The Counsel Who Fell Short
For more than twenty years, Murray Lawrence Jr. placed his trust in a system built to protect the innocent. Instead, he was represented by attorneys who promised justice but delivered silence. Each one had the chance to expose the lies, challenge the misconduct, and defend the truth. None did. Their inaction allowed a false conviction to stand, turning legal representation into yet another barrier between Murray and freedom.
WILLIE HUNTLEY JR.
Retained by Murray’s family in 2005, Willie Huntley brought experience and influence but gave Murray no real defense. He allowed false evidence, a racially biased jury, and even had Murray wear earphones during testimony so he could not hear his own trial. In a courthouse where friendship blurred the line between justice and loyalty, was Huntley ever truly defending his client?
GABRIELLE “GABBY” HUMBERT
Assigned through the Birmingham firm Maxwell Tillman, Gabrielle Humber’s short involvement left Murray’s Rule 32 filing incomplete, unanswered, and abandoned. She left the firm without notifying the client, leaving no one to respond to the state’s arguments as federal deadlines closed in. When the state answered, she was already gone. The defense fell silent again.
LEROY MAXWELL JR.
After Humber’s departure, lead partner Leroy Maxwell personally agreed to represent Murray but withdrew during active federal deadlines. His withdrawal left no time to hire new counsel and forced a volunteer to file emergency petitions to preserve Murray’s right to federal review. When the final chance for justice arrived, the firm stepped away.