Manuel J. Solano was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico and moved with his family to Colorado when he was 7. He attended Adams City High School. He then attended the University of Colorado for his Bachelor's degree and C.U. Law School for his Juris Doctorate. During law school, Manuel became an investigator for the Boulder Office of Human Rights which dealt with discrimination, landlord-tenant disputes, and minority-majority tensions.
Manuel worked part time doing trials in the Arvada Municipal Court for the Assistant City Attorney. He taught municipal law and evidence along with courtroom procedure in the criminal justice program at Metropolitan State College of Denver.

The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) hired Manuel as their Regional Director (1981-1986), where he worked in federal litigation, provided technical assistance to attorneys involved in Title VII cases, and implemented the Denver Metropolitan Leadership Development and Advocacy Program. Manuel also frequently conducted seminars for federal, state, and local agencies, private groups and corporations, and appeared on numerous radio and television shows, and held newspaper interviews.

Manuel has been in the private practice of law from 1985 to the present.

Professional Associations and Personal Background

Manuel was admitted to practice in Colorado (1976), and the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals (1983).

He is a member of the Colorado Bar Association, Adams County Bar Association, and Hispanic Bar Association. He was a past president of Hispanic Bar Association (1985) and past president of Hispanics for Opportunity (1991).

Member of the Board of Directors of Metropolitan Denver Legal Aide Society (1978 - 1985), Board of Directors, Community Corporation (1978 - 1984).

Elected to the Board of Directors of Colorado Trial Lawyers Association (2000 - 2006).

Board of Directors - Colorado Environmental Coalition (2006 - Present).

Appointed by Governor Roy Romer to the 17th Judicial Nominating Committee (1995 - 2001).

Colorado Real Estate Broker's License (1985 to present).

Appointed by the Colorado Supreme Court to a committee to revise the Public Defender Act (1979).

Appointed to the Human Relations Commission for the City of Boulder (1975).

Legislative Intern for State Senator Donald McManus (1973).

Married to State Representative Judy Solano, a retired teacher elected State Legislator. Manuel has four children: Ronald, Jonathon, Jennifer, and Lucas.