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LAWYER ON TRIAL... COMING TO A NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR YOU IMAGINE YOU ARE A FELLOW OF THE AMER- ICAN COLLEGE OF TRIAL LAWYERS, ONE THE MOST EXPERIENCED AND WELL-RESPECTED LAWYERS IN YOUR STATE AS A RESULT OF A FIVE-DECADE CAREER BUILT ON EXCELLENCE AND INTEGRITY. THEN IMAGINE THAT THE GOVERNMENT BRINGS CRIMINAL OBSTRUC- TION OF JUSTICE CHARGES AGAINST YOU FOR ACTS THAT YOU LAWFULLY TOOK AND THAT WERE FAITHFUL TO YOUR ETHICAL DUTIES TO YOUR CLIENT. THAT NIGHTMARE SCENARIO IS WHAT FELLOW BOB TROUT DESCRIBED IN HIS PRESENTATION AT THE SPRING MEETING IN KEY BISCAYNE APTLY TITLED LAWYER ON TRI- AL ... COMING TO A NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR YOU. Described by a University of Maryland law professor as “one of the most import- ant criminal trials ever held in Maryland, from the perspective of defense lawyers,” the case ended with an acquittal for Trout’s client. But as Trout described the facts and the government’s theory of prosecution, a chilling tale emerged. This criminal pros- ecution of a distinguished lawyer was, as Trout described it, an “existential threat to the essential role that defense lawyers have in our criminal justice system.” The nightmare began in 2014 when Rich- ard Byrd was arrested in Baltimore on fed- eral drug charges. Byrd turned to a lawyer he had used in the past, a fellow we’ll call “Ken.” When the federal government raided Ken’s law office, it became clear that he was himself under investigation. Ken withdrew as Byrd’s attorney and hired his own attor- ney, Josh Treems, a Fellow of the College since 2001. Josh would eventually become Trout’s client. 49 JOURNAL