As an attorney in the Appellate Division of the Colorado State Public Defender’s Office, Mr. Walta litigated more than 150 felony appeals before the state appellate courts, including a number of high- profile cases. Mr. Walta has argued dozens of cases before both the Colorado Court of Appeals and the Colorado Supreme Court.

He has also appeared in district courts throughout the state in a variety of complex matters, including potential death penalty cases.

Mr. Walta is a member of the Tenth Circuit’s Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Appellate Panel, and has litigated matters before the Tenth Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.

Mr. Walta served as a law clerk to Justice Alex Martinez of the Colorado Supreme Court after graduating law school. He was born and raised in Colorado.

Legal Experience

• 2023-Present:  Partner, Goodreid Grant & Walta LLC
• 2012-2023:  Principal, Walta LLC
• 2009-2012:  Partner, Walta Harms & Dingle LLC
• 2000-2008:  Deputy State Public Defender, Appellate Division of the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender
• 1999-2000:  Law Clerk, Hon. Alex J. Martinez, Justice, Colorado Supreme Court

Education

• 1999: Northeastern University School of Law (Massachusetts), Juris Doctor
• 1995: Rutgers University (New Jersey), Master of Arts
• 1992: Wabash College (Indiana), Bachelor of Arts
• 1988: Cheyenne Mountain High School (Colorado)

Representative Cases

• People v. Owens, 544 P.3d 1202 (Colo. 2024)
• People v. Snelling, 2022 COA 116M, 523 P.3d 477
• People v. Hernandez, 2021 CO 45, 488 P.3d 105
• Butler v. People, 2019 CO 87, 450 P.3d 714
• People v. Sims, 2019 COA 66
• People v. Butler, 2017 COA 98, cert. granted, No. 17SC692, 2018 WL 1975187 (Colo. Apr. 16, 2018)
• People v. Manyik, 2016 COA 42, 383 P.3d 77 (Colo. App.)
• People v. Weeks, 2015 COA 77, 369 P.3d 699 (Colo. App.)
• United States v. Hicks, 779 F.3d 1163 (10th Cir. 2015)
• People v. Hoskins et al., 333 P.3d 828 (Colo. 2014)
• People v. Soto-Lopez, 322 P.3d 924 (Colo. 2014)
• People v. $11,200.00 U.S. Currency, 313 P.3d 554 (Colo. 2013)
• People v. Nozolino, 298 P.3d 915 (Colo. 2013)
• People v. Randell, 297 P.3d 989 (Colo. App. 2012)
• People v. Gross, 287 P.3d 105 (Colo. 2012)
• Farrar v. People, 208 P.3d 702 (Colo. 2009)
• People v. Montalvo-Lopez, 215 P.3d 1139 (Colo. App. 2008)
• Sanoff v. People, 187 P.3d 576 (Colo. 2008)
• People v. Barton, 174 P.3d 786 (Colo. 2008)
• People v. Grant, 174 P.3d 798 (Colo. App. 2007)
• People v. Richardson, 181 P.3d 340 (Colo. App. 2007)
• People v. Mills, 163 P.3d 1129 (Colo. 2007)
• People v. Lopez, 148 P.3d 121 (Colo. 2006)
• People v. McMurtry, 122 P.3d 237 (Colo. 2005)
• People v. Rawson, 97 P.3d 315 (Colo. App. 2004)
• People v. Riggs, 87 P.3d 109 (Colo. 2004)
• People v. Simpson, 93 P.3d 551 (Colo. App. 2003)
• People v. Novitskiy, 81 P.3d 1070 (Colo. App. 2003)
• People v. Roadcap, 78 P.3d 1108 (Colo. App. 2003)
• People v. Watson, 53 P.3d 707 (Colo. App. 2001)

Publications

• “Statutory Suppression Under Colorado’s Wiretapping and Eavesdropping Act,” 30 Colo. Law. 77 (August 2001)

Teaching Experience

• 2013: Supervising Attorney, Appellate Litigation Clinic, University of Colorado School of Law
• 2005: Adjunct Professor, Appellate Litigation Clinic, University of Colorado School of Law
• 1995: Adjunct Professor, Writing for Lawyers, Massachusetts School of Law

Professional Associations

• Member, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Colorado Bar Association

Admitted

• State Bar Admissions: Colorado
• Federal Bar Admissions:
  • United States Supreme Court
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the District of Colorado