's degree in economics and political science from the University of Colorado Boulder, 1992; law degree from CU law school, 1995.
* Money raised: $20,000.
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August 7, 2008
11:46 p.m.
Suggest removal
WeNeedALeader writes:
This is what I've been talking about. A view of the leader we needed to seal the deal.
George Brauchler for District Attorney in the 18th!
August 8, 2008
10:50 a.m.
Suggest removal
Star writes:
In response to the RMN piece dated August 7, 2008:
I have the luxury of being a rank and file Republican, am retired, and have taken more than the usual opportunity to read and review the candidate’s position statements for all the political races that will impact my family and me. I have also had the opportunity to hear, first hand, from a Brauchler campaign volunteer about the inner strategies Brauchler is using in these final 4 days until the election. I am somewhat disappointed in the underhanded and juvenile tactics Brauchler has executed to try to win this race. The directives I heard Brauchler has deployed are in keeping with those of an inexperienced young man running for student body president of the local elementary school.
To continually align yourself with former disgruntled employees has tendered the question, “Are you also, Mr. Brauchler, a former disgruntled employee of JeffCo?
The weekly request to have these former disgruntled employees submit editorials to any of the local papers in the hopes of generating reader traffic is outmoded and transparent. The responses from team Brauchler come with too much emotion and redundancy, soliciting readers to ask, “Exactly who is responding to this blog?” That said, readers have concluded it is none other than you or your family, maybe a close friend or a state worker blogging on my tax payer dime.
Interesting information noted when the name George Brauchler (or Marcia Brauchler) is “Googled”. Enlightened, I have asked the opinion of my fellow Republicans at party venues and also in our community. The name Brauchler is synonymous with poor leadership.
With crime down in District 18, my vote went to the incumbent, Carol Chambers.
August 8, 2008
2:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
Centennialdude writes:
It must truly bother George that both men and women serve in the armed forces. Too much sexual distraction. So maybe he isn't anti-gay he's just a sexist.
August 9, 2008
1:04 a.m.
Suggest removal
SilpacTalk writes:
Secret mock trial? I found it online.
Brauchler mocks the voters when he thinks we buy into his spin.
August 9, 2008
2:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
ConcernedAboutChambers writes:
Star and Silpac:
Spin? Poor leadership? Read carefully wizards. Brauchler has NEVER been disciplined by the Colorado Supreme Court. Brauchler has NEVER received a vote of no confidence from nine police agencies (comprised of heroes, I might add) after serving in office for 36+ very long months. Mr. Brauchler has NEVER threatened sitting judges. Mr. Brauchler has NEVER spent $100,000 in taxpayer funds to defend his unethical conduct.
Republican regulars are just that -- regular folks with good intentions. Unfortunately, they are committed to "party first, principles be darned." That said, the GOP hard core regulars -- numbering in the 100s, will not support a guy like Brauchler because he didn't kiss the rings of guys like Nate and Mort on his way to the ballot. Okay. Everyone gets that.
But you must look at the embarrassing decisions Chambers has made on her way to this point -- I mean, the tall nail gets pounded down -- and I get that. But continually saying "I know better than everyone else" is narcissistic and frankly, arrogant. That's the issue with Ms. Chambers. 30+ prosecutors have left her employ. NEVER in the history of prosecution in metro Denver has there been a such an exodus. Not everyone can be disgruntled, can they?
And surely, for a guy like Frank Azar to lead the financial gray train for Ms. Chambers. Is this a win at all costs deal? Why would she take his money? What a joke. The guy's given more than $100K to DEMOCRATS over the years and now, all of a sudden, he has good judgment? Chambers has put a gag order on people in her office who are in the know regarding the Azar connection. She'll keep them quiet until Wednesday and then, no matter the result, they'll be forced to talk.
How much is enough?
Brauchler for District Attorney -- not only a great choice -- the only choice!
August 10, 2008
9:02 a.m.
Suggest removal
SilpacTalk writes:
Hey WNAL and CAC– Take this to the bank on Tuesday. Brauchler is not the winner you project him to be. Whiner maybe. Say what?
I can only imagine your desperation and panic when team Brauchler realized that the Littleton Herald (and 6 other community newspapers, that’s right, count them, 7 total) published a lengthy, forthright and candid piece on the incumbent, Carol Chambers. Here’s the link for the readers who missed the piece:
http://www.zwire.com/site/index.cfm?n...
Read it and weep.
August 10, 2008
9:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
WeNeedALeader writes:
Hey Silpac -- weeping? Really not. Where's the endorsement? There is none! Does that not amount to a vote of no confidence for an incumbent?
Read the Rocky article again pal. The newspaper of Republicans. No endorsement for Chambers. A huge positive piece for Brauchler.
And by the way -- the day the Post blistered her (read the article "Red Flags for DA Chambers" published July 29 at this link: http://www.denverpost.com/editorials/...), Ms. Chambers was in the ofice of Vince Carroll begging for an endorsement. This directly from the mouths (THAT MEANS MORE THAN ONE) of people inside her office. Chambers has more people in her office willing to disseminate information than she can count on all of her and Leslie's fingers and toes combined.
The endorsement never came.
For the seven people who read the community newspapers in Littleton, Centennial, etc., I'm sure they were persuaded greatly. And they probably turned up to support her in front of the Supreme Court when she nearly lost her law license for ethics violations. And they probably call her when they need a favor - like a favor of making a rude phone call and leaving a threatening message. More simply put -- everyone has a couple of fans, but it takes voters to win an election.
Chambers lacks ethics and is immature. She is flippant and mule-headed. Her hubris has led to:
1. A censure from the Colorado Supreme Court
2. Her office being labelled unethical by a District Court judge
3. A battle with the bench in Arapahoe County after she threatened to clog the dockets
4. More than 35 prosecutors leaving her office in 36+ months
5. A fight with her County Commissioners over her own salary
The music is playing for Ms. Chambers . . . turn out the lights, the party's over . . .
August 11, 2008
6:37 p.m.
Suggest removal
hasanopinion2 writes:
WeNeedALeader: I guess you have missed the positive things that the county commissioners have said about Carol. Let's talk about all the good things she has done-taken a tough stance on habitual offenders, percentage of walk aways from comm corr is down, standing up for the rights of victims, more programs within the Juvenile Diversion program to help reduce the rate of youth offenders turning into adult offenders, trying to reduce the amount of time officers spend in court so they can be on the streets protecting the community, should we keep going on?? Guess what, sounds like we have a leader! A leader who is willing to take a stand even when it's not the "popular" thing to do, a leader who said she was going to come in and make changes and did!
August 11, 2008
8:39 p.m.
Suggest removal
MyVoteIsIn writes:
A very intriguing race . . .
Lots of emotion on the blogs -- I suppose that is typical. Reminds me of Ritter and Silverman years ago (not the blogging, but the bitterness). I have researchd these two individuals a bunch, talked to co-workers and former co-workers.
The research reveals the following: Ms. Chambers has certainly been willing to take a stand on several, controversial issues. From her own salary to habitualizing criminals every time out, she has come under fire for taking self-righteous, unorthodox approaches to a number of self-perceived dilemmas. She has certainly made a stink with the judges out there (in Arapahoe County she threatened to clog dockets and a judge in some rural county called her office "unethical" within the last few months). No matter the light cast upon these episodes, one mistake is forgiveable, two bring scrutiny, three raise eyebrows and four is absolutely enough.
And then there is this ethics issue with the Colorado Supreme Court that is really a big deal since she is the first publicly censured DA in a century. That cannot be a positive.
Then you have Mr. Brauchler -- clearly the less-experienced prosecutor in terms of years, but it appears he has done an awful lot in those years. He stuck his foot in his mouth with the Navy comments and apparent homophobic remarks on the radio, but I am not so sure that disqualifies him from serving in public office. His service in the Army reserves is admirable.
Grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, but in this case, it appears Ms. Chambers has planted some really ugly weeds on her side.
My vote is in: Mr. Brauchler.
I cannot imagine he would beat any other incumbent coming form inside the incumbent's party, but Ms. Chambers had the chance to do great things and spoiled it with multiple errors in judgment and a seeming unwillingness to admit fault. Those errors have cost us taxpayers more than $100,000 by her own admission. That's simply unacceptable.
August 13, 2008
12:18 a.m.
Suggest removal
CONCERNEDABOUTBRAUCHLER writes:
Tilt. Game over. That’s why you lost. Team Brauchler resorted to anti-REPUBLICAN Party games.
August 13, 2008
12:52 a.m.
Suggest removal
SilpacTalk writes:
Brauchler got a big spanking tonight! He should have kept his job. We don’t miss him in JeffCo, so here’s a link if he needs one:
http://classifieds.denverpost.com/
Oops, sorry. I’ve just been told he already has one.
September 24, 2008
11:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
NotOnMyBlock writes:
Honestly, in my opinion, the biggest factor in George Brauchler losing the race was the conduct Marcia Brauchler utilized during the election. As per my previous posts, Marcia Brauchler sabotaged George’s campaign efforts because of her spiteful and pitiful behavior. Big point - our block hosts “neighborhood dinners”, and Brauchler’s wife manipulated so many of our neighbors against “lawn man” and his spouse, the dinner coordinator sent a “false cancellation” to all attendees, to “uninvite” lawn man, etc. Then of course we were all re-invited to the neighborhood dinner on a different date. I even feel stupid, and somewhat guilty, acknowledging that we even attended. I did have the decency to call “lawn man” about the neighborhood antics, and I wish I had the same level of dignity he demonstrated. He really didn’t care if a handful of neighbors couldn’t stand up to Marcia Brauchler’s campaign of hate; all she has done is corrupt our neighborhood. The broad has been pretty indifferent to me since I refused to put a “GeorgeforDA” sign in my yard. Quoting John Hickenlooper, the fine mayor of Denver, “there is no benefit in having enemies”, but Marcia Brauchler doesn’t get it. “Lawn man" was Dis-invited to a neighborhood get-together, but George Brauchler was Dissed by 8400 plus voters. This is a story that will not go away. I guess what comes around, goes around. Karma $ux$.