A judge has shown the importance of showing compassion and giving people a second chance.
Sixteen years ago, then-27-year-old Edward Martell faced just Bruce Morrow in a hearing that could have gone one of two ways.
Martell was a high school dropout with an extensive arrest record who was facing a 20-year stint in jail for a drug offense. It was enough for many people to give up on him for good. However, presiding judge Morrow saw potential in Martell.
Per Deadline Detroit, rather than dishing out the maximum sentence, Morrow instead gave Martell probation and issued him a challenge.
Martell told Deadline Detroit: "He said, 'I challenge you to be a CEO of a Fortune 500 company instead of being out here selling drugs. And I love a challenge."
Morrow later admitted in an interview with The Washington Post that his comments were made somewhat "in jest", but that Martell "understood I believed he could be anything he wanted to be."
Sixteen years later, Martell was again found himself facing Judge Morrow. However, this time their encounter was one of celebration and redemption, as the now 43-year-old Martell was being sworn in as an attorney after passing the Michigan state bar.
Despite knowing that his criminal past - which includes 35 arrests and 19 convictions - could have hampered his ambition and despite his guidance counselors warning him about pursuing a career in law, Martell followed his dream.
Once he had earned his associate’s degree, Martell earned scholarships for both his undergraduate studies and law school. Eventually, he found himself under employment at the Perkins Law Group as a researcher and writer.
Nevertheless, perhaps the most difficult part of his journey was yet to come.
In order to be accepted to the Michigan Bar, all candidates must pass a character and fitness review. Martell's history with drug trafficking and drug abuse could have been held over him. However, with the help of mentors from his law firm, he penned a 1,200-plus page application detailing how he had turned his life around.
"I was chasing a dream with no guarantees," he recalled.
He let them know he was not only remorseful for his past, but also "downright embarrassed".
When all was said and done, Martell's approval took just 15 minutes. Now, he will continue working at the Perkins Group, but as a practicing attorney.
Speaking of Martell's achievement, Morrow told the Deadline Detroit: "It’s a crazy cliché, but some defendants, that’s what they need.
"If you believe like I believe, that there but for the grace of God go you and me… It took some intelligence to get in and out of the kind of trouble he got into. I told him, ‘You could be my son. Let’s see how far you can go.’ And man, he hasn’t finished yet."
A truly remarkable story that highlights the importance of a second chance.
.png_WJ7q4d?tr=h-184)
