Miller Farmer Carlson Law largely focuses on education and was founded by attorney Brad Miller. Miller has worked with the Alliance Defending Freedom (or ADF), an organization designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group due to their involvement anti-LGBTQ litigation. The ADF previously argued for a Catholic charter school in Oklahoma to be publicly funded in front of the Supreme Court. In an email obtained by Chalkbeat Colorado, Miller stated that the ADF asked him if he could find a parallel case to be initiated in Colorado. That request appears to have led to the founding of Riverstone Academy, a Christian school opened by an education cooperative also overseen by Miller.
This history has drawn concerns from Montrose residents, who fear that Miller may have an agenda to weaken the separation of Church and state in education, and could place that over the needs of students. During public comment, community members raised concerns about Miller getting the school district involved in costly litigation.
During the meeting the board called Bryce Carlson, one of the firm’s attorneys, to ask about some of the allegations against his firm. He claimed that he does not have a policy agenda for the board.
In the lead-up to this decision, parents also expressed concerned about the influence Miller has had over the Woodland Park School District, which he also represents. In 2023, Woodland Park became the first school district in the country to adopt the American Birthright social studies standards. The state board had previously rejected the standards, which were created and championed by conservative ideological groups. The Colorado Times Recorder obtained recordings in which Miller confirmed that a network of conservative think tanks played a prominent role in Woodland Park adopting the curriculum.
Miller Farmer Carlson law is also facing a criminal complaint. The Montrose DailyPress reports that the complaint, which was filed on Feb. 22, accuses Pueblo County School District 70 Board of Education Director Anne Ochs of fast-tracking Riverstone’s approval in exchange for a high-salary job with Miller’s education company. Bryce Carlson denied any knowledge of the accusation, saying, “I can just tell you, from my perspective, I’m not aware that our office has been contacted by anyone. I’m not aware that we’ve been contacted by the Attorney General’s Office, I don’t believe we have, and like I said a moment ago, I think any accusation that there’s been some sort of quid pro quo involving our law firm would be groundless.”
Board member Tiffany Vincent stated that staff members felt too intimidated to speak out in support of Miller’s firm, saying, “I’ve had district employees contact me, and strangely enough by alternative means because they’re too scared to contact me through my district email”
Miller Farmer Carlson’s experience representing charter schools was also lauded by board members during the meeting. Notably, a charter school was voted down by last year’s school board. But after conservative candidates won all four open seats, the proposal was brought forth again and approved by the current board. Miller does not appear to have any overt ties with the school, Montrose Classical Academy, and it is not a religious school.
