PHILADELPHIA — Stradley Ronon partner Michael Engle was honored with the Alan Jay Josel Advocacy Award at the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL) annual conference in Harrisburg on April 4, in recognition of his outstanding advocacy and leadership on behalf of his client, which resulted in the release of a wrongfully convicted man after more than 40 years of imprisonment.
As noted by PACDL, “[Mike’s] advocacy underscores the vital role of criminal defense attorneys in protecting the rights of the accused and upholding the principles of justice.”
Engle represented Bruce Murray, who was sentenced on charges of second-degree murder, conspiracy and robbery at age 22. The approximately three-year effort to obtain relief for Murray began after a U.S. district judge requested that Engle take on a special court appointment to examine Murray’s pro se filing, which claimed actual innocence.
As part of their extensive investigation—including gaining access for the first time to both the Philadelphia Police Department and District Attorney’s Office files on the matter—Engle and the team were able to submit a motion seeking to reinstate Murray’s habeas corpus rights in federal court.
In response to the strong filing, the District Attorney’s Office conceded it satisfied the actual innocence standard and the district court granted the motion, allowing the team to file a petition seeking to vacate Murray’s conviction and secure him a new trial. Ultimately, the court granted relief on numerous distinct Brady violations, vacated the convictions and ordered a new trial.
Upon remand of the case to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, Engle and partner Ashley E. Shapiro, co-chairs of the firm’s pro bono committee, advocated to the District Attorney’s Office to dismiss the charges pending against Murray because he was likely innocent and it was not ethical or practical to attempt a retrial in this case. To the credit of the District Attorney’s Office, after careful review by the prosecutor, the charges were withdrawn against Murray. He was released from state prison in October 2023 and is now enjoying his newfound freedom with his family.
Engle serves as co-chair of the firm’s litigation department and handles complex criminal cases, internal investigations and compliance matters on behalf of individuals, public officials and professionals, public and private companies of all sizes, nonprofits and other organizations in federal and state courts throughout the United States.
About Stradley Ronon
Counseling clients since 1926, Stradley Ronon has helped private and public companies — from small businesses to Fortune 500 corporations — achieve their goals by providing pragmatic, value-driven legal counsel. With offices in nine locations, our lawyers seamlessly address the full spectrum of our clients’ needs, ranging from sophisticated corporate transactions to complex commercial litigation.