Minnesota Lawyer Features Maslon Pro Bono Victory in an Article Titled, "Maslon Gets Inmate Off Texas Death Row"

Minnesota Lawyer featured Maslon's recent pro bono victory in a December 4, 2017, article titled "Maslon gets inmate off Texas death row," which details the habeas corpus case put together by Maslon in the defense of Douglas Tyrone Armstrong, who has been in solitary confinement "for all but 10 hours per week for the past 10 years." The article discusses the Court's determination that "Armstrong's defense counsel failed to conduct a constitutionally adequate investigation of mitigating evidence."

"Maslon lawyers dug deeply into Armstrong's history and presented additional evidence of his disadvantaged background and entirely new witness testimony as to his mental state at the time of the offense," the article states. "The most compelling evidence to the Texas Court appeared to be the new mental health evidence.

"The family was so brave in sharing their stories," Catherine Ahlin-Halverson shared. "They were willing to offer this really traumatic history to the experts and the court. You're asking people to share extraordinarily painful personal history."

"We had so many attorneys, paralegals, and staff running around in different directions, gathering affidavits. The case was going to rise or fall on the strength of the people working on it," Maslon attorney Julian Zebot stated, "It demonstrates Maslon's commitment to pro bono. We literally spent thousands of hours." Maslon's attorney team included Catherine Ahlin-Halverson, Julian Zebot, Mike McCarthy, Nicole Narotzky, Haley Schaffer (now senior litigation counsel at 3M), and recently-appointed U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge David Schultz.

To read the full article, go to: Minnesota Lawyer, "Maslon gets inmate off Texas death row."

To read Maslon's press release, go to: Maslon LLP Wins Victory for Pro Bono Client: Resentencing After 10 Years on Death Row in Texas.

Catherine serves as Maslon's Public Interest Counsel. Catherine is working to develop Maslon community initiatives dedicated to the firm's investment in the rich diversity of the Twin Cities. Catherine also manages aspects of Maslon's award-winning pro bono program and its pro bono litigation, working to address the rising incidence of unmet legal needs among the disadvantaged. Prior to becoming Public Interest Counsel, Catherine was a partner, practicing in the areas of complex and class action litigation for 16 years.

Julian is a partner in Maslon's Litigation Group and focuses his practice on fiduciary and trust litigation as well as business and commercial litigation, including claims of unfair business competition. He has represented individual and business clients in both federal and state courts as well as arbitration proceedings, and has handled matters for clients at all stages of the litigation process, including trials and appeals. Julian also serves as chair of Maslon's Pro Bono Committee.