Booth M. Ripke

Booth M. Ripke Partner

$48 Million Federal Civil Rights Settlement
Nathans & Ripke co-counseled with other law firm in $48 million dollar federal civil rights settlement for three clients that were innocent and falsely imprisoned for a total of 36 years each after significant information was uncovered that police detectives intimidated several juvenile witnesses to give false testimony during trial.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
25 Year Old Walk Around Money Law Declared Unconstitutional
All charges dismissed and 25 year old walk around money law declared unconstitutional under the First Amendment by Maryland's highest appellate court in a Prince George's County election law case involving the Republican candidate's gubernatorial campaign.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Actual Innocence Petition Granted and Client Freed After Lengthy Prison Term
Nathans & Biddle, LLP won an actual innocence petition and a new trial for George Seward in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County. Investigation decades after Mr. Seward's trial uncovered employment records showing he was actually at work when the crime occurred. The State appealed and won in the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. The Maryland Court of Appeals subsequently granted Mr. Seward's petition for a writ of certiorari and ruled unanimously that the State did not have the right to appeal the Baltimore County Circuit Court's finding of actual innocence. Client freed from lengthy prison term within days of the Court of Appeals ruling.
- Booth M. Ripke
Actual Innocence Petition Granted and Upheld on Appeal
Unanimous finding by the Court of Appeals reinstating the granting of an Actual Innocence Petition by the Baltimore County Circuit Court. Client freed shortly thereafter.
- Booth M. Ripke
Appellate Court Grants Rare Application for Leave to Appeal, Automatically Reverses Adverse Decision and Remands in Favor of Client
In a rare outcome, the appellate court granted an application for leave to appeal, and automatically reversed the lower court’s refusal to grant an evidentiary hearing, and directed the court to reopen the case.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Robert W. Biddle
Attorney Admitted to Maryland State Bar After Lengthy Character Committee Hearing
Character Committee admitted our new lawyer client to the Maryland State Bar after a day-long hearing in which accusers are found not to be credible after cross-examination and presentation of numerous defense witnesses and other documentation.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Attorney Client Cleared in Attorney Grievance
Attorney client cleared in Attorney Grievance Investigation based on alleged misrepresentations and escrow misuse.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Attorney Grievance Complaint Dismissed
The Attorney Grievance Commission agreed not to proceed with charges alleging that a third-party was able to steal funds after we presented information showing that the complainant was incorrect that trust funds had been mismanaged and that the funds received from the law firm had not been properly reported to a court.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Case Not Docketed After Diligence and Misrepresentation Claims
Bar Counsel's decision not to docket case against trusts and estates lawyer for failure to diligently represent interests of estate and rejecting heir's claim of attorney misrepresentation and theft of assets.
- Booth M. Ripke
Client Acquitted of All Charges in Assault Retrial
Larry Nathans and Booth Ripke gained an acquittal for a client in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court trial. The client had been previously convicted with other counsel based in large part on the testimony of two witnesses. After the main witness testified in the retrial, was cross-examined by Mr. Nathans, and the client was acquitted, false statement charges were brought against the main witness and she was subsequently found guilty.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Client Avoids Deportation After Disqualifying Conviction Is Vacated
Client rendered deportable due to narcotics conviction was saved from immigration proceedings after his disqualifying conviction was vacated
- Booth M. Ripke
Client Guilty of $30,000 Embezzlement Scheme Is Granted Probation Before Judgment
A client was spared from having to receive a criminal conviction, or any jail time, despite pleading guilty of a large felony embezzlement scheme originally alleging 40 counts of theft over more than a six month period of time.
- Booth M. Ripke
Client in Prison for Assault, Home Invasion, Granted Parole at His First Hearing
The Maryland Parole Commission granted parole on his earliest possible date (after only serving 25% of his sentence) after reviewing Nathans & Biddle’s legal pleadings.
- Booth M. Ripke
Client in Prison for Gang Related Activity Is Granted Parole at His First Hearing
Through Nathans & Biddle, LLP’s written and oral advocacy with the Maryland Parole Commission, a client was granted parole on his earliest possible date, after only serving 25% of his sentence.
- Booth M. Ripke
Client Paid in Civil Settlement by Company Alleging Theft
A Baltimore County Assistant State's Attorney dismissed the embezzlement charges. Thereafter, Nathans & Ripke, LLP negotiated a civil settlement in which the company alleging the theft, paid our client several thousand dollars.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Client Received Unsupervised Probation After Initially Being Charged With 1st Degree Murder
Baltimore City Circuit Court attempted first degree murder charges dropped to a misdemeanor and client received unsupervised probation sentence.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Client Receives Warning Instead of Disbarment After Improper Escrow Fund Allegations
Peer review decision of warning rather than disbarment or suspension for experienced civil defense attorney alleged to have stolen and comingled client funds.
- Booth M. Ripke
Client Released on Parole Allowed to Travel to Europe on Dream Vacation
A client who had previously been released on parole from a murder conviction, and who studied European history in prison, was granted permission to travel to Europe on his dream vacation.
- Booth M. Ripke
Client Removed From Sex Offender Registry
Sex Offender Registry agreed to remove the client’s name after Nathans & Biddle, LLP proved that the publication of the client’s personal information was against the law.
- Booth M. Ripke
Client Serving Life Sentence Has Sentence Reduced and Is Freed
A Kent County Circuit Court Judge reduced our Client's life sentence for murder to 40 years. Client was released later in the week based upon his accumulated time served.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Client Serving Life Sentence is Freed
Nathans & Ripke, LLP client was serving a life sentence but was freed from prison after 37 years based on proof on an unconstitutional error in his jury instructions.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Client’s Registration as a Sex Offender Ordered Reduced
Court agreed to order the sex offender registry to reduce the period of Client’s registration from life-time to only 10 years, after proof by Nathans & Biddle, LLP that any longer registration violated the law.
- Booth M. Ripke
Conviction Overturned for Client Serving a Life Sentence
A St. Mary's County client serving a life sentence had his conviction overturned based upon Nathans & Biddle, LLP's discovery that the client's trial counsel had failed to adequately investigate and raise a mental health defense.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Dismissal of Hobbs Act Federal Criminal Indictment
Nathans & Biddle, LLP negotiated the dismissal of our client's Hobbs Act federal criminal indictment and successfully helped her avoid bribery and other potential charges related to the Greenbelt investigation of former Prince George's County Executive, Jack Johnson. Client eventually entered a guilty plea to a one count criminal information charging her with having wrongfully requested a police officer to run an improper Motor Vehicle Administration check. Client received a sentence of probation.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
- Robert W. Biddle
Election Law Charges Dismissed
Succeeded in having all criminal charges brought by the Maryland State Prosecutor dismissed and vindicated client's First Amendment rights in Prince George's County election law case involving campaign finance practices in the Republican Maryland gubernatorial campaign.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Election Law Charges Dismissed and Dismissal Upheld on Appeal Based on First Amendment Defense
Larry Nathans and Booth Ripke represented an individual associated with the Governor's election committee. Mr. Nathans and Mr. Ripke succeeded in having all charges dismissed in the Prince George's County Circuit Court and the ruling upheld by the Maryland Court of Appeals, by developing a novel argument that demonstrated the law unconstitutionally violated the First Amendment.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Exonerated Client Receives Second Monetary Award
Close to million-dollar 2022 supplemental award (plus medical and other services) awarded by the Maryland Board of Public Works after our successful ALJ hearing related to our previously exonerated client who had received a prior award of $1.4 million dollars.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Five Year Minimum Mandatory Conviction Reversed
The Maryland Court of Special Appeals reversed client's five year minimum mandatory conviction because the Cecil County Circuit Court failed to give a jury instruction requested by the defense that was supported by trial testimony. Client subsequently entered a guilty plea to a misdemeanor and was sentenced to time served.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Government Forgoes Felony Embezzlement Charges, Agrees to Misdemeanor
Early intervention with Government, before charges were ever filed, led to agreement by the Government not seek available felony embezzlement indictment.
- Booth M. Ripke
Hobbs Act Charges Dismissed and Sentence Negotiated to Probation in Corruption Case
In Federal Greenbelt high profile political corruption case, Nathans & Biddle, LLP client received sentence of probation following lengthy negotiation with government counsel and codefendants received prison sentences.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Howard County Felony Indictment Dismissed
Felony Criminal Charges dismissed in Howard County Circuit Court after arguing that the Indictment left out an essential element of the crime and was otherwise not specific.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Innocent Client Freed After 27 Years
Close to million-dollar 2022 supplemental award (plus medical and other services) awarded by the Maryland Board of Public Works after our successful ALJ hearing related to our previously exonerated client who had received a prior award of $1.4 million dollars.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Innocent Man Freed From Prison, Later Pardoned and Awarded $1.4 Million
Freeing an innocent man, Michael Austin, from prison - Mr. Nathans was engaged by Centurion Ministries, a New Jersey based organization committed to free wrongfully imprisoned individuals. Mr. Austin was serving a life sentence for the 1974 armed robbery/murder of a convenience store clerk. Larry Nathans and Booth Ripke mounted a successful challenge to Mr. Austin's conviction, based upon Mr. Austin's innocence and significant constitutional violations leading to his conviction. The case received significant local and national press coverage including an appearance by Mr. Austin and Mr. Nathans on ABC's Good Morning America news program. Mr. Austin received a full pardon from Governor Robert Ehrlich. The Maryland Board of Public Works (BPW) awarded Mr. Austin over $1.4 million dollars in compensation (the largest award ever given in Maryland). At the BPW hearing, Governor Ehrlich praised Mr. Austin's Nathans & Ripke, LLP, attorneys for their work in representing Mr. Austin.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
International Military Housing Company Successfully Represented
Navigated company with international military housing contracts through bribery probe investigation and trial of a government official in the Eastern District of Virginia
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Largest Cocaine Dealer’s Sentence Reduced
Representation of supposedly largest cocaine dealer ever prosecuted in Greenbelt Federal Court ended in vastly reduced 11 year sentence.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
- Robert W. Biddle
Life Sentence Reduced to Time Served
A Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge reduced our Client's life sentence to time served ending his 39 year incarceration for a murder that he did not commit. Nathans & Biddle, LLP partnered with New Jersey based Centurion Ministries in this case.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Motion to Reopen Granted
Granting a Motion to Reopen and granting a new trial after 23 years by the Howard County Circuit Court in a first degree murder case.
- Booth M. Ripke
Murder Charges, 36 Years in Prison Wrongfully Accused
Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office agrees that our post-conviction client is factually innocent. The State subsequently dismissed the murder charges thereby releasing our client who wrongfully spent 36 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.
- Booth M. Ripke
New Trial Granted for First Degree Murder Case
Granting a Motion to Reopen and granting a new trial after 23 years by the Howard County Circuit Court in a first degree murder case.
- Booth M. Ripke
New Trial Granted in Insurance Arson Case
The Maryland Court of Special Appeals affirmed the Circuit Court's granting of a new trial in an insurance arson case based on ineffective assistance of trial and appellate counsel and Carroll County prosecutor's failure to disclose Brady information. Client was originally sentenced to 18 years imprisonment consecutive to a previously imposed 10 year sentence. After having been free on release for over 2 years, client pled guilty and was sentenced to the time he had already served.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
No Charges Brought Against Attorney Accused of Legal Misconduct and Unethical Behavior
The Attorney Grievance Commission closed its investigation after receiving information provided on behalf of the client showing allegations were unfounded.
- Booth M. Ripke
No Charges Brought Against Attorney Accused of Unauthorized Practice of Law for 9 Years
The Attorney Grievance Commission’s investigation of a client who was accused of unauthorized practice of law over 9 years was closed following the presentation of legal argument and mitigating information.
- Booth M. Ripke
No Charges Brought in Separate Unauthorized Practice of Law Matters
Decisions by the Attorney Grievance Commission not to bring charges against three alleged unauthorized practice of law matters (involving defense against debt collectors, an immigration attorney and a former Virginia state prosecutor)
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
No Charges Filed Against Lawyer
Decision by Baltimore U.S. Attorney's Office to decline to charge lawyer client in mortgage fraud investigation based on lack of significant loss and mistake rather than purposefully misleading in home loan application.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
No Charges in Auto Part Price Fixing Case
Cleveland Department of Justice Antitrust Division's decision not to prosecute clients related to alleged conspiracy to control pricing of various car parts.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Peer Review Decision to Reprimand Rather Than Suspend
Favorable Peer Review decision awarding a reprimand for client charged with not diligently representing client, conflict of interest and false representations.
- Booth M. Ripke
Petition for Writ of Certiorari Granted in Innocence Case
Granting a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the Maryland Court of Appeals on an actual innocence case.
- Booth M. Ripke
Petition for Writ of Certiorari Granted in Juvenile Lifer Case
The Maryland Court of Appeals granted a Client’s Petition for Writ of Certiorari to review murder conviction arising from a juvenile’s guilty plea.
- Booth M. Ripke
Physician Found Not Guilty for Attempted 1st Degree Murder
Howard County physician found Not Criminally Responsible (NCR) for attempted first degree murder of her doctor husband.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Political Figure Receives Minimal License Suspension After Federal Income Tax Conviction
Court of Appeals agreement to uphold negotiation between our firm and Bar Counsel suspending client’s license only for 6 months after he received 6 month imprisonment sentence for multiple years of federal income tax violations.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Presented New Evidence of Innocence and Client Freed After Having Served 39 Years
Walter Lomax was freed after serving 39 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Booth Ripke and Larry Nathans began representing Mr. Lomax in 2005, after an exhaustive investigation revealed never before presented evidence of innocence. The firm filed a Motion to Reopen in the decades old case.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Reduced Sentence for Embezzlement Client After Multi-Day Sentencing Hearing
Sentence below the guidelines for former Executive Director of Maryland/Virginia non-profit company in a Baltimore Federal criminal embezzlement case.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
- Robert W. Biddle
Secured a Significant Sentence Reduction for Client Involved in Historical Document Theft Scheme
Our Client was indicted in the United States District Court for Maryland for his involvement in the most prolific historical document theft scheme in United States history from numerous historical societies in several states including Maryland. After extensive pretrial and sentencing efforts, Larry Nathans and Booth Ripke, Nathans & Ripke, LLP, were able to secure a sentence of one year and one day in a minimum security prison. This sentence was far less than sentence the Government requested in Court. It was also seven times less than the 84 month sentence given to his co-defendant, Barry Landau. National Archives' Targeted By Thieves - 60 Minutes story dated October 27, 2012
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Securities Attorney Found Not to Have Violated Rules
Peer review decision finding that Securities Attorney did not violate any Maryland rules regarding his representation of another attorney in securities case and in his efforts to withdraw from his representation in that matter.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Senior Executive Receives Significant Sentence Reduction After Long Federal Health Care Trial
Significant sentencing reduction from final Federal Sentencing Guidelines range of 6-8 years to a sentence of 1 year and 1 day imprisonment for senior executive after many month Tampa federal health care case tried by other counsel.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Senior in House Counsel Not Charged for Submitting Alleged False Statements
Representation of Senior In House Counsel, in federal criminal clean water and false statements prosecution in the Western United States, led to no charges.
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans
Sentence Drastically Reduced in Historical Document Theft Scheme
Client was indicted in the United States District Court for Maryland for his involvement in the most prolific historical document theft scheme in United States history from numerous historical societies in several states including Maryland. After extensive pretrial and sentencing efforts, Larry Nathans and Booth Ripke, Nathans & Biddle, LLP, were able to secure a sentence of one year and one day in a minimum security prison for our client. This sentence was far less than sentence the Government requested in Court. It was also seven times less than the 84 month sentence given to his co-defendant, Barry Landau. National Archives' Targeted By Thieves - 60 Minutes story dated October 27, 2012
- Booth M. Ripke
- Larry Allen Nathans

About

Practice Focus & Experience

Booth Ripke has 25 years of experience as a criminal defense litigator. He has successfully defended a full range of cases - from major federal felonies to state court misdemeanors. His advocacy was critical in winning the release of Walter Lomax (who had been wrongly imprisoned for 39 years), and Andrew Stewart (who was innocent and had been incarcerated for 36 years), and winning an Actual Innocence Petition for George Seward, and obtaining a new trial in a first-degree murder case for Brian Tate.

Mr. Ripke's practice is primarily focused on white collar and post-conviction criminal matters. He also focuses on appellate litigation in Maryland state and federal courts, the District of Columbia, and the Fourth Circuit, as well as the defense of professional licenses. Mr. Ripke has represented numerous attorneys before either the Maryland Attorney Grievance Commission, Bar Counsel of the District of Columbia, and in Rule 11 proceedings in federal court. He regularly defends issues like the unauthorized practice of law, questions involving alleged breaches of financial obligations, attorneys who have received formal complaints from judges, and attorneys facing possible professional repercussions arising from criminal convictions.

Activities, Publications, & Speeches

Mr. Ripke is a graduate of the Maryland State Bar Association's Leadership Academy program. He has taught Legal Research and Writing at the University of Maryland School of Law. In 2003, Mr. Ripke was voted the Adjunct Professor of the Year at the University of Maryland School of Law, where he had lectured on pre-trial litigation and appellate practice. Mr. Ripke was elected in 2007 to become a Fellow of the Maryland Bar, an honor reserved for only 1% of the members of the state bar. Mr. Ripke served as the 2012-2013 Chairperson of the Correctional Reform Section Council for the Maryland State Bar Association. He recently led a panel discussion at the Mid-Atlantic National Lawyers' Guild Conference.

Bar Admissions:

Mr. Ripke is admitted to practice in Maryland, the District of Columbia, the U.S. District Court for Maryland, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.

Education

Mr. Ripke is an honors graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law (1998), and graduated Order of the Coif with a fellowship in the study of mental health law. He received a Masters of Education degree (1992) from the Pennsylvania State University in Counseling and a Bachelor of Science degree (1991) from the University of Florida, with high honors.

Awards

Mr. Ripke was elected in 2007 to become a Fellow of the Maryland Bar, an honor reserved for only 1% of the members of the State bar.

Mr. Ripke was chosen for inclusion in the Maryland Super Lawyers for 2016-2018, 2020-2025 in the area of Criminal Law. He was selected for inclusion on the 2009 Super Lawyers Maryland Rising Stars list, featuring outstanding young lawyers in the state.

Mr. Ripke was also selected for inclusion in the Best Lawyers of America (2018-2025) for White Collar Criminal Defense.

Lectures, Presentations and Appellate Oral Arguments

Lecture, Internal workings of the Attorney Grievance Commission, Presentation for Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney’s Association, September 21, 2017.
Innocence Conference: From Bloodsworth to today. Wrongful convictions in Maryland, Panel Presentation at University of Baltimore School of Law, September 29, 2016.
National Lawyers Guild – Maryland Chapter. Panel Presentation at Annual Conference, Unger Workshop, April 18, 2015

Mr. Ripke served as principal counsel in arguing the following appeals

United States v. Chikvashvili, 859 F.3d 285 (4^th Cir. 2017)
United States v. Glover, et al., 872 F.3d 625 (D.C. Cir. 2017)
Gupta v. State, 452 Md. 103 (2017)
Seward v. State, 446 Md. 171 (2016)
State v. Gupta, 227 Md. App. 718 (2016)
Attorney Grievance Commission v. Berry, 437 Md. 152 (2014)
State v. Seward, 220 Md. App. 1 (2014)
Crawford v. Katz, 32 D.3d 418 (D.C. 2011)
Barnes v. State, 195 Md. App. 1 (2010)
United States v. Akins, 335 Fed. Apx. 335 (4^th Cir. 2009)
Dorsey v. State, 185 Md. App. 82 (2009)
United States v. Olivares, 292 F.3d 196 (4^th Cir, 2002)

Professional Associations:

Chair, Correctional Reform Section Council, Maryland State Bar Association
Member, Federal Bar Association
Member, Maryland State Bar Association
Member, Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney's Association
Amicus Committee of the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney's Association
Legislative Committee of the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney's Association

Hobbies

When he finds time to relax, Mr. Ripke enjoys spending time with his family, hosting weekend camping trips, and following the year-long obsession that is Florida Gator football.

Awards

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