Neither Joseph nor Oliveri could be reached for comment Tuesday. A spokesman for the nonprofit law firm did not respond to a request for comment. Even today, he identifies the principle of equal justice as a threatened pillar of American democracy. He worked for more than 25 years at Maryland Legal Aid, which provides free civil legal advice to low-income people in cases such as fighting illegal evictions, advocating for substandard housing improvements, dealing with debts, and acquiring the health care they need. At the same meeting, Deputy Chief Counsel Gina Polley, a member of Joseph`s executive team, announced that she was also retiring, effective Dec. 31, staff said. Polley`s announcement was known before the meeting, but was made official Tuesday. Joseph has been Executive Director of Maryland Legal Aid since September 1996. Polley was hired as deputy chief counsel in April 2016 after serving as chief counsel in the Montgomery County office. “Being in the middle of the American apartheid system, where people from all walks of life, including those in high public office, tolerated racial discrimination, racism and violent brutality against black people, forced me to pursue a career as a lawyer,” he said. He gave no reason why Joseph left the organization he has led for nearly 25 years. More than 100 former employees criticized Joseph, other members of the organization`s leadership team and the board after four prominent lawyers, including two from Anne Arundel`s office, were fired without explanation after raising concerns about the organization`s plans to reopen offices during the pandemic. Anne Arundel`s chief prosecutor, Anita Bailey, and two other office chiefs, John Marshall of the Montgomery office and Blake Fetrow of the Metro office, were among 11 office directors who signed a letter in July rejecting the organization`s plans to reopen its offices for the first time since March.
After his dismissal, a complaint was filed with the National Labor Relations Board on behalf of Bailey, Fetwow and Marshall. “Lawyers, lawyers and other court officials play a vital role in securing, protecting and strengthening this vital pillar of democracy, which is under attack from all sides,” Joseph said. “Defending against these attacks is the most urgent challenge facing lawyers today.” “He compared us to medical professionals, in the sense that we . important workers,” one employee said on the call. “It was kind of a mood like, `You`re heroes, you`re risking your life to help these customers. And it`s a little disgusting at this point, because we shouldn`t be. Joseph had previously told other news outlets that he had no plans to retire, despite criticism he and the organization have received about the inexplicable layoffs. A week after the letter was delivered, the three were fired along with Bailey`s assistant, Lisa Sarro, who had expressed concerns about her return to work but had not signed the letter. The trio also filed a complaint with the U.S.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging, among other things, age discrimination. The union said it wanted to return to its positions immediately. Sarro said she had no interest in returning to the organization. Over the weekend, employees were informed in a company-wide email that Maryland Legal Aid`s offices would remain open despite the rise in coronavirus infections in the state and a wave of new restrictions. Union officials said that while the Maryland Legal Aid Workers Union does not represent the four dismissed lawyers, their dismissal has depressed the morale of its members, suppressed dissent and left people without confidence in the organization`s leadership. These challenges have intensified during the pandemic. The organization closed its 12 offices nationwide in March when the pandemic broke out. After four months of working remotely, the management team began announcing plans to reopen to the public, a decision that worried many employees, including those with health issues or childcare needs. The organization has continued its plans to reopen. A search for Joseph`s replacement is already underway, Oliveri told employees and other board members at the organization`s annual staff meeting, held via video conference.
Board Chairman Warren Oliveri told employees at a meeting Tuesday that Joseph will leave the agency at a date yet to be determined, three employees said on the call. Employees recounted details of the meeting on the condition that they remain anonymous for fear of losing their jobs. Neither Oliveri nor Joseph mentioned the vote of no confidence at the meeting. Joseph praised workers for their “selfless” efforts to help customers during the pandemic, calling them “heroes” and comparing them to frontline workers, said a staff member who was on the phone. The Maryland Court of Appeals announced Thursday that it will resume Phase III operations and suspend all criminal and civil proceedings. In July, Maryland Legal Aid coordinated its reopening with court plans. Wilhelm Joseph, longtime director of Maryland Legal Aid, whose leadership has recently been criticized by current and former employees, is retiring, The Capital has learned. “It`s important to keep as many `doors` open as possible for MLA for the benefit of MLA and other constituency clients, especially during these most challenging times,” Alec Chase, communications coordinator for Maryland Legal Aid, wrote in an email to employees obtained by The Capital.
The leadership changes were announced the day after the union representing Maryland Legal Aid voted two votes of no confidence, one for Joseph`s leadership team and the other for Oliveri and the board. “As a provider of an essential service, we are called upon to control and balance the conflicting and competing interests of customers and the public, on the one hand, and personal or otherwise private interests, on the other.” Wilhelm J. Joseph was a young immigrant from Trinidad and Tobago when he attended a small, historically black college/university in the rural town of Bena, Mississippi in the mid-1960s. What he saw there would change his life. Joseph said it`s difficult to maximize meaningful progress, especially for members of society who don`t have the funds for lawyers of their choice.
