Brooklyn Law Student advocates for justice, achieves significant resentencing victory

On Friday, Aug. 4, Brooklyn Law School’s Rahmel Robinson, a dedicated student of the Criminal Defense and Advocacy Clinic (CDAC), achieved a significant legal victory at Albany County Court with real life consequences.

Collaborating with Professor Kate Mogulescu and backed by recent BLS graduates Gregory Chang and Taylor Ramirez, Robinson championed the cause of an incarcerated survivor of domestic violence.

Through their persistent efforts, they secured her immediate release under the Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act, effectively shaving nearly a decade off her potential sentence and removing the specter of a lifetime in prison.

This case is just one of many successes for the CDAC, which has achieved 11 resentencing wins in a span of three years across ten New York counties, emphasizing their unyielding commitment to justice.

Robinson’s work at CDAC goes beyond standard student duties. Under the supervision of legal professionals, he delves deep into life histories, conducts witness interviews, and drafts pivotal legal affidavits, all in pursuit of justice for those he represents.

Outside the clinic, Robinson continues to make waves in the legal world. His role as a summer associate at the esteemed Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP stands as proof of his burgeoning prowess in the legal realm.

The CDAC at Brooklyn Law School, under the leadership of Professors Mogulescu and Elizabeth Isaacs, prioritizes defense work in the context of broader social and political movements. CDAC challenges prevailing norms within the criminal legal system, emphasizing issues surrounding survivors of gender-based violence and sexual exploitation.

The clinic’s keystone initiative, the Survivors Justice Project (SJP), established in 2020, is an interdisciplinary team focused on decarcerating…