Justice Sonia Sotomayor Inn Remembers Justice Melissa Hart’s Life and Legacy

Our legal community has suffered a great loss with the passing of former Colorado Supreme Court Justice Melissa Hart. The leadership of the Justice Sonia Sotomayor Inn of Court sends condolences to Justice Hart’s family and commits to continuing her legacy of expanding access to justice.

Justice Hart was a brilliant legal mind and caring soul. Many of us knew her as a friend, mentor, colleague, and professor before she was appointed to the bench. Almost 10 years ago, in July 2017, then Professor Hart was one of the co-founders of the Sotomayor Inn. During the last 10 years she was a valued member of our Inn, including serving on the initial Executive Committee. This year the Sotomayor Inn opened its membership to Licensed Legal Paraprofessionals (at reduced dues level), a program championed by Justice Hart. 

Among her many contributions to the law and community, Justice Hart stood out for her advocacy for inclusion and access to justice. She was a founding member of the Board of Legal Entrepreneurs for Justice, supporting affordable legal care. The Sotomayor Inn will honor Justice Hart’s legacy with the Inn and the Colorado legal community by focusing one month of legal programming every year on access to justice issues and solutions starting in 2027.