John F. Banzhaf III, an activist law professor who called last month for the disbarment of Baltimore’s State Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby for mishandling the prosecution of six police officers in the death of Freddie Gray, is now setting his sights on Mosby’s two deputies, who argued the cases in court.
Banzhaf, a George Washington University law professor who the Baltimore Sun reports is “known for filing lawsuits in high-profile court cases,” filed his first complaint with the Maryland Attorney Grievance Commission in June. He alleges that Mosby filed charges against the officers that she knew were not supported by probable cause. He also attests that Mosby should have “reassessed her prosecution” after each of Circuit Court Judge Barry G. Williams’ rulings and highlights the prosecution’s discovery errors. Banzhaf said he plans to file a complaint recommending disbarment for Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Michael Schatzow and Deputy State’s Attorney Janice Bledsoe on Tuesday, stating that either deputy’s argument that they were “just following orders” would be “no defense in a disbarment proceeding.”
The professor told the Sun that his new complaints are based in part on Judge William’s third acquittal of an officer involved in the Freddie Gray case — this time of Lt. Brian Rice, the highest ranking officer involved in the killing. Williams previously acquitted two other officers of all charges: Edward Nero in May, and Caesar Goodson Jr. in June. Trials for Officer Garrett Miller and Sgt. Alicia White are set for later this month. Officer William Porter, who had a mistrial in December, will be retried in September.
(via Baltimore Sun)