Who We Are

Co-founder Ashley (she/ella) is a First Generation Queer Latina attorney who is often in trial and has won acquittals defending everything from protester cases in municipal court to felony assault on a police officer. Her colleagues say she is a gifted storyteller in the courtroom and an exceptional negotiator. Upon graduating law school, Ashley worked as a Colorado public defender in Arapahoe County. Prior to the practice of law, Ashley managed a multi-million project for the City of Los Angeles creating employment pathways for unhoused and previously incarcerated individuals. Ashley believes that the law systematically targets BIPOC, unhoused, working class, and LGBTQIA2S+ individuals. She is a fierce ally to the trans community in Denver — in the courtroom, at the legislature, and in the streets. Ashley is a member of the Protest Defense Committee and has defended protesters targeted for speaking out against ICE, genocide in Palestine, and more. The Denver Bar Association’s Access to Justice Committee recognized Ashley for her protester defense work as one of five 2025 Pro Bono Stars.

Co-founder Carly (she/ella) is a bilingual Latina attorney who prioritizes getting clients out of jail and into treatment while working their case. She has achieved this for clients including those charged with attempted murder and first-degree assault. After growing up in Denver, Carly’s career began in an Austin public school working to keep low-income Latinx families from being funneled into the school-to-prison pipeline. She later helped the Texas Civil Rights Project sue U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and she screened families in “Remain in Mexico” encampments for asylum eligibility. For four years, Carly was a Colorado public defender in Arapahoe County and earned outstanding results including hanging a jury on a first-degree murder with a defense of not guilty by reason of insanity. As a co-founder of the Defenders Union of Colorado, she organizes for fairer working conditions for defenders, especially underpaid core staff, and better outcomes for clients. Today, she represents clients in Colorado’s most serious cases.

Laura (she/ella) is a Latina attorney and former public defender in Arapahoe County, one of Colorado’s most challenging and over-policed districts. She comes from a Denver Latino family, is the product of Denver Public Schools, and is dedicated to serving her community. She has represented clients in complex cases ranging from double homicide to drug trafficking—earning full acquittals, including in a double homicide self-defense trial. Known for her strategic litigation, fierce advocacy, and holistic approach, Laura collaborates with social workers and investigators to fight for her clients. She has also trained fellow defenders on cutting-edge legal issues and mentored attorneys and students. Laura graduated from Boston University School of Law where she represented clients in court and through Massachusetts' compassionate release and worked with the 6th Amendment Center to analyze and improve public defense. Laura’s lifelong commitment to justice, equity, and defense is rooted in her belief that no one is free until we are all free.

Ana (she/ella) is a dedicated Latina paralegal specializing in high-stakes criminal defense cases. Ana is from northwest Ohio and attended the University of Toledo. There, she studied Criminal Justice and Legal Studies and earned her Bachelor of Science in 2022. She believes that prison conditions are fundamentally inhumane and dangerous, leading to more harm than community safety. She has served as a paralegal behind the scenes on several cases, including self-defense and capital murder cases. In her current role, Ana manages case discovery and is in charge of reviewing, organizing, and analyzing it. Clients trust Ana because she spends time with them to ensure they understand everything in their file. Her work demonstrates her commitment to upholding constitutional rights for all people, regardless of their economic status or the charges they face.

For four decades, Jim Castle (he/él) has been a force in criminal defense in Colorado, the U.S. and internationally. He began his journey as a Colorado state public defender, driven by a deep conviction that everyone, regardless of means, deserves a powerful defense when their liberty is on the line. Jim won complete acquittals in nine separate first-degree murder cases and served as lead counsel in the successful defense of a Yugoslavian general in one of history’s largest war crimes trials. He has taken on 21 death penalty cases throughout the country—none resulting in a death sentence, two ending in full acquittals. He has also dedicated time to pro bono work, including defending community leaders in landmark protest cases. Honored widely for his contributions, Jim joins Del Pueblo Law in partnership with four extraordinary women to fight for our clients and radical change in our community. To learn more about Jim’s 40 year career and exceptional track record, see his resume here:

Jim Castle Resume

Mural by Huitziloxochitl Jaramillo

Instagram: @__badbean