Passing the Gavel: A Message of Gratitude and Welcome

As I pass the gavel and step into the role of Immediate Past President, I do so with immense gratitude, pride, and hope for the future of the Denver Bar Association. Serving as your president this past year has been one of the greatest honors of my career. I’ve had the privilege of standing alongside so many of you as we worked to strengthen our profession, support our communities, and uphold the values that make the law a tool for justice rather than exclusion.

The gavel we pass from president to president is engraved with the names of those who came before us—a reminder that leadership is not about spotlight or status, but stewardship. Each name represents a chapter in our shared legacy of service, and I am proud to see Danaé Kinnett’s name now inscribed on it.

Danaé is exactly the kind of leader our legal community needs. Smart, strategic, and deeply kind, she brings not only an exceptional legal mind but also a collaborative spirit and an unwavering commitment to equity and service. She is a fierce advocate, a joyful colleague, and a thoughtful convener. As the owner of Kinnett & Cordes, she balances the demands of running a successful family law practice with a long-standing dedication to volunteerism and leadership. She has been active in bar service for more than a decade, including as Chair of the CBA Young Lawyers Division in 2019, and has continually shown up—not just with ideas, but with action.

That commitment is especially clear in Danaé’s co-founding and leadership of the Federal Limited Appearance Program, which provides critical representation to unrepresented litigants in federal court. Danaé has consistently chosen to use her talent and time in ways that expand access to justice and build up the next generation of lawyers.

Danaé is a builder of bridges and a bringer of people together. In the years I’ve known her, I’ve watched her lead with curiosity and conviction. She is the kind of leader who doesn’t need to be the loudest voice in the room because she listens, she learns, and she lifts others up. I know she will carry our shared mission forward with clarity and compassion.

Our Bar is in strong, capable hands. As we face the legal, social, and systemic challenges ahead, I take heart knowing that Danaé will lead us with purpose. Please join me in welcoming her as the next President of the Denver Bar Association.