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Daniel Schendzielos
J.D., Ph.D.
Trial Lawyers & Legal Services of Colorado, LLC.
30+ Years Experience
Specialties:
About:
Daniel J. Schendzielos, J.D., Ph.D., is an American attorney, author, legal educator, and aviator whose work addresses artificial-intelligence governance, professional responsibility, aviation, and theology. He earned his Ph.D. from Kennedy University on May 28, 2026, with a specialization in aviation law, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. His books include Delegated Cognition — Second Edition Revised, The Gift of Intelligence, The Synthetic Neighbor, and The Christian AI Trilogy. Featured book: The Synthetic Neighbor. His writing develops Delegated Cognition, Retained Command, and Retained Presence as frameworks for preserving human judgment and responsibility in the use of artificial intelligence. A resident of Colorado since 1975, he did his undergraduate work at Regis University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Aviation Management (Magna Cum Laude). An Airline Transport Pilot, he has been flying for over 50 years. He went on to receive his law degree from the University of Denver College of Law in 1991. He was admitted to the Colorado State Bar in 1993. In 1993, he established the predecessor to Trial Lawyers & Legal Services of Colorado, LLC. Dr. Schendzielos is also the Academic Director and founding faculty lead of Lawnova Academy (lawnova.org), where he trains legal professionals in practical AI fluency for research, drafting, trial preparation, and firm operations. Mr. Schendzielos is both a Colorado civil and criminal defense attorney, he has handled or been involved in over 1000 cases.
Philosophy:
Attorney Schendzielos believes that criminal defense is the supreme calling of the legal profession. Nothing is more important to our citizens than their liberty. With this knowledge and the passion and determination of a true trial lawyer, he prefers always to fight for his clients' rights and freedom, standing by his maxim 'Do NOT just plead guilty.'
Education:
- • Ph.D. - Kennedy University, conferred May 28, 2026 — Specialization in Aviation Law, Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems. Author of doctoral dissertation: Delegated Cognition — Legal Authority, Responsibility, and Command in the Age of Autonomous Systems: An Aviation Law Framework for Artificial Intelligence Governance
- • Juris Doctor - University of Denver College of Law, 1991
- • Bachelor of Arts in Aviation Management (Magna Cum Laude) - Regis University Denver, 1987
Professional History:
- • Trial Lawyers & Legal Services of Co., LLC., Partner
- • Cisneros & Schendzielos, LLC.
- • Schendzielos & Associates, LLC., Attorney, 1993 – Present
- • Adjunct Professor of Law DU Sturm College of Law 1999 –
- • 20 years partnered with Honorable District Judge Roger Cisneros † - decd.
Court Admissions:
- • Colorado Supreme Court, 1993
- • Colorado Courts of Appeal
- • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado, 1993
- • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
- • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- • U.S. Supreme Court, 1994
- • U.S. Tax Court
- • Arizona Federal Court
- • Eastern District Federal District Court of Wisconsin
Memberships:
- • Criminal Defense Bar Association (Past)
- • Phi Delta Phi
Achievements:
- • Handled over 1000 cases
- • Expert witness in numerous court cases
- • Respected Denver DUI/DWAI attorney
- • Partnered with former Colorado District Court Judge for 20 years
- • Founder & Academic Director of Lawnova Academy (lawnova.org)
- • Recognized by the Colorado Supreme Court for pro bono service under RPC 6.1
Delegated Cognition — Second Edition Revised
Legal Authority, Responsibility, and Command in the Age of Autonomous Systems
Principal / Current Publication
DELEGATED COGNITION — Second Edition Revised
ISBN 978-0-557-92046-4
Daniel J. Schendzielos, J.D., Ph.D.
ISNI 0000 0005 3093 2973
Developed from the author's doctoral research into delegated cognition, autonomous systems, legal authority, responsibility, and command, Delegated Cognition — Second Edition Revised examines the transfer of cognitive functions from human professionals to artificial-intelligence systems and the legal, ethical, and professional consequences of that transfer.
The work develops Delegated Cognition / Cognitive Delegation as a framework for understanding artificial intelligence, human judgment, professional responsibility, AI governance, autonomous systems, aviation safety, legal decision-making, and human-machine collaboration.
An aviation law framework for artificial intelligence governance. This scholarly work examines how command, responsibility, and legal authority shift when human operators delegate decisions to autonomous systems — a timely and rigorous exploration of AI governance from an aviation and legal perspective.
Lulu Bookstore Category
Law
BISAC Main Category
LAW / Air & Space
BISAC Category 2
TRANSPORTATION / Aviation / General
Audience
Professional & Scholarly — Adult research
Historical Bibliographic Record
Earlier edition — Cognitive Delegation, ISBN 978-0-557-99818-0. Superseded by the Second Edition Revised, ISBN 978-0-557-92046-4.
Additional Works by Daniel J. Schendzielos, J.D., Ph.D.
The Gift of Intelligence, The Synthetic Neighbor, and The Christian AI Trilogy. His writing develops Delegated Cognition, Retained Command, and Retained Presence as frameworks for preserving human judgment and responsibility in the use of artificial intelligence.
Colorado Supreme Court Pro Bono Recognition
The Colorado Supreme Court, implementing Rule of Professional Conduct 6.1 (RPC 6.1), recognizes attorneys, law firms, and legal groups that commit to the annual goal of providing 50 hours of pro bono legal services. A substantial majority of that service is directed to persons of limited means and to organizations serving those communities.
Daniel Schendzielos has been recognized for meeting this commitment, reflecting the firm's long-standing belief that quality legal representation should be accessible to those who need it most.
View Pro Bono Recognition ProgramFounder of Lawnova Academy
Daniel J. Schendzielos, J.D., Ph.D., is the Academic Director and founding faculty lead of Lawnova Academy (lawnova.org), a fully online certificate academy built for modern legal practice. Lawnova Academy trains attorneys, paralegals, and legal professionals in practical AI fluency — from research and drafting to trial preparation and firm operations — through supervised, skills-based labs and live faculty review.
As Lead Faculty for Trial Practice, Professional Responsibility & AI Governance, Dr. Schendzielos personally teaches the academy's cohorts, conducts final oral defenses, and guides the academy's work on legal method, AI systems, and responsible-use oversight. His doctoral research in delegated cognition, autonomous systems, and aviation law governance underpins Lawnova's approach to keeping attorneys accountable while leveraging AI in legal work.
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