People v. Martin.
No. 26PDJ6. 4/2/2026. Stipulation to Discipline.
June 1, 2026
The Presiding Disciplinary Judge approved the parties’ stipulation to discipline and suspended Donald Bennett Martin (attorney registration number 22347) for six months, all to be stayed upon Martin’s successful completion of a two-year period of probation, with conditions. The probation was effective on April 2, 2026.
Since 2023, Martin has been affiliated with the Colorado Center for Life and Justice (CCLJ), an organization that specializes in immigration law. He is the only Colorado-licensed lawyer at CCLJ. In March 2025, the Denver District Attorney’s Office received a letter from Barbara Diaz, a paralegal with CCLJ. The letter purported to be a U Visa certification request for an individual. The letter discussed legal principles, explained how a U Visa was a viable option in the individual’s case, and discussed the facts of the case. Diaz signed the letter, but no lawyer signed it. Martin was responsible for supervising Diaz in creating the letter. Martin acknowledged that the letter communicated CCLJ was acting in a representative capacity and providing legal analysis or making legal argument, and that Diaz should not have signed the letter.
In addition, Martin allowed Douglas Romero, a disbarred lawyer, to handle CCLJ client money and cash and make deposits at the bank on at least three occasions. Romero performs paralegal and administrative work at CCLJ.
Through this conduct, Martin violated Colo. RPC 5.3(b) (a lawyer with direct supervisory authority over a nonlawyer employee must make reasonable efforts to ensure that the employee’s conduct is compatible with the lawyer’s professional obligations); Colo. RPC 5.5(a)(3) (a lawyer must not assist a person in the performance of the unauthorized practice of law); and Colo. RPC 5.5(b)(6) (a lawyer must not allow a person the lawyer knows or reasonably should know is disbarred, suspended, or on disability inactive status to receive, disburse, or otherwise handle client funds).