Active Ally: Michael Dougherty
This year, at YWCA Boulder County’s Better Because of Her Luncheon, we are honored to award District Attorney Michael Dougherty with our Active Ally award.
The Active Ally Award celebrates people who turn allyship into action by advancing justice, dignity, and opportunity across our community. Active Allies model how people of all genders can help build systems rooted in trust, accountability, and belonging to make space for women, girls and all communities to thrive. Michael Dougherty’s commitment to justice, community partnership, and equity makes him a strong embodiment of what this award represents.
Michael Dougherty has served as Boulder County’s District Attorney since 2018, bringing with him more than a decade of experience from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, where he spent 13 years as a prosecutor. Raised in Brooklyn as the grandson of Irish immigrants, his background shaped his understanding of opportunity, fairness, and the challenges many communities face in accessing justice. From early on, he knew he wanted to pursue a career in law to serve others and strengthen the communities around him.
In Boulder County, Dougherty has led with a focus on both accountability and compassion. In 2018, he launched Colorado’s first Hate Crimes Initiative, setting a new standard for how these cases are handled through stronger training, improved response, and deeper community partnerships. He has worked closely with LGBTQ+ leaders and other communities across the Front Range to rebuild trust in the justice system and ensure that people feel safe coming forward. His office also became one of the first in the state to examine racial inequities within the justice system and implement internal diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
His approach to justice goes beyond prosecution. Dougherty created a Mental Health Diversion Program that focuses on treatment and early intervention to reduce repeat offenses. He also established a Human Trafficking Unit and launched Colorado’s first Domestic Violence Acute Response Team to better support victims. Understanding the fear many immigrant families experience, he implemented policies to protect immigrant communities, including an immigrant protection program and a commitment that his office does not report immigration status to the federal government.
Currently campaigning for Attorney General, Dougherty hopes to expand many of these efforts statewide, including the Hate Crimes Initiative, so that all communities in Colorado are protected and supported. He is also a husband of more than 20 years, a father of twins, and an ultra runner. His leadership reflects a steady commitment to service and a belief that a stronger justice system is one that works for everyone.
Join us in honoring Michael Dougherty at the Better Because of Her Luncheon on April 16. https://www.ywcaboulder.org/events-feed/luncheon