Current Events > Judge gave drug dealer a 2nd chance. Swears him in as a lawyer 16 years later.

(+) Yeah! (+)

At first glance, Edward Martell, a 27-year-old high school dropout with an extensive arrest record might not have seemed a prime candidate for rehabilitation, but when he was facing a 20-year drug conviction, instead of meting out the maximum sentence, presiding judge Bruce Morrow gave Martell probationand a challenge.

Morrow told Martell the next time he stepped into the courtroom, he expected him to have made something of himselfsomething big.

He said, I challenge you to be a CEO of a Fortune 500 company instead of being out here selling drugs, Martell told Deadline Detroit. And I love a challenge.

It was kind of in jest, Morrow recalled in an interview with The Washington Post, but he understood I believed he could be anything he wanted to be.

Fast forward 16 years and Martell is standing in front of Judge Morrow againonly this time, hes being sworn in as an attorney after passing the Michigan state bar. While the outcome is sweet, Martells path wasnt easy or assured.

Since there was a very real possibility that his prior criminal record might scuttle his future plans, as he was completing his GED, Martells guidance counselors discouraged him from pursuing a legal career. But he refused to give up.

After obtaining his associates degree, Martell went on to score scholarships for both his undergraduate studies and law school. He then clerked at the District of Columbias Federal Public Defenders office, and eventually was hired by the Perkins Law Group as a researcher and writer.

When it came time to take the bar exam, Martell had plenty of supporters in his cornerincluding Judge Morrow, with whom hed kept touch over the years.

With the help of his law firm mentors, Martell submitted a 1,200-plus page application detailing the steps hed taken to turn his life around.

The main thing they look for is candor. I let them know I am remorsefulthat Im downright embarrassed, Martell told WAPO. I am the same person, but I dont think like that anymore. Ive evolved.

His approval took only 15 minutes. The seeds of a dream hed planted had finally come to fruition. Martell still has a job with the Perkins Group, only now, hell be a practicing attorney rather than a researcherand all because one man was willing to take a chance and made a challenge Martell couldnt walk away from.

Its a crazy clich, but some defendants, thats what they need, Morrow told DD. If you believe like I believe, that there but for the grace of God go you and me It took some intelligence to get in and out of the kind of trouble he got into. I told him, You could be my son. Lets see how far you can go. And man, he hasnt finished yet.

Full Article: https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/a-judge-gave-a-drug-dealer-chance-now-edward-martell-lawyer/


This is the Breaking Bad good ending for Jesse if you found all of the secret rocks for Hank's collection.

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:)

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from drug dealer to lawyer. that's quite a character arc!

ZevLoveDOOM posted...

from drug dealer to lawyer. that's quite a character arc!

He's a cool guy

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Ol Slippin Jimmy up to his tricks again, eh?

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i gotta get on this drug dealing shit so i could turn my life around

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I support this kind of thing and it brings a big smile to my face to see that the man turned his life around for the better.

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I would give a drug dealer a second chance... for the right price >:)

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masticatingman posted...

Ol Slippin Jimmy up to his tricks again, eh?

He defecated through a sunroof!

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Nukazie posted...

i gotta get on this drug dealing shit so i could turn my life around

Made me laugh.

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Yes I fully believe in reformation - of course murders, rapist, etc are excluded from this.

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wide peepo happy

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UnfairRepresent posted...

This is the Breaking Bad good ending for Jesse if you found all of the secret rocks for Hank's collection.

Dammit UR, they're minerals!

Good to see stories like this once in a while

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https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2020/08/12/wayne-county-judge-accused-of-making-inappropriate-comments-to-prosecutors-attorneys/

that judge is shady af. bet he is corrupt

dude literally wears two earings on the one ear, wtf.

depends on the drugs he dealt and who he dealt it to.

dealing drugs to kids? no second chances
dealing krokodil to anyone? be happy you aren't getting capital punishment

good on the both of them.

for the judge for seeing something in the guy, and giving him another chance.

and for the former drug dealer, for putting in the time and effort to turn his life around.

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g0ldie posted...

good on the both of them.

for the judge for seeing something in the guy, and giving him another chance.

and for the former drug dealer, for putting in the time and effort to turn his life around.

:)

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