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Reuben Kramer's monumental bronze sculpture of Justice Thurgood Marshall stands outside the U.S. Courthouse in Baltimore, the Justice's hometown.  In his early years as a private lawyer in Baltimore, Justice Marshall often represented the indigent.

Three criminal cases had a profound effect upon his development as a lawyer.  In 1936, he persuaded an all-white jury in Baltimore to acquit a weak-minded youngster on the charge of murder.  He successfully represented a criminal defense attorney charged with the "ethical violation" of maintaining that his client's conviction was tainted by racial prejudice.  And in 1935, James Gross, a young man whom Justice Marshall unsuccessfully represented on a murder charge, was hanged in the Maryland Penitentiary.

Fourth Circuit Updates

 
Summaries of opinions in criminal cases by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, prepared by FPD Staff Attorney Joanna Silver are now available here.

Fourth Circuit Updates:  2012

Fourth Circuit Updates:  2011

Fourth Circuit Updates:  2010

CJA Footnotes

     At the recent C.J.A. training program in Greenbelt Program in Greenbelt, participants were wowed by the presentation given by clinical psychologist Joette James entitled "Neuropsychology 101:  What every Defense Attorney Should Know."   By popular demand, Dr. James' Powerpoint Presentation is available for downloading and review by clicking here.  To view the presentation, you will need Microsoft Powerpoint or Powerpoint Viewer.

CJA Training Notes

   This Spring's Criminal Justice Act Training Program will be  held at the federal courthouse in Baltimore (Ceremonial Courtroom) on May 11th.  The agenda will include a "client's perspective" by Wilbert Rideau, author and award-winning journalist who spent forty-four years in Angola prison, a presentation on forensics, criminal history issues, and a "lessons learned" presentation on the successful defense in U.S. v. Currie, White, and Small.  The program will conclude with the presentation of the John Adams award.  
Disclaimer: The Office of the Federal Defender for the District of Maryland is providing the information on this web site as a public service. Information contained on this web site is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed. The Office of the Federal Defender does not endorse any linked site nor does it assume responsibility for the content found on those sites.