11: Chapter 11 | Prosecutorial Vicarious Trauma with The Honorable Michael J. Rourke

Survivor's Guide to True Crime

After a long commute from his living room to his wife's office down the hall, Weld County District Attorney Michael J. Rourke joins Kim and Kara for a conversation about his career as a prosecutor. Better known on the podcast as "Kim's husband", Mike has been a prosecutor in Colorado for the past 25 years. A review of his highest profile cases and the moment he realized vicarious trauma had become a very real part of his life, reveal a much-needed perspective for true crime consumers.

Michael J. Rourke is the elected District Attorney for the 19th Judicial District in Weld
County Colorado. He was first appointed District Attorney in 2015, and has been reelected twice, most recently in 2020. Michael is a lifelong resident of Colorado, attending Chatfield High School, the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of Denver College of Law. His is a career prosecutor starting in 1997 in the 18th Judicial District before moving to Weld County in 2005.
Over the course of his career, Michael has prosecuted numerous high-profile cases, including first degree murder, sexual assault, crimes against children and crimes of violence. Michael has received several prestigious awards during his career, including the Colorado District Attorney’s Council Robert R. Gallagher Prosecutor of the Year and the Criminal Justice Award from the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance. He is a nationally recognized speaker, having presented for Ending Violence Against Women International, the International Homicide Investigators Association, and the Colorado District Attorney’s Council.
Michael is the Colorado State Director to the National District Attorneys Association Board of Directors, and is past president and current member of the Colorado District Attorney’s Council Governing Board.
Michael is a proud husband to his wife Kimberly and their four children. A Weld County resident, Michael is an active member of the community, having served on numerous community boards and commissions.

Learn more from Michael:
Website: https://www.weldda.com/District-Attorney
Instagram: @mrourkeda
Facebook: @WeldCountyDA

Michael's CTA: Love "true crime"? Get involved and help victims at a local level. Join your local law enforcement agency, prosecutor's office, or community crisis resource center as an advocate.
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The theme music used in Survivor’s Guide to True Crime is Uplifting Motivational Stomp by MarcusWay