About Janene
Janene McCabe built her legal foundation through formal study and courtroom experience. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Illinois State University in 1993 and completed her Juris Doctor at the University of Denver in 2001. Those academic years preceded an early immersion in public defense work that shaped her approach to criminal law.
Her practical training began while still in law school. In 2000 she served as a certified legal intern at the Colorado State Public Defender’s office. The following year she joined the same office as a lawyer and later took on supervisory responsibilities. Those roles placed her in regular contact with trial work, plea negotiations and post-conviction proceedings. She worked on cases across the state and gained courtroom experience at both trial and appellate levels.
After nearly two decades of service in public defense, McCabe launched McCabe Law in 2019. The firm reflects the progression of her career from government advocate to private practice. At McCabe Law she continued to handle criminal matters, representing clients in state court and in proceedings before the Tenth Circuit. Her courtroom background informs case strategy and client counseling alike.
McCabe has engaged in professional associations that align with her practice. She has served on boards and held memberships in organizations tied to criminal defense. Since 2014 she has served on the board of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar. From 2014 through 2019 she participated with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and served on the board of the National Association for Public Defense during that same period. Her peers have recognized her work; she holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Colleagues describe McCabe as steady in court and attentive to the people she represents. Her years in the public defender’s office exposed her to a steady flow of serious felony cases as well as the smaller, day-to-day matters that shape a client’s life. She applies that perspective to case evaluation and trial preparation. Her practice includes trial work, motions practice and appeals, and she brings courtroom experience to each client's matter.
She practices in Colorado and is admitted to appear before the Tenth Circuit. In private practice at McCabe Law she handles criminal defense matters in state and federal forums and continues to represent clients in trials and appeals as part of her current practice focus.
