Mr. Earnest joined the Judge Advocate General's Corps serving as staff judge advocate at Fitzsimons Hospital in Aurora after graduating from the University of Colorado with a bachelor's degree in 1960 and a J.D. in 1963.  While in law school, he authored articles for the Law Review.  Following service in the military, Mr. Earnest served as chief trial deputy prosecutor in the Boulder district attorney's office and later as an assistant Boulder municipal judge.

Mr. Earnest's practice has emphasized general corporate, business associations, real estate, foundations, banking and healthcare law.  The acquisition of Boulder Memorial Hospital by Boulder Community Hospital, the first Colorado branch bank acquisition and the formation of the state's largest captive insurance company have been among Mr. Earnest's significant projects.  More recently, he has participated in the corporate reorganization and funding vehicles for a metropolitan area healthcare facility; creation of an integrated delivery system comprising eight professional healthcare corporations, as well as a management service organization; co-counseling the defense of seven Denver metropolitan hospitals in federal anti-trust proceedings and participating in the defense of the University of Colorado's Foundation in anti-trust litigation in the U.S. District Court in west Texas.

Mr. Earnest has served as a presenter on real estate and related legal matters for Continuing Legal Education in Colorado, Inc., the Colorado Bar's real estate section and regularly presents on real estate brokerage risk reduction, current legislative enactments, court opinions and regulations of the Colorado Real Estate Commission to Realtor associations and related organizations.

Mr. Earnest has served as president of the Boulder County Bar Association and two times as a member of the Board of Governors of the Colorado Bar Association.  He has also been a member of the board of directors of First National Bank in Boulder, Arapahoe National Bank, Bank One-Boulder, N.A. and currently serves on Wells Fargo's community board.  Mr. Earnest has served numerous charitable and civic organizations, including chairman of the board of Rocky Mountain PBS, KRMA-TV Channel Six.  He has served as president of the University of Colorado Associated Alumni, president of the Boulder Rotary Club and as campaign chairman for Boulder County United Way.  He recently completed a six year term on the 20th Judicial District Nominating Committee and was named by The University of Colorado School of Law as its distinguished graduate in private practice for the year 2002.  Mr. Earnest's practice has emphasized real estate, banking, insurance, hospital and healthcare law.

Mr. Earnest has been admitted to practice in Colorado, the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit.

Published Works:

Equal-Time Provisions: Has Broadcasting Come of Age?, University of Colorado Law Review

Implications of Velten vs. Robertson vs. Zimmerman on Buyer, The Colorado Lawyer, April, 1984

Agency by Surprise, The Colorado Lawyer, July, 1986

Representative Cases:

Colorado Chiropractic Council v. Porter Memorial Hosp., 650 F.Supp. 231 (D.Colo. 1986)

Classes/Seminars Taught:

Presenter on Real Estate and Related Legal Matters, Continuing Legal Education in Colorado, Inc.

Honors and Awards:

University of Colorado Alumni Recognition Medal

University of Colorado Community Service Award

Army Commendation Medal

Education:

University of Colorado School of Law, Boulder, Colorado, 1963
J.D.
Law Review: University of Colorado Law Review
University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, 1960
Bachelor's Degree
Honors: Blue Key

Professional Associations and Memberships:

Boulder County Bar Association, President
Colorado Bar Association, Member, Board of Governors
First National Bank in Boulder, Member, Board of Directors
Arapahoe National Bank and Bank One-Boulder, Member, Board of Directors
Rocky Mountain PBS, KRMA-TV Channel Six, Chairman of the Board
University of Colorado Associated Alumni, President
Boulder Rotary Club, President
Boulder County United Way, Campaign Chairman
20th Judicial District Nominating Committee and recently was named by the University of Colorado School of Law, 2002

Past Employment Positions:

Judge Advocate General's Corps at Fitzsimons Hospital in Aurora, Staff Judge Advocate
Boulder District Attorney's Office, Chief Trial Deputy Prosecutor
Boulder District Attorney's Office, Boulder Municipal Judge