Stu Gillespie

Supervising Senior Attorney Rocky Mountain Office

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Media Inquiries

Perry Wheeler
Public Affairs and Communications Strategist
(202) 792-6211
pwheeler@earthjustice.org

Bar Admissions

CO

Stu Gillespie is a supervising senior attorney with Earthjustice’s Rocky Mountain office in Denver, Colorado. His practice focuses on protecting our public lands and wildlife, while ensuring clean water for all. Prior to joining Earthjustice, Stu was a trial attorney with the Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division, where he represented the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and other agencies in a variety of public lands cases.

At Earthjustice, Stu has successfully represented Tribal clients in their efforts to prevent hard-rock mining and the rollback of Clean Water Act protections. He also halted a large-scale development that threatened to dry up the San Pedro River — one of the last free-flowing rivers in the southwest and a crucial migratory corridor for millions of songbirds. While at the Department of Justice, he helped defeat an attack on BLM’s authority to protect spotted owl habitat in the western Oregon’s old-growth forests.

A distinguished graduate of Harvard University and the University of Colorado Law School, Stu clerked for the Colorado Supreme Court and then the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico. Prior to pursuing a law career, Stu was a professional cyclist in Girona, Spain from 2004–06 as a member of the Slipstream Cycling Team. He still loves riding and frequently commutes to work by bike. Nowadays, he enjoys trying to keep up with his three young kids, who share his passion for riding and exploring wild places.

The Latest from Stu Gillespie

May 8, 2024

In the News: The Salt Lake Tribune

Bear River pipeline no longer an option to aid in northern Utah growth

“Until Utah gets serious about addressing upstream water diversions, the lake and all that depends on it will remain at risk,”
January 28, 2024

In the News: The Denver Post

After the Supreme Court gutted federal protections for half of Colorado’s waters, can state leaders fill the gap?

“Clean water is one of those things we take for granted, and you don’t really notice until you don’t have it.”
September 7, 2023

In the News: Grist

Environmentalists sue Utah for failing to protect the shrinking Great Salt Lake

“The public trust is being increasingly called upon to address this crisis, and it’s up to the courts to enforce it.”
April 21, 2021

In the News: E&E News

About-face: Army Corps to consult with tribes on WOTUS

"It is further proof that the Trump administration's abrupt decision to forgo any consultation with the tribes on the Rosemont mine [jurisdictional determination] was not just unlawful, but based on irresponsible and indefensible policy. The corps must own up to this error by revoking the Rosemont JD and consulting with the tribes before undertaking any action."
April 1, 2021

In the News: E&E News

Army Corps taps Trump rule, stiff-arms tribe on Ariz. mine

"It's as if the government is playing two different tunes."