Kathleen Alt, managing partner at Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti (BHGR), has joined the Board of Directors for the Korey Wise Innocence Project (KWIP), a project affiliated with the University of Colorado School of Law. This is a direct reflection of Kathleen’s commitment to justice and her proven dedication to ensuring that Colorado’s legal system works fairly for everyone.
Korey Wise Innocence Project (KWIP)
The Korey Wise Innocence Project works at the intersection of hope and justice, fighting to exonerate the wrongfully convicted across Colorado. Named after Korey Wise—one of the Central Park Five who was wrongfully imprisoned for 11.5 years before his exoneration—KWIP embodies a powerful truth: despite the safeguards built into our criminal legal system, innocent people are convicted and sentenced to years behind bars for crimes they did not commit.
KWIP provides free investigative and legal services to people serving time in Colorado prisons who maintain their innocence. The organization’s approach is thorough and unrelenting. They carefully screen applications from those claiming innocence, selecting the most promising cases for investigation and litigation. True to their mission, KWIP turns over every stone to achieve justice for their clients—because exonerations typically don’t happen without a fight.
Beyond individual case work, KWIP serves as a training ground for the next generation of legal advocates. As part of the Colorado Law and CU Boulder community, the organization mentors law students and undergraduates in both the legal work and broader advocacy efforts needed to reform a system that too often fails the innocent.
The organization also advocates for systemic reforms to prevent future wrongful convictions, recognizing that while we’ll never have a perfect criminal justice system, we have an obligation to fix as many mistakes as possible.
A Natural Fit
Kathleen’s appointment to the KWIP Board of Directors is a natural extension of her career. As a former Deputy State Public Defender and a seasoned criminal defense attorney, she understands firsthand the challenges faced by those navigating Colorado’s criminal justice system.
Kathleen employs a “no-stone-left-unturned” approach to the factual and legal investigation of her cases, and when warranted, advocates for mitigation measures that support her clients getting their lives back on track through substance abuse treatment, therapy, education, and coaching. She has built her reputation on meticulous factual and legal investigation, from litigating pretrial suppression issues involving unlawful searches and Miranda violations to securing dismissals and favorable outcomes for clients facing serious charges.
This tenured experience and ethos align with KWIP’s mission.
Message From Kathleen
“I am genuinely so honored and proud to join the KWIP Board of Directors, and thank you to the Board for making me feel so welcome.
I am deeply passionate about KWIP’s mission and the dedication of the staff, attorneys, students, and volunteers who work tirelessly to support it. I look forward to working with some of my mentors and former colleagues, making new connections, and being a part of KWIP’s mission and future.”
Looking Forward
Kathleen’s service on the KWIP Board represents not just a personal commitment but is also a reflection of BHGR’s values as a firm dedicated to justice, community service, and the highest standards of legal practice.
We congratulate her and are excited to see the impact she will have in ensuring justice for all.