Effective April 12, 2010, Stephen Mercer will become the Chief of the Forensics Division for the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, and will no longer be engaged in the private practice of law. Inquiries for Mr. Mercer may be directed to William G. McLain IV, Esq., at (301) 637-5775.

 

Why SBMlaw for your case?

To Win 

A criminal defendant has less than one chance out of four (on average) of winning at trial or reversing a conviction through a direct appeal.  To maximize the chance that you will be one of the select few who are successful, SBMlaw accepts a limited number of clients and approaches each case with a deep commitment to the client’s cause.

SBMlaw Appeals

The SBMlaw process for appeals is to:

  • Learn the case backward and forward;
  • Follow cases pending in the Maryland appellate courts (many an appeal is predestinated by decisions or results in intervening cases);
  • Strip the record to its most important parts;
  • Review every available discovery document from trial and every available record document on appeal – including the actual court file in Annapolis;
  • Meet the client in person wherever he may be incarcerated in Maryland;
  • Consult with trial counsel to gain additional insight into the record and whether anything of substance occurred “off” the record;
  • Draft the brief with the twin purposes of emphasizing that the case is important and the result below wrong; and
  • Never waive oral argument or submit an appeal on brief.

SBMlaw Trials 

The SBMlaw process for trial work is to:

  • Learn the facts of the case from every available perspective;
  • Anticipate the judge, prosecutor and local procedure;
  • Know the applicable law and follow developing trends in the appellate courts, prosecutor’s offices and police departments;
  • Investigate and develop every aspect of the record;
  • Do not assume anything, from the conclusions in a drug report to the credentials of a prosecution expert;
  • Litigate pretrial suppression motions;
  • Protect the record for appeal; and
  • See the case through the eyes of the jury.

SBMlaw Style for Appellate Briefs and Trial Court Motions 

In sum, as Justice Story gave counsel:

  • Be brief, be pointed;
  • Lucid in style and order;
  • Spend no words on trifles;
  • Condense;
  • Strike but a few blows, strike them to the heart; Scattered fires smother in smoke and noise;
  • Keep this your main guide;
  • Short be your speech, your matter strong and clear; and
  • Leave off, leave off when done.

 

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