July 30, 2020 To the Board of Directors of Maryland Legal Aid: As alumni of Maryland Legal Aid (MLA), we write to express our dismay regarding MLA leadership’s termination of Anita Bailey, Blake Fetrow, John Marshall and Lisa Sarro from their positions as Chief Attorneys and Supervising Attorney, respectively. The emerging facts strongly suggest that MLA retaliated against these seasoned attorneys for daring to express their concerns that MLA’s insistence on rigid requirements regarding staff’s physical presence in the office unnecessarily compromised the health and well-being of staff, clients, and other members of the public. These longstanding, senior employees questioned MLA’s insistence on an inflexible paint-bythe-numbers approach, which would force staff into rigid work patterns during a time that calls for flexibility, ignores the needs of those who must – and can – work remotely and on modified schedules because their children cannot go to school, compromises the health of those at high risk of infection, and fails to recognize that legal work can often be done as effectively remotely as from an office. These staff members’ plea that management approve more nuanced guidelines that would allow them to meet conditions and needs in their individual offices and in the local communities they serve appears to have cost them their jobs. Many of us were privileged to work with Anita, Blake, Lisa, and John. Their dedication to clients, to excellent and creative lawyering, and to MLA staff, is unsurpassed. They provided inspiration to clients and staff, had a lasting impact on clients and the communities we served, and demonstrated enormous courage, befitting a legal aid lawyer. What concerns us all is that these decisions – the demand to return to the physical workspace without allowing the return process to be adequately tailored in each office to community conditions, staff needs and alternative approaches to providing high-quality and safe client access as well as the vicious response to staff who speak up – reflect longstanding, deep organizational problems and an abandonment of MLA’s core values. As alumni who are fiercely proud of our service and MLA’s historic leadership for equal justice, racial equity, and human rights, we urge the Board to take immediate steps to bring the organization back on course. We respectfully request that Blake Fetrow, Anita Bailey, John Marshall and Lisa Sarro be immediately offered reinstatement to their positions at MLA. We request that senior management engage in meaningful and, we hope, collaborative and respectful discussions with staff and their union representatives, together with Supervising and Chief Attorneys, to craft guidelines for providing on-site and remote services that align with statewide reopening and Centers for Disease Control guidelines, and that permit staff the flexibility they need to continue to maximize high-quality service and impact for clients. Finally, we urge the Board to undertake a broader, comprehensive, and independent investigation. Based on the outpouring of disappointment and anger we heard and shared in response to this news, it is clear that this is not an isolated lapse of judgment but confirmation of what many see as upper management’s indifference to and disrespect of, staff commitment and talent. Left unaddressed, this situation will continue to hobble MLA’s delivery of services and harm the clients who staff are committed to serve. Thank you for your time and consideration, Alumni, Maryland Legal Aid Alumni, Maryland Legal Aid (August 6, 2020) Abraham Escareno Paralegal—Midwestern Office, 2007-2009 Alexa Bertinelli Staff Attorney—District Court Self-Help Center & Metropolitan Offices, 2012-2018 Alycia Elwood Stack Staff Attorney—Southern Maryland Office, 2014-2018 Amber Perrelli Staff Attorney—Anne Arundel County, 2016-2018 Amy DiBiasio Staff Attorney—Montgomery County, 2014-2016 Amy Hennen Staff Attorney—Intake Services Unit, 2014-2015 Althea Landymore Intern & Volunteer Paralegal—Anne Arundel County, 2009-2012 Paralegal—Anne Arundel County, 2012-2020 Angele Gaylord Staff Attorney—Southern Maryland, 1996-1997 Anishah A. Cumber Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2005-2008 Ann Kehinde Staff Attorney—Northeastern Office, 1987-1994 Ann Lembo Staff and Senior Attorney—Baltimore County, 2004-2008 Chief Attorney—Baltimore County, 2008-2015 Anne Haffner Hurley Staff Attorney—Long Term Care Assistance Project, 2007-2011 Director—Long Term Care Assistance Project, 2011-2016 Aquanetta Knight Momyer Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2000-2005 Supervising Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2005-2013 Arlene F. Lee Staff Attorney—Eastern Shore Office, 1988-1994 Alumni, Maryland Legal Aid (August 6, 2020) Audrey Straight 1982-1988—Staff Attorney-Frederick, Anne Arundel & Prince George’s Offices 1990-1991—Temporary Attorney-Montgomery County Offices Barbara Samuels Staff Attorney—Baltimore City, 1983-1993 Briana Morris Paralegal—Metropolitan Office, 2016-2018 Carlos M. Colindres Paralegal—Metropolitan Office, 2009-2018 Carol Yoder Staff Attorney—Anne Arundel Office, 1990-2005 Carolyn Mills Law Clerk—Metropolitan Office, 2016-2017 Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2019-2020 Carolyn Rodis Staff & Managing Attorney—Baltimore and Howard Offices, 1975-1981 Carol Carnett Paralegal, Staff Attorney, & Library Consultant—1977-2006 Carroll Kilty Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2005-2008 Cate Hodgetts Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2007-2009 Chadwick C. Duran Supervising Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2000-2004 Cherie Jones Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 1998-2015 Cheryl Hystad Staff & Managing Attorney—Housing and Consumer Law Unit, 1984-1995 Director of Advocacy, 2007-2013 Christine Nguyen Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2013-2015 Alumni, Maryland Legal Aid (August 6, 2020) Cora Ganzglass Hume Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2005-2008 Daniel L. Hatcher Staff Attorney—Baltimore City & Metropolitan Offices, 1997-2000 Assistant Director of Advocacy for Public Benefits & Economic Stability, 2002-2004 Daniela Dwyer Managing Attorney—Farmworker Program, 2005-2009 Danielle C. Morton Staff Attorney—Baltimore City and Metropolitan Offices, 1997-1998 & 2000-2003 David Podell Staff Attorney—Southern Maryland, Baltimore City & Baltimore County, 1991-1999 Debra Gardner Staff Attorney—Midwestern Office, 1984-1990 Chief Attorney—Midwestern Office, 1990-1999 Diana Marquez Paralegal—Midwestern Office, 2009-2012 Eleanor Dayhoff-Brannigan Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2014-2017 Emily Alt Director of Program Development and Compliance, 2016-2019 Emily Harris Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2016-2019 Emily Jaskot Staff Attorney—Long Term Care Assistance Project, 2011-2016 (Arthur) Eric Peltosalo Vista Volunteer, Staff Attorney & Managing Attorney, 1972-1981 Member- Board of Directors; Finance & Pension Committee, 2000-2005 Erica Anaya Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 1999-2002 Esther Zelenske Staff Attorney, Managing Attorney & Chief Attorney—Baltimore City, 1978-1992 Alumni, Maryland Legal Aid (August 6, 2020) Frank Natale Director of Advocacy for Income Security, 2012-2016 Franklyn Fragomene Staff Attorney—Midwestern Office, 2007-2010 Hannah Lieberman Director of Advocacy, 1998-2005 Deputy Executive Director, 2005-2007 Harriet Robinson Training and Communications Director, 1980-2001 Harry Lewis Staff Attorney—Baltimore City, 1985-1986 Managing Attorney—Farmworker Program, 1989-1991 Harvey Morell Librarian, 1988-1991 Heather Gomes Staff Attorney—Foreclosure Legal Assistance Project & Metropolitan Office, 20082015 Heather Maher Boedeker Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 1993-2003 Heidi Redlich Epstein Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 1995-1998 Janet LaBella Chief Attorney—Anne Arundel County, 1990-2004 Janice K. Hunter Johnson Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 1998-1993 Supervising Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 1997-1999 Jeff Burritt Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2000-2004 Jennifer Berger Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 1999-2004 Alumni, Maryland Legal Aid (August 6, 2020) Jennifer Goldberg Staff & Supervising Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2001-2008 Director of Advocacy for Elder Law and Health Care, 2008-2015 Jeanette Cole Staff Attorney—Northeastern Office, 2004-2007 Chief Attorney—Northeastern Office, 2007-2012 Jen Heald Kidwell Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2014-2016 Jer Welter Staff Attorney—Anne Arundel County, 2008-2010 Jessica Rae Staff & Supervising Attorney Assistant Director of Advocacy for Children's Rights 1999-2009 Joseph Rohr Staff Attorney—Administrative Law Unit, 1975-1977 Staff & Supervising Attorney—Housing Law Unit, 1977-1979 Staff & Supervising Attorney—Domestic Law Unit, 1984-1985 Chief Attorney—Anne Arundel County, 1985-1990 Chief Attorney—Baltimore City, 1999-2018 Joe Surkewicz Director of Communications, 2003-2013 Justin Mixon Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2004-2006 Kate Lang Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2009-2012 Katherine (Lasher) Ballenger Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2002-2007 Katherine Jones Staff Attorney—Midwestern Office, 1986-2001; 2014-2019 Senior Attorney for Training, 2001-2007 Assistant Director of IT for Law Practice, 2007-2014 Kathleen McNaught Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 1994-1997 Alumni, Maryland Legal Aid (August 6, 2020) Kathi Grasso Staff Attorney—Southern Maryland Office, 1982-1986 Managing Attorney—Baltimore City, 1986-1988 Chief Attorney—Baltimore City, 1988-1992 Kathryn E. Wenkman Staff Attorney—Anne Arundel Office, 2005-2008 Kelly (Perkins) Kildam Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2010-2013 Staff Attorney—Montgomery County, 2013-2016 Ken Wardlaw Staff & Senior Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 1995-2001 Kevin F. Mitchell District & Maryland Courts Self-Help Centers, 2011-2015 Kimberly Glassman Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2005-2007 Laila Leigh Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2011-2014 Laura Stack Staff & Supervising Attorney— Farmworker Program, 2001-2005 Lauren Young Chief, Supervising, Managing and Staff Attorney, 1987-1998 Leslie Dickinson Staff Attorney—Southern Maryland Office, 1993-1995 Staff Attorney—Midwestern Office, 2007-2009 Leslie Fried Staff & Supervising Attorney—Legal Services for Senior Citizens, 1985-1995 Leonard Englander Volunteer Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2014 Lindsay (Leshin) Brecher Staff Attorney—Metropolitan and Montgomery County Offices, 2009-2014 Lisa Anderson Paralegal—Midwestern Office, 2017-2020 Alumni, Maryland Legal Aid (August 6, 2020) Lisa Piccinini Staff Attorney—Intake Services Unit, 2015-2017 Senior Attorney for Training, 2016-2018 Staff Attorney—Victim Assistance Program, 2017-2018 Lisa Weintraub Schifferle Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 1999-2005 Supervising Attorney, 2005-2007 Lori Leibowitz Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2011-2015 Lorna V. McCandless-Moss Paralegal—Metropolitan Office, 2007-2012 Losmin Jimenez Director of Advocacy for Children & Families, 2014-2015 Lucinda Kimmons Administrative Assistant, 2000-2003 Paralegal—Metropolitan Office, 2003-2007; 2010-2017 Lyana Hunter (Palmer) Intern—Metropolitan Office, 2001-2005 Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 1999-2005 Mahasin El Amin Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2010-2014 Mandy Sayers Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 1999-2002 Marianne (Koch) Hendricks Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2007-2012 Marsha Williams Staff Attorney & Senior CINA Attorney, 2002-2017 Mary Helen McNeal Staff Attorney—Baltimore County Office, 1987-1992 Mary Paloger Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2000-2006 Alumni, Maryland Legal Aid (August 6, 2020) Meghan C. Burns Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2016-2019 Melanie Klein Paralegal—Metropolitan Office, 1992-1995 Skadden Fellow—Metropolitan Office, 1999-2001 Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2001-2003 Senior Attorney—Child Welfare, 2003-2011 Melissa Rock Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2002-2010 Michael Genz Chief Attorney—Southern Maryland Office, 1983-1985 Nancy Pineles Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 1994-1998 Nathaniel Norton Supervising Attorney—Statewide Advocacy Unit, 2010-2016 Nicole Jassie Staff Attorney—Baltimore City and Northeastern Offices, 2006-2012 Pauline Mandel Staff & Supervising Attorney, 1994-2006 Pauline Wenrich Paralegal—Southern Maryland Office, 2002-2017 Phillip Westry Staff Attorney—Maryland Courts Self-Help Centers, 2017-2019 Pooja Shah Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2007-2010 Ramesh Kasarabada Staff Attorney—Baltimore City, 2005-2007; 2011-2013 Supervising Attorney, 2007-2011 Randi Ames Staff Attorney—Long Term Care Assistance Project, 2017-2019 Regan Bailey Assistant Director for Public Benefits & Economic Security, 2004-2007 Alumni, Maryland Legal Aid (August 6, 2020) Reggie Barker Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2016-2019 Rhonda Lipkin Staff Attorney—Northeastern Office, 1986-1989 Chief Attorney—Northeastern Office, 1989-1998 Deputy Director, 1997-2005 Rhonda Serrano Staff Attorney— Baltimore City, 1996-1999; 2003-2004 Supervising Attorney—Baltimore City, 2004-2014 Supervising Attorney—Montgomery County, 2015-2020 Richard North Director of Litigation, 1976-1979 Robert Bokman Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 1998-2000 Rochelle Bobroff Staff Attorney—Southern Maryland, 1987-1991 Sarah Anderson Staff Attorney—Southern Maryland Office, 2015-2019 Sara Wilkinson Staff Attorney—Anne Arundel County and Metropolitan Offices, 2011-2015 Sarah Coffey Frush Staff Attorney—Northeastern Office, 2006-2009 Supervising Attorney—District Court Self-Help Center, 2009-2014 Chief Attorney—District & Maryland Courts Self-Help Centers, 2014-2017 Managing Director—Maryland Center for Legal Assistance, LLC, 2017-2018 Seri Wilpone Staff Attorney—Southern Maryland Office, 1983-1985 & 1999-2001 Chief Attorney—Southern Maryland Office, 2001-2017 Shaundricka Ranel Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2016-2017 Soma Kedia Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2009-2015 Staff Attorney—Maryland Courts Self-Help Center, 2015-2017 Alumni, Maryland Legal Aid (August 6, 2020) Stephanie Edelstein Staff & Managing Attorney—Prince George's County Senior Law Project, 1980-1990 (Name Redacted) Stuart Cohen Chief of Litigation, 1978-1996 Susan Bennett Baltimore City & Baltimore County, 1979-1984 Susan Gerhart Staff Attorney—Maryland Courts Self-Help Centers, 2015-2020 Susan Testa Staff Attorney—Baltimore City Office, 2000-2012 Staff Attorney—District & Maryland Courts Self-Help Centers, 2012-2017 Swapna Yeluri Volunteer, 2007-2008 Staff Attorney—Baltimore City & Joining Forces Project, 2008-2016 Tabinda Riaz Staff Attorney, 2001-2013 Tiara Darby Office Administrator—Metropolitan Office, 2016-2018 Tracy Chiles McGhee Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 1998-2002 Truth Smith Staff & Supervising Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 1996-2008 Valerie A. Higgs Administrative Assistant— Montgomery County Office, 2013-2016 Vicki Gottlich Manager—Prince George's Senior Citizens Law Project, 1980-1986 Vicki Taitano Staff Attorney—Metropolitan Office, 2006-2010 Director—Foreclosure Legal Assistance Project, 2010-2015 Alumni, Maryland Legal Aid (August 6, 2020) Viola Woolums Staff Attorney—Administrative Law Unit, 2015-2019 Alumni, Maryland Legal Aid (August 6, 2020) Virginia Rosa Staff Attorney Metropolitan, Anne Arundel County and Baltimore City Offices, 2005-2019 Wendy W. Schiller Staff Attorney—Baltimore City, 1978-1979 & 1980