Meet Phil
As your Attorney General, I will continue to advance the rule of law, protect our democracy, and promote justice for all. I will continue to defend and protect every Coloradan.
Phil Weiser was sworn in as Colorado’s 39th Attorney General on January 8, 2019. While serving as the state’s chief legal officer, Attorney General Weiser, or Phil as he is known to most, is committed to protecting the people of Colorado using an innovative mindset to address a range of statewide challenges.
As Attorney General
Phil has defended the Affordable Care Act and the rights of 700,000 Coloradans who have pre-existing health conditions, the 400,000 covered through the Medicaid expansion, and those under 26 years old who are on their parents’ plans. When these rights were challenged by the federal government, Phil defended the Affordable Care Act and Coloradans’ healthcare rights.
Phil has protected election integrity in the historic, unanimous victory of Colorado Department of State vs Baca, in which he argued before the U.S. Supreme Court that presidential electors must follow state law when they cast their Electoral College ballots in presidential elections and not act as free agents. This past election cycle, Phil ensured state laws were followed, so that everyone could safely cast their ballot, by pushing back on those that would intimidate other voters at the polls.
Phil has led efforts to combat the opioid epidemic, including a $573 million settlement with McKinsey & Company for its role in helping opioid companies sell their drugs. Phil also expanded the multi-state lawsuit against Purdue Pharma, fighting to hold the Sackler family accountable and force them to pay a fair share as part of any settlement. All funds obtained are directed to Colorado drug treatment and recovery or education and prevention programs.
Phil has revitalized consumer protections, including leadership efforts in active lawsuits against Google and Facebook for their anticompetitive practices that harm consumers and holding CenturyLink responsible, to the tune of $8.4 million, for deceiving customers in Colorado.
A Life in Public Service
Phil has dedicated his life to the law, justice, and public service. He has held roles as an attorney protecting consumers, as a senior official at the Department of Justice, and as an educator training future lawyers. As Dean of the University of Colorado Law School, and founder of the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship and co-chair of the Colorado Innovation Council, Phil collaborated with Coloradans from across the state and gained a deep understanding of pressing issues—from broadband access to health care to predatory student debt companies to water rights and agricultural interests—that allow him to protect Coloradans as Attorney General.
Phil served as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the U.S. Department of Justice and as Senior Advisor for Technology and Innovation in the White House’s National Economic Council. He also served on President Obama’s Transition Team overseeing the Federal Trade Commission, and served in the U.S. Department of Justice as Senior Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division, advising on telecommunications matters.
Upon graduating from law school, Phil served as a law clerk to Justices Byron R. White and Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the United States Supreme Court and to Judge David Ebel at the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver. All three served as role models and continue to inspire Phil’s work in public service.
The son and grandson of Holocaust survivors, Phil is inspired by his family’s story of survival and resilience and weaves their lesson of hope into working toward a better future.
This background drives his desire to stand up for what is right and fuels his commitment to ensuring opportunity for all Coloradans. Phil lives in Denver with his wife, Dr. Heidi Wald, and their two children.