Accountability Is Working
The past three weeks have been extraordinary here at Towards Justice. Together with our clients and co-counsel, we won three major cases that protect workers, incarcerated people, and consumers across Colorado and nationwide. These victories, which span the United States Supreme Court, the Colorado Court of Appeals, and a Denver district court, reinforce a simple principle: powerful institutions must follow the law. Here’s what happened.
1. U.S. Supreme Court: Private Prison Corporations Don’t Get a Free Pass
Last week, our long-running case against the GEO Group on behalf of immigration detainees forced to work for little or no pay had a major victory when the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that GEO Group cannot dodge accountability by claiming it shares the government’s immunity. The Court unanimously rejected GEO’s attempt to shut the case down before trial, holding that private contractors must defend themselves in court like anyone else.
It’s a critical step forward for our case and a major victory for accountability on the part of government contractors nationwide.
2. Colorado Court: Prison Labor System Uses Coercion
In a landmark decision on February 13th, the Denver District Court ruled that the Colorado Department of Corrections enforces mandatory labor through coercive tactics that constitute involuntary servitude in violation of the state constitution. Colorado voters abolished involuntary servitude, including in prisons, in 2018. After a 6-day trial in October 2025, the Court held that our clients, a class of incarcerated people subject to CDOC’s mandatory work requirement, had been forced into involuntary servitude by a system of punishments and consequences including isolation for up to 23 hours a day, increased custody levels, and delayed release dates – all of which contribute to a coercive environment that compels compliance.
This ruling affirms that constitutional protections don’t stop at the prison gate.
3. Colorado Court of Appeals: Debt Collectors Must Follow the Rules
This past Thursday, the Colorado Court of Appeals decided that our clients can move forward with their case challenging medical debt collection practices levied against patients of UCHealth by Credit Service Company, Inc. In short, debt collectors can’t sidestep transparency requirements while claiming full ownership when it suits them.
The case will now move forward.
Three weeks. Three wins. Real change.
These cases show what strategic litigation can do: protect vulnerable communities, enforce the Constitution, and ensure that corporations and government agencies play by the rules. Together with incredible clients and co-counsel, Towards Justice is proud to be leading these fights — and we’re just getting started.