Jonathan S. Willett, Attorney

Jonathan S. Willett was born and raised in New York City. He attended college in Colorado, receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from the University of Colorado in 1982. After graduation, Mr. Willett returned to New York City to work as a writer, but found himself longing for the Colorado Mountains. In 1983, he enrolled in the University of Denver College of Law.

At the University of Denver College of Law, Mr. Willett was the Articles Editor of the Denver University Law Review. Mr. Willett published a Note, Evolving Standards for Duty of Fair Representation Cases Under Section 301, 62 Den. U. L. Rev. 627 (1985). Mr. Willett graduated from the College of Law with a Juris Doctor degree in 1986.

Mr. Willett was employed as an attorney in the Appellate Division of the Colorado State Public Defender in Denver from 1986 to 1989. In 1989, Mr. Willett became a trial deputy with the Jefferson County trial office of the Colorado State Public Defender located in Golden, Colorado.

In mid 1992, he then began working for the law firm of Chalat & Company. Mr. Willett became a sole proprietor in 1994. As a private attorney, Mr. Willett has handled medical and legal malpractice cases, civil rights cases, family matters including child custody, employment cases, personal injury matters, ski litigation, and every type of criminal case ranging from the death penalty to white collar crime and juvenile delinquency. Mr. Willett has been attorney of record in over 50 jury trials and 100 appeals. Mr. Willett appears as counsel of record in 25 published opinions of the Colorado Court of Appeals, the Colorado Supreme Court and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mr. Willett has lectured on a variety of criminal law, appellate practice, trial advocacy and juvenile law topics, publishing written materials as well. Mr. Willett has been accepted as an expert witness in criminal law at least fifteen times.  Mr. Willett is admitted to practice in all Courts in the State of Colorado, as well as the United States District Court for Colorado, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States.

When he is not working, Mr. Willett enjoys spending time with his family and staying active by skiing, snowboarding, cycling, running and playing frisbee.