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Three Cases Dismissed In Three Weeks!
In the past two months, lawyers at Murell Law have successfully advocated to have five criminal cases dismissed across three different Louisiana jurisdictions. In one of these cases, our client was charged almost four years ago and had these charges hanging over her head, keeping her from moving on with her life. Within ten days of enrolling, the case was dismissed by the district attorney of that parish.
Though we certainly can't guarantee results like these in every circumstance, these outcomes are only possible with litigators who are relentless and will fight for you.
We are ringing in the new year by celebrating *just a few* of our highlights from 2024!
- We secured an acquittal on murder and obstruction charges in the 19th JDC.
- We secured an acquittal in the first encampment protestor trial in the country.
- We suppressed clients' statements/confessions, successfully argued for judges to find no probable cause, and won motions to quash-- resulting in charges being dropped.
- We secured the maximum amount of compensation available under Louisiana law for our client who was wrongfully convicted, and represented three wrongfully convicted clients in federal court, overcoming motions to dismiss.
- We settled multiple civil rights cases for amounts much higher than the regional average and for cases that most other attorneys would never have taken.
- In one of our civil rights cases, the officer who killed our client's loved one was indicted on multiple counts of murder following our investigation and filing.
- We got multiples cases and charges dropped or dismissed, secured downward variances in the majority of our federal sentencings, and obtained numerous favorable pleas in state court.
- We repped a dozen kids all over Louisiana on adult criminal matters, sparing them decades of time in adult prisons and advocating for them in courtrooms across many parishes. These are just a few highlights from our small but mighty team of two attorneys.
Thank you to every single person who trusts us with your legal matter, and to every lawyer and advocate who partners with us in this work. It's our honor to work with you and for you.
Murell Law Representing 11-year-old charged in murder case pro-bono
An 11-year-old boy in Minden, Louisiana has been charged with two counts of murder. Prosecuting a child this young is exceptionally rare, even in a State with some of the most draconian juvenile sentencing laws in the country. Attorneys from Murell Law have enrolled on behalf of the child, in a case that will require extensive investigation, experts, and substantial other costs.
The circumstances of this case make this prosecution even more outrageous. One of the people killed was former interim mayor, deputy marshal, and well-known figure Joe Cornelius, Sr. He was our client’s grandfather. The District Attorney’s Office and local media lauded Cornelius’ life, while characterizing the 11- year-old child as "wicked."
However, People Magazine recently released audio and video providing crucial context to this story. Cornelius Sr. admits to sexually abusing and molesting his daughter—Keisha Miles, our client’s mother—throughout her entire life. Though she previously reported these abhorrent crimes to law enforcement, she was ignored because of Cornelius’ clout in the community, including working in the very courthouse where the 11-year-old is now being prosecuted.
An 11-year-old child does not just wake up one day and shoot and kill someone. This young child is not "wicked," but was placed in an impossible situation, unfathomable to most. Right now, our client is being held in a notorious youth facility where he is locked alone in a tiny cell every day from 1pm – 9am. Murell Law and Fair Fight are committed to zealously representing him and bringing the truth to light.
NOT GUILTY!
Christopher Murell and Meghan Matt scored a resounding victory on August 2nd when their client, Kevin Dukes, was acquitted by an East Baton Rouge jury of all charges, namely second-degree murder and obstruction of justice.
Mr. Dukes had been falsely arrested and accused of this murder in December 2018. Chris Murell was retained to become lead trial counsel in April 2023. Mr. Dukes’ jury trial lasted two weeks from July 22 until August 2. In trial, Chris conducted voir dire, gave Mr. Dukes’ opening statement, cross-examined all significant witnesses, and made the closing argument.
This “not guilty” verdict exemplifies the zealous representation, attention to detail, and courtroom skill you get when hiring Chris and Meghan. The State presented circumstantial evidence and an expert, Michael Fegely, claiming to track Mr. Dukes’ movements by his cell phone. Additionally, the trial court erronesouly allowed jurors to hear evidence of a second unrelated murder under Louisiana Code of Evidence Article 404(b).
Nevertheless, after scrutinizing every single piece of evidence down to the smallest detail, Chris was able to cross-examine the State’s witnesses to reveal how this seemingly damning evidence actually supported Mr. Dukes’ innocence, as well as revealing the shoddy, unreliable, disgraceful homicide investigation performed by East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office. Indeed, under Chris’ questioning, the head of the Homicide Division at the Sheriff’s Office admitted substantial mistakes made by himself and other detectives working on Mr. Dukes’ case.
Chris also fiercely cross-examined the State’s expert, who claimed to be able to show Mr. Dukes’ movement on the night of the killing through a flawed computer program. By the end of cross-examination, it was clear that the “expert” was not an expert, but a hired gun who comes in with flashy presentations to make defendants look guilty—even when they are not.
This victory would have been impossible without the tireless effort, experience, and in-court talent clients that hire our firm receive. Chris and Meghan deconstructed the State’s case, demonstrated its witnesses were unreliable, and provided a compelling narrative of innocence of their client. Jurors returned a verdict acquitting Mr. Dukes of second-degree murder and obstruction of justice.
Are you or a loved one charged with a serious felony? Do you need first-class representation? Get in touch with us here.
After a hard-fought battle, we won compensation for our client Sullivan Walter. Mr. Walter was incarcerated for 36 years for a crime he did not commit, even though the State had scientific proof of his innocence. Judge Kimya Holmes awarded Mr. Walter the maximum allowed under the statute— which is painfully low in Louisiana— but no amount of money will ever properly repay the debt of what was done to him.
Unsurprisingly, the State is appealing the ruling, but we know the record speaks for itself and we will continue fighting on behalf of Mr. Walter and all of our clients who were wrongfully convicted.
Congrats to Mr. Walter on this win, and thank you for trusting us with your case.
Murell Law and the entire team fighting to keep kids out of Angola have been awarded the Lucy McGough Juvenile Justice Award by the Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Along with our partners, we were honored for our “hard work on behalf of, and in dedication to, young people in Louisiana’s Juvenile system.” We were at the forefront of this litigation, bringing together an incredible team of lawyers, investigators, and advocates… and we won! Efforts like this are impossible without donations to our partner, Fair Fight Initiative, which funded this type of work across Louisiana and the Deep South.
Many thanks to the kids, parents, and communities who have trusted us to tell your stories.
Murell Law has been on this case since the beginning, and we will continue to fight relentlessly on behalf of the children of this state.
On December 5th, a panel of judges at the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral argument in Smith v. Edwards, the case challenging the incarceration of children at Angola. As you may remember, the plaintiffs recently won our preliminary injunction, clearly demonstrating over a multi-day hearing that the kids at Angola were subject to unconstitutional and abhorrent conditions. The State removed the children but nevertheless persisted in their appeal, pleading that they wish to keep the facility open. Oral arguments will be held at 4pm at the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in the En Banc Courtoom. You can also stream online here (though this link will only work during the hearing). After the conclusion of the argument, you can listen to it here.
Murell Law has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of Raymond Flanks, who was exonerated after 38 years, 10 months, and 25 days of wrongful incarceration because prosecutors and law enforcement hid exculpatory evidence and used unlawful, manipulative identification procedures against him. Again working with the preeminent New York City-based Shanies Law Firm, we are suing the City of New Orleans, the New Orleans Police Department, former detective John Dillmann, and the Orleans District Attorney's Office for their roles in this egregious injustice. Defendant Dillmann has been implicated in three prior wrongful convictions. You can read our lawsuit here.
Data from National Registry of Exonerations shows that Orleans Parish has the highest known wrongful conviction rate in the country and that over 70% of these cases involve withheld evidence, like in Mr. Flanks's case. 96% of the withheld evidence cases were wrongful convictions of Black defendants. If you or a loved one have been wrongly convicted, please get in touch with us as soon as possible. Plaintiffs only have one year from the date of their exoneration to file a federal lawsuit.
In a significant victory that could have ramifications across the State, Murell Law prevailed in a motion to allow a jury to acquit their client in a murder by a 10-2 vote while still requiring a unanimous jury for conviction. Before the Supreme Court's decision in Ramos v. Louisiana, a jury only had to vote 10-2 to convict or acquit. This rule was a vestige of Louisiana's racist history. Now, all convictions must be unanimous. Last month, Chris convinced a judge in St. Tammany Parish that while a conviction must be unanimous, an acquittal can still be by a 10-2 vote. The State is appealing this ruling. If we win, this will have major implications for individuals all over Louisiana.
This fall, we filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on behalf of Sullivan Walter - a wrongfully convicted man who had 36 years of his life stolen by the State of Louisiana. Working with the preeminent New York City-based Shanies Law Firm, we are suing the New Orleans Police Department and Orleans District Attorney's Office for their blatant, egregious misconduct in Mr. Walter's case. You can learn more about the miscarriage of justice endured by Mr. Walter here.
If you or a loved one have been wrongly convicted, please get in touch with us as soon as possible. Plaintiffs only have one year from the date of their exoneration to file a federal lawsuit.
In August 2022, Christopher Murell co-authored an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. The brief argue that the Court should hear the case and overturn David Brown's death sentence due to Louisiana prosecutors persistenly hiding favorable evidence to defendants and the Louisiana Supreme Court failing to act.
Read here.
In May 2022, Christopher Murell wrote a friend-of-the-court brief for Louisiana Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers to the U.S. Supreme Court urging their review of an unconstitutional capital conviction and sentence.
Read here.
2831 St. Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117
2831 St. Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 358-0457 or (504) 300-9292
(504) 358-0457 or (504) 300-9292
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