Driving under the influence arrests can come with far-reaching consequences for those caught in the crosshairs of the legal system. For Sarah Schielke, a civil rights attorney and founder of The Life & Liberty Law Office in Loveland, Colorado, the fight against unjust DUI arrests isn’t just a professional calling; it’s a personal mission to protect the civil liberties of all Americans.
Schielke’s work in this area is driven by a deep concern for the erosion of civil liberties in DUI cases. She points to a system that incentivizes police officers to make arrests, often at the expense of individual rights. “There’s agencies getting money, there’s officers getting awards, there’s all of these perverse incentives that are set up to arrest people, none of which cares about whether or not the people they arrest turn out to be innocent,” Schielke explains.
The impact of these unjust arrests is not felt equally by all members of society. Schielke notes that vulnerable populations, including racial minorities, the elderly, the disabled, and those with mental health issues, are often disproportionately targeted by police. “Cops who want to rack up DUI arrests know the easiest way to do it is just to target people who are ‘different.’ Everything about a person’s personality, demeanor, or reaction to stress suddenly indicates impairment. It’s disgusting, and it’s wrong.” The consequences of a DUI arrest can be devastating, Schielke reminds, leading to criminal records, stigma, and difficulties in securing employment and housing.
In her fight against unjust DUI arrests, Sarah Schielke takes a multifaceted approach. She challenges the system that enables wrongful arrests, targeting and exposing the perverse incentives and lack of accountability that allow these practices to continue. She also pushes for changes in police training and practices, working to ensure that officers are held to the highest standards of conduct.
Sarah Schielke Beyond the Courtroom
Schielke’s work extends beyond the courtroom. She seeks to empower clients and other attorneys to take on wrongful arrest cases, providing resources and support for those facing DUI charges and encouraging other lawyers to join the fight against police misconduct. Through media appearances, public speaking engagements, and online platforms, Schielke raises public awareness and sparks conversations about the need for reform.
Her efforts have yielded remarkable results, including record-breaking settlements in police misconduct cases. In 2021, Schielke secured a $3 million settlement in the case of Karen Garner v. City of Loveland, and in 2022, she obtained a $7 million settlement in Michael Clark v. Idaho Springs. In 2023, she obtained a $400,000 settlement for a client wrongfully arrested for DUI in Harris Elias v. City of Loveland. (At the time of this writing, she has at least 6 other pending civil rights lawsuits against police departments for wrongful DUI arrests). These victories don’t just provide justice for her clients; they also send a powerful message to police departments and the legal system at large.
Schielke’s work has also inspired change at the institutional level. Thanks to her efforts, she shares, “Fort Collins [Colorado] Police Services recently claimed they have now added into their early intervention system that a ‘no drugs or alcohol detected’ blood test result will trigger an immediate chain of command review of the case. We will of course have to wait and see what that actually means in practice. It’s probably just going to be yet again more lip service to the idea of taking care to not arrest innocent people, but it is at least arguably going somewhere, and regardless, I’m going to keep exposing and pressing this problem until every police department gets it. So yeah, it could be a while. Fine by me. I have good stamina, and I packed snacks for the ride.”
As Sarah Schielke continues her battle against unjust DUI arrests, her work stands as a beacon of hope for those who have been wrongfully targeted by the legal system “just for being different.” Her unwavering commitment to justice and her willingness to challenge the status quo have made her a powerful force in the fight for civil liberties. (And for a lawyer, she also turns out to a surprisingly fun interview.)
Through her work, Sarah Schielke has shown that change is possible and that the fight for justice is one that must be waged tirelessly, one case at a time. It’s a call to action for us all to support and engage in the ongoing struggle to protect the fundamental freedoms that define our society.
