Steven D. Silverman
Encyclopedia
Steven D. Silverman is an American
trial lawyer best known for his work on various cases, including the decade-long representation of former undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Riddick Bowe
.
in Brooklandville, Maryland
, he went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts
in history and American studies from the University of Richmond
in 1988. He earned his Juris Doctorate at the University of Baltimore School of Law
in 1991.
in 1991, Silverman worked for three years as an Assistant Public Defender
in Baltimore City. In 1994 Silverman left the Public Defender's Office and started a solo private practice. Since the start of his private practice he has not lost a single jury trial
.
He successfully represented victims from the 1995 catastrophic Amtrak
-CSX
collision in Chase, Maryland
. He represented former undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Riddick Bowe
for a decade in notable cases which included a 2003 criminal acquittal and successful federal lawsuit against former manager Rock Newman.
He received publicity during his successful representation of Ria Ramkissoon, a former member of the cult
"One Mind Ministries." Ramkissoon had been charged with 1st degree murder
for the alleged starvation of her one-year old child. However, with Silverman's representation she received only probation
. Silverman was featured on CNN
and BBC World
due to the notoriety of this case and the substantial amount of media attention that it garnered both in the U.S. and abroad. He was also featured on The Dr. Phil Show
for his involvement in this case. As of 2010, it is believed to be the only instance in the history of American jurisprudence where a "resurrection clause" was included in a plea agreement
. Under this clause, Ramkissoon would be acquitted of all charges in the event that her deceased son is resurrected from the dead.
Silverman also successfully represented the family of Isaiah Simmons, III, a Maryland teen accidentally killed by officials at the Bowling Brook Preparatory School. This case drew substantial media interest and caused sweeping changes to the Maryland Juvenile Justice System
.
In 2010, Silverman successfully represented the family of John R. "Jack" Yates, an elderly Baltimore man who was killed in 2009 while bicycling in a tragic hit-and-run
accident." This case has also drawn widespread media attention and has served as a catalyst for the reformation of Maryland cyclist rights.
Silverman is currently the managing partner
of the Baltimore based law firm Silverman, Thompson, Slutkin & White, LLC.
. Furthermore, he is a fellow
with the Litigation Counsel of America, which recognizes less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers.
to a four year term on the Commission on Judicial Disabilities. In 2009 he was re-appointed to a second term by current Governor Martin O'Malley
. The Commission is an independent body empowered with the responsibility of investigating complaints against Maryland judge
s and, when necessary, conducting hearings and imposing sanctions
.
In 2006 Silverman was appointed to serve on the transition team of Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
trial lawyer best known for his work on various cases, including the decade-long representation of former undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Riddick Bowe
Riddick Bowe
Riddick Lamont Bowe is a retired American boxer. He is a two-time heavyweight champion and a former undisputed heavyweight champion...
.
Early life and education
Silverman was born in Baltimore, Maryland on October 28, 1966. After graduating from the St. Paul's School for Boys, a private preparatory schoolUniversity-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
in Brooklandville, Maryland
Brooklandville, Maryland
Brooklandville is an unincorporated community in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States near where the Jones Falls Expressway meets the Baltimore Beltway. The general area is a part of Lutherville, and some addresses in the area are considered to be in Lutherville, though Brooklandville has a...
, he went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in history and American studies from the University of Richmond
University of Richmond
The University of Richmond is a selective, private, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located on the border of the city of Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. The University of Richmond is a primarily undergraduate, residential university with approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate...
in 1988. He earned his Juris Doctorate at the University of Baltimore School of Law
University of Baltimore School of Law
University of Baltimore School of Law, or UB Law, is one of the three colleges that make up the University of Baltimore, which is part of the University System of Maryland. UB Law is one of only two law schools in the state of Maryland, the other law school being the University of Maryland School...
in 1991.
Legal career
Upon passing the barAdmission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1991, Silverman worked for three years as an Assistant Public Defender
Public defender
The term public defender is primarily used to refer to a criminal defense lawyer appointed to represent people charged with a crime but who cannot afford to hire an attorney in the United States and Brazil. The term is also applied to some ombudsman offices, for example in Jamaica, and is one way...
in Baltimore City. In 1994 Silverman left the Public Defender's Office and started a solo private practice. Since the start of his private practice he has not lost a single jury trial
Jury trial
A jury trial is a legal proceeding in which a jury either makes a decision or makes findings of fact which are then applied by a judge...
.
He successfully represented victims from the 1995 catastrophic Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
-CSX
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
collision in Chase, Maryland
Chase, Maryland
Chase is an unincorporated community in eastern Baltimore County, Maryland, United States.-Geography:Chase is located at . Chase is located on the waterfront of the Gunpowder River, Middle River, Dundee Creek, Saltpeter Creek, and Chesapeake Bay...
. He represented former undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Riddick Bowe
Riddick Bowe
Riddick Lamont Bowe is a retired American boxer. He is a two-time heavyweight champion and a former undisputed heavyweight champion...
for a decade in notable cases which included a 2003 criminal acquittal and successful federal lawsuit against former manager Rock Newman.
He received publicity during his successful representation of Ria Ramkissoon, a former member of the cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
"One Mind Ministries." Ramkissoon had been charged with 1st degree murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
for the alleged starvation of her one-year old child. However, with Silverman's representation she received only probation
Probation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
. Silverman was featured on CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
and BBC World
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
due to the notoriety of this case and the substantial amount of media attention that it garnered both in the U.S. and abroad. He was also featured on The Dr. Phil Show
Dr. Phil (TV series)
Dr. Phil is a reality/talk television show hosted by Phil McGraw. After McGraw's success with his segments on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Phil debuted on September 16, 2002...
for his involvement in this case. As of 2010, it is believed to be the only instance in the history of American jurisprudence where a "resurrection clause" was included in a plea agreement
Plea bargain
A plea bargain is an agreement in a criminal case whereby the prosecutor offers the defendant the opportunity to plead guilty, usually to a lesser charge or to the original criminal charge with a recommendation of a lighter than the maximum sentence.A plea bargain allows criminal defendants to...
. Under this clause, Ramkissoon would be acquitted of all charges in the event that her deceased son is resurrected from the dead.
Silverman also successfully represented the family of Isaiah Simmons, III, a Maryland teen accidentally killed by officials at the Bowling Brook Preparatory School. This case drew substantial media interest and caused sweeping changes to the Maryland Juvenile Justice System
Maryland Department of Juvenile Services
Maryland Department of Juvenile Services is a state agency of Maryland, headquartered in One Center Plaza, Downtown Baltimore. DJS operates juvenile correctional facilities.-History:...
.
In 2010, Silverman successfully represented the family of John R. "Jack" Yates, an elderly Baltimore man who was killed in 2009 while bicycling in a tragic hit-and-run
Hit and run (vehicular)
Hit-and-run is the act of causing a traffic accident , and failing to stop and identify oneself afterwards...
accident." This case has also drawn widespread media attention and has served as a catalyst for the reformation of Maryland cyclist rights.
Silverman is currently the managing partner
Partner (business rank)
A partner in a law firm, accounting firm, consulting firm, or financial firm is a highly ranked position. Originally, these businesses were set up as legal partnerships in which the partners were entitled to a share of the profits of the enterprise. The name has remained even though many of these...
of the Baltimore based law firm Silverman, Thompson, Slutkin & White, LLC.
Recognition
Silverman is ranked as a perfect ten by Avvo.com. He is ranked by the American Trial Lawyers Association as one of the top 100 trial lawyers in MarylandMaryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. Furthermore, he is a fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
with the Litigation Counsel of America, which recognizes less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers.
Appointments
In 2005 Silverman was appointed by then-Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich, Jr.Robert Ehrlich
Robert Leroy "Bob" Ehrlich, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 60th Governor of Maryland from 2003 to 2007. A Republican, he became governor after defeating Democratic opponent Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, a member of the Kennedy family, 51% to 48% in the 2002 elections...
to a four year term on the Commission on Judicial Disabilities. In 2009 he was re-appointed to a second term by current Governor Martin O'Malley
Martin O'Malley
Martin Joseph O'Malley is an American Democratic politician who is currently serving as the 61st Governor of Maryland. Previously, he served as the mayor of Baltimore from 1999 to 2007. He is currently the chairman of the Democratic Governors Association.-Early life, education and career:O'Malley...
. The Commission is an independent body empowered with the responsibility of investigating complaints against Maryland judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
s and, when necessary, conducting hearings and imposing sanctions
Sanctions (law)
Sanctions are penalties or other means of enforcement used to provide incentives for obedience with the law, or with rules and regulations. Criminal sanctions can take the form of serious punishment, such as corporal or capital punishment, incarceration, or severe fines...
.
In 2006 Silverman was appointed to serve on the transition team of Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler
Doug Gansler
Douglas F. "Doug" Gansler is a Maryland politician and Attorney General of Maryland. Gansler won the Democratic nomination in the primary election on September 12, 2006, and beat Republican Scott Rolle in the general election on November 7, 2006...
.