Susan was born and raised in Colorado Springs, graduating with honors from Palmer High School. She went on to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder, graduating with a B.A. in anthropology, cum laude and a member of the academic honor society Phi Beta Kappa.
Following in her father, Jim Chadderdon’s footsteps, Susan decided to pursue a career in the legal field. She attended California Western School of Law in San Diego where she focused on criminal and immigration law.
After the death of her father, Susan returned to Colorado Springs and accepted a position as a Deputy District Attorney with the Fourth Judicial District. Susan excelled at aggressive litigation and trial work, and quickly was moved to the elite Special Victims Unit where she prosecuted sexual assault cases with child and adult victims, felony level domestic violence, felony level child abuse and homicide cases. Susan developed a reputation as a fierce trial attorney and routinely did more trials than any other attorney in the office. Susan also led a federal grant position funded by the Office of Violence Against Women, where she transformed the office’s approach and handling of sexual assault cases with adult victims.
Through her time as a prosecutor, Susan saw first hand how serious, and often times devastating, an impact the criminal legal system can have on a person’s life. Susan understands people make mistakes, and because of her experience she is uniquely qualified and skilled at handling cases when people’s liberty is at stake. Susan now continues to be an aggressive litigator and trial attorney representing victims, police officers, and people who unfortunately find themselves facing criminal charges.
