OUR TEAM
Bruce Wiener, Executive Director
Bruce is the founder and Executive Director of Bridge to Justice. He is also an attorney who practices in the areas of family law and landlord-tenant. Prior to the formation of Bridge to Justice, Bruce practiced labor and employment law and general civil litigation at a corporate law firm in New York City. After relocating to Boulder in 2009, Bruce volunteered for Boulder County Legal Services and worked as a staff attorney for the Boulder Law Shop representing modest means clients in family law and landlord-tenant matters.
Bruce is a contract attorney for Boulder County Legal Services and Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (SPAN), taking dissolution of marriage, allocation of parental responsibilities, and civil protection order cases and is a court-appointed attorney representing the mentally ill in civil commitment and involuntary medication order hearings.
Recognized on several occasions by the Boulder County Bar Association for his pro bono work, he received the Boulder County Bar Association Young Lawyer of the Year Award in 2012.
Bruce founded Bridge to Justice after assisting many clients of modest means who had serious civil legal issues and were attempting unsuccessfully to represent themselves in court without a lawyer. Because many of these individuals did not qualify for legal aid, he recognized that without affordable legal representation they were unlikely to access justice in a meaningful way.
Education
Fordham University School of Law, J.D., 2008
Cornell University, B.S., School of Industrial & Labor Relations, 2005, Dean's List
Bar Admission
New Jersey, 2008
New York, 2009
Colorado, 2010
Professional Affiliations/Membership
Colorado Bar Association
Boulder County Bar Association
Boulder Interdisciplinary Committee, Board Member, 2015 - 2019
Office of Violence Against Women Safe Haven Grant, Consulting Team, 2014 - 2018
Boulder Housing Coalition, Board Member, 2011-2013
Published Cases
Parocha v. Parocha, 2018 CO 41, 17SC406 (Colo. 2018)
Speaking Engagements
Boulder County Bar Association, Family Law Section, The Changing Landscape of Civil Protection Orders, November 27, 2018
Boulder County Bar Association, Family Law and Availability of Legal Services Sections, Expanding Access to Justice in Family Law Cases: A Practical and Ethical Guide to Unbundled Legal Services, March 16, 2016
Senior Law Day, Free or Low Cost Legal Services for Boulder County Seniors, August 22, 2015
University of Colorado Law School, Professor Melissa Hart's Seminar on "Access to Justice? The Provision of Legal Services for Middle - and Low-Income People," Presentation on Bridge to Justice, March 9, 2015
Colorado Bar Association Moderate Income Task Force, Presentation on Bridge to Justice, December 9, 2014
Boulder Bench Bar Retreat, Access to Justice, October 30, 2014
Colorado Legal Resource Day, Post-Decree Family Law Issues, September 20, 2014
Boulder County Bar Association, Business Law Section, Limited Service Fee Agreements, February 4, 2014
Boulder County Bar Association, Real Estate and Availability of Legal Services Sections, Colorado Warranty of Habitability, January 19, 2011
Honors/Publications
Boulder County Bar Association Young Lawyer of the Year, 2012
Boulder Interdisciplinary Committee President's Award, 2015
Colorado Supreme Court Pro Bono Legal Service Commitment and Recognition Program, 2013-2018
"The Access to Justice Problem And What Can Be Done About It," September 2014, Boulder County Bar Association Newsletter, https://www.boulder-bar.org/resources/Documents/BCBA-Newsletter-Sep-2014.pdf
Joel R. Hayes, Jr., Staff Attorney, Healthcare and Food Assistance
Employment
· Staff Attorney, Bridge to Justice, January 2019 to present
· Solo private practice: Primarily health, elder and domestic violence, May 2016 to present
· Senior Attorney and Managing Attorney, Colorado Legal Services, January 2001 to April 2016
· Senior Attorney, The Legal Center for People with Disabilities, January 1999-2001
· Managing Attorney, Colorado Rural Legal Services, March 1991 to January 1999
· Staff Attorney, Kansas Legal Services, June 1985 to March 1991
Education
· Tabor College, B.A., Hillsboro, KS, 1982
· University of Kansas, School of Law, J.D., 1985
Bar Admission
· State and Federal Courts of Colorado: July 1991 – present (Federal License Inactive)
· State and Federal Courts of Kansas: Inactive
Expertise
· Medicaid eligibility and scope of services
· Food stamp eligibility and scope of services
· Eviction defense and public housing advocacy
· Social Security, Old Age Pension, unemployment compensation and other public benefits
· Domestic violence and general civil poverty litigation
Trainer
· Medicaid and other public benefits trainings for the Colorado Bar Association, the Boulder County Bar Association and other bar associations, as well as Colorado Legal Services (CLS) staff and volunteers.
· Advocacy trainings annually for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy 2001 to present
· Adjunct faculty University of Colorado, School of Law
Publications
· CBA Colorado Lawyer and Boulder County Bar newsletter articles on Medicaid and public benefits
· CBA Practitioner’s Guide to Colorado Domestic Relations Law, Chapter on Public Benefits
Published Cases Include
· Reiff v. Colo. Dept. Health Care Policy and Financing, 148 P.3d 355 (Colo. App. 2006)
· Rigmaiden v. Colo. Dept. Health Care Policy and Financing, 155 P.3d 498 (Colo. App. 2006)
· Monez v. Reinertson, 140 P.3d 242 (Colo. App. 2006) (for Amici Curiae)
· T.L. v. Colo. Dept. Health Care Policy and Financing, 42 P.3d 63 (Colo. App. 2001)
· Velo v. Employment Solutions, 988 P.2d 1139 (Colo. App. 1998)
· Pettyjohn v. Shalala, 874 F. Supp. 305 (D. Colo. 1995); 888 F. Supp. 1065 (D. Colo.1995)
· Visser v. Taylor, 756 F.Supp. 501 (D. Kan. 1990)
Molly N. Jickling, Staff Attorney
Since joining the staff of Bridge to Justice, Molly has focused her practice on domestic relations, juvenile,
and civil protection order cases, with extensive experience in cases that involve domestic violence. Molly
takes a practical and empathetic approach to her work, focusing on solution-oriented problem solving and
conflict reduction. She is passionate about her role as legal counselor and works collaboratively with her
clients to achieve the best possible outcomes for them and for their families.
Prior to becoming a lawyer, Molly ran the Family Services Department of a Head Start Program in
Bloomington, Indiana. There, she learned how family trauma impacts early childhood development and
about the risks parents face when they are unrepresented in the legal system. She later worked with
homeless individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Washington, DC who were struggling to advocate for
themselves regarding housing. These experiences inspired Molly to become a lawyer so she could be a
compassionate advocate for others and bridge the gap for access to justice.
Education
University of Colorado, J.D., 2020, Order of the Coif
Juvenile and Family Law Certificate, 2020, University of Colorado, with honors
Ithaca College, B.A. Philosophy and Religious Studies/Counseling, 2012, summa cum laude
Bar Admission
Colorado, 2020
Professional Affiliations/Membership:
Member, Colorado Bar Association, Family Law Section
Member, Boulder County Bar Association
Member, Sub-Committee on DR Rules to the Supreme Court Standing Committee on Family Issues
Contract Attorney, Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence
Contract Attorney, Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center
Rachel Dane, Staff Attorney
Rachel Dane brings experience, expertise, and compassion to help survivors of domestic
violence. Many attorneys shy away from domestic violence litigation because it is so difficult.
Ms. Dane, on the other hand, has dedicated her career to helping survivors of violence pursue
safety through the court system. She has counseled, represented, and supervised the
representation of hundreds of survivors of domestic violence in family law cases. Above all, Ms.
Dane believes that everyone deserves a safe and healthy family life, and she works hard every
day to pursue that for her clients. Ms. Dane strives to practice with professionalism and
compassion at every stage of a case. Feel free to schedule a consultation with her to learn more
about her availability, background, and practice philosophy.
Education
George Washington University, J.D., 2014
Bar Admission
Maryland, 2014
Colorado, 2015
Professional Affiliations/Membership:
Managing Attorney, SPAN
Contract Attorney, Safe Shelter of the Saint Vrain Valley
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Ainagul K. Holland, Contract Attorney
Ainagul Holland is a contract attorney for Bridge to Justice, practicing in the area of family law. Prior to immigrating to the U.S. in 2005 she worked in the oil and gas industry in her native county, Kazakhstan. After her immigration to the U.S., she acquired a paralegal certificate and worked in the legal field since then. In 2019, Boulder County Legal Services recognized her for her over 100 hours of pro-bono contributions. Ainagul is also an occasional volunteer at Ask-a-Lawyer in 20th Judicial District and High School Mock Trials.
Education
University of Wyoming College of Law, J.D., 2014
University after Kh. Zhubanov, Aktobe, Kazakhstan, 2000. Bachelor’s degree in English-Kazakh Translation and Interpreting with a German Language Minor.
Bar Admissions
Colorado, 2015
Professional Affiliations/Membership
Colorado Bar Association, Family Law Section
Boulder Bar Association
Madison Jenkins, Legal Fellow
Madison is a legal fellow for the Justice for Survivors of Domestic Violence Program, focusing her legal advocacy on civil protection orders and complex pre- and post-decree family law cases involving domestic violence.
Before joining Bridge to Justice, Madison externed with Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center performing policy research relating to rights afforded to relatives in dependency and neglect cases and assisting in the enforcement of a child’s Individualized Education Plan. Madison also interned at Colorado Legal Services in their Family and Children’s Unit, speaking with over one hundred domestic violence survivors and drafting relevant family law court documents.
Madison is passionate about serving communities that may not have legal representation if not for lower rate or grant-funded services. Madison believes every family should feel safe and supported, which is reflected in Madison’s compassion towards her clients.
When not assisting clients, Madison enjoys practicing yoga, dancing, and spending time with her family.
Education
University of Florida, J.D., 2023, cum laude
Rollins College, B.A. Business Management, 2019, Valedictorian
Bar Admission
Colorado, 2023
Professional Affiliations/Membership:
Member, Colorado Bar Association, Family Law Section
Member, Boulder County Bar Association
Contract Attorney, Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence
Mariah Bauguess, Legal Fellow
Mariah is one of the legal fellows for the Justice for Survivors of Domestic Violence Program. In this program, Mariah’s work is focused on advocating for survivors of domestic violence in pre- and post-decree family law cases as well as in cases involving civil protection orders and extreme risk protection orders.
Mariah is passionate about advocating for people who are indigent or otherwise have limited means. After graduating law school in 2023, Mariah began her legal career as a law clerk in the 8th Judicial District. During her time there, she worked on many domestic relations cases and was troubled by the prevalence of domestic abuse in family law cases. This, in addition to observing the financial barriers people face in achieving justice in their case, inspired her to pursue this fellowship. Furthermore, her clerkship gave her insight into the court’s perspective in making decisions in domestic relations cases, which has helped shape how she practices as an attorney.
Education
University of Colorado, J.D., 2023
University of Washington, B.A. Political Science and Law, Societies, and Justice, 2020
Bar Admission
Colorado, 2023
Professional Affiliations/Membership:
Member, Colorado Bar Association
Member, Boulder County Bar Association
Contract Attorney, Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence
Elise Aiken, Contract Attorney
Elise Aiken is an experienced litigator whose practice focuses mainly on complex civil litigation, including commercial disputes, intellectual property, real estate litigation, and appellate work. Elise is a contract attorney for Bridge to Justice, providing representation to clients in landlord-tenant disputes.
As a Colorado native, Elise received her A.B. from the University of Chicago and her J.D. from University of Colorado Law School. Following law school, Elise clerked for the Hon. Norman D. Haglund and the Hon. Karen L. Brody in the Second Judicial District of Colorado, Denver County. After developing her litigation practice for several years at another Boulder firm, she joined Kottke & Brantz as a partner in 2021. Elise enjoys finding client-driven solutions to legal problems, both inside and outside of the courtroom. When not working, Elise spends time enjoying Colorado with her husband and daughters.
Clerkships
Judge Karen L. Brody, Second Judicial District of Colorado, Denver County District Court (May 2014 – July 2016)
Judge Norman D. Haglund, Second Judicial District of Colorado, Denver County District Court (February 2012 – April 2014)
Education
A.B., University of Chicago, 2006
JD University of Colorado School of Law, 2011
Professional Affiliations/Recognition
Colorado Bar Association, Member
Women's Bar Association, Member
Admitted to the Colorado Bar in 2011
BreAnne Meyer, Paralegal/Intake Coordinator
BreAnne Meyer joined Bridge to Justice in July 2021. Before joining the team, she worked at a local domestic violence agency advocating for survivors of abuse in the civil, family, juvenile, immigration and criminal justice systems for 12 years. In that time, she provided court support, legal advocacy and legal information to hundreds of survivors, getting to know the many Boulder county justice systems and how they work together. She developed and implemented a program that provides attorneys to survivors and attended multiple advanced trainings on family law, domestic and sexual violence, child abuse, trauma informed care, strangulation, and best practices for survivors involved in the legal system. She is excited to bring her passion, experience and networking to Bridge to Justice as Paralegal/Intake Coordinator. When not assisting clients, she enjoys hiking, paddleboarding, making music and spending time with family.