Tag Archives: Maryland

The Need For Discretion

Recently, in browsing a well-known local lawyer’s website, I found the following “News” article on their blog:

Attorney X convinced a [local] prosecutor to dismiss Armed Robbery charges, all felonies, and all gun charges, despite the defendant being caught nearly red-handed with a shotgun in his fleeing vehicle.

The defendant plead to Second Degree Assault, a misdemeanor, giving him a strong chance to avoid certain deportation that he would have faced with any felony or gun charge. He will be eligible for parole in one month.

While there may be some ethical concern over publicizing past successes without adequately informing potential clients that there is no guarantee of such success in any particular case, that is not my main concern. The biggest problem with this self-serving news article is that it may harm the client in the future. Continue reading

Opening Argument in Upcoming Eritrean Asylum Case Involving Jehovah’s Witness

I have an upcoming merits hearing in the Baltimore Immigration Court for a Jehovah’s Witness seeking asylum from Eritrea.  I plan to present an opening argument if the judge allows (not all do).  For those unfamiliar with Immigration Court, these are bench trials in the nature of evidentiary hearings before an administrative judge.  These hearings are usually just a few hours long, and there is a DHS ICE lawyer who will require the asylum-seeker to meet his or her burden of proof of eligibility.  I am posting my draft opening argument because it illustrates many of the reasons I am so proud to participate in the asylum process.  Asylum is truly an example of America’s greatness.  It will be something like the following:

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