Meet Our Fellows

Murnaghan Fellows come from law schools and clerkships across the country and bring a broad range of educational, professional, and personal experiences to the fellowship.

Meet Our 2023-2024 Fellow: Melanie Babb

Working for Social Justice

Since the establishment of the Francis D. Murnaghan, Jr. Fellowship in 2001, our fellows have briefed and argued hundreds of cases, giving voice to the underrepresented in federal and state appellate courts. Fellows come from around the country, bringing with them a deep commitment to practicing law in the public interest. Through their work, they are able to raise issues of profound importance to people and communities affected by poverty and discrimination.

Our Accomplishments

Murnaghan Fellows have advanced the reform of the criminal justice system; ensured redress for housing and employment discrimination, wage theft, and abusive debt collection practices; expanded access to counsel; protected the rights of immigrants and parents with disabilities; and more for more than 20 years.

Baltimore Roots, National Impact

baltimore,maryland,usa. 09-07-17 :  Baltimore skyline on sunny day.

Each fellow joins the staff of the Public Justice Center (PJC) in Baltimore, a nonprofit legal advocacy organization that focuses on systemic change for people who live in poverty and face racial injustice and structural inequities. During a one-year term within the PJC's Appellate Advocacy Project, the Fellow authors briefs and presents arguments in high-impact cases in the appellate courts, with local, statewide, and national implications.

Updates

Thank you, Mel!

Reflections from Murnaghan Fellow Melanie Babb August 28, 2024 We were fortunate to have Melanie Babb as the 23rd Francis D. Murnaghan, Jr. Appellate Advocacy Fellow this past year. Here…

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Fourth Circuit sides with Baltimore City couple and affirms their damages awarded in Tenant Holding Over case

June 21, 2024 – In the fall of 2023, the Public Justice Center, Homeless Persons Representation Project, and Maryland Legal Aid filed an amicus brief in support of the Todmans…

Read More about Fourth Circuit sides with Baltimore City couple and affirms their damages awarded in Tenant Holding Over case

Amicus brief on wage theft filed in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

October 17, 2023 – The Appellate Project filed a brief in Benshot, LLC v. 2 Monkey Trading, LLC, which is currently pending before the United States Court of Appeals for…

Read More about Amicus brief on wage theft filed in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals

Baltimore law deprives evicted tenants of their belongings and violates constitutional protection of private property, brief argues

December 7, 2023 Medicine. Clothes. Personal identification. A loved one’s ashes. Pets. Tenants have lost all of these things in evictions as a result of Baltimore’s confiscation ordinance. Under the…

Read More about Baltimore law deprives evicted tenants of their belongings and violates constitutional protection of private property, brief argues