Thiruvendran Vignarajah Explained

Thiru Vignarajah
Birth Date:18 December 1976
Party:Democratic
Relatives:Krish O'Mara Vignarajah (sister)
Education:Yale University (BA)
King's College London (MA)
Harvard University (JD)

Thiruvendran "Thiru" Vignarajah (born December 18, 1976) is an American lawyer and politician. He previously was Deputy Attorney General of Maryland.[1] He is a litigation partner at the law firm DLA Piper in Baltimore. He has also been the lead attorney for the State of Maryland in the post-conviction appeals of Adnan Syed, who was wrongfully convicted of murder in the high-profile 1999 killing of Hae Min Lee.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] He is a four-time candidate for Baltimore State's Attorney and mayor of Baltimore, having run for both positions twice and being defeated in the primary each time.

Education

Vignarajah, the son of immigrants from Sri Lanka, graduated from Woodlawn High School in Baltimore, Maryland.[7] [8] His sister is Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, now president and CEO of Lutheran Immigration Services.[9] He studied at Yale College where he received degrees in Political Science and Philosophy, before earning a master's degree in Medical Ethics at King's College London.[10] He then joined the consulting firm McKinsey & Company before attending Harvard Law School.[11] [12] He was elected President of the Harvard Law Review and was responsible for leading a push for addressing the gender disparity in law review admissions.[13] [14] [15] [16] While at Harvard, Vignarajah was also a research assistant for Derek Bok, the former President of Harvard University, and Arthur R. Miller.[17]

Legal career

After law school, Vignarajah clerked for Judge Guido Calabresi, a federal appellate judge on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and for Justice Stephen Breyer of the Supreme Court of the United States from 2006 to 2007. Following his clerkships, Vignarajah practiced at Arnold & Porter in Washington, D.C., before serving as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, under Rod J. Rosenstein, and then as Chief of the Major Investigations Unit at the State's Attorney's Office for Baltimore City. In 2015, Vignarajah was named Deputy Attorney General for the State of Maryland.[18]

As Deputy Attorney General, Vignarajah was the lead author of statewide guidelines issued by the Maryland Attorney General to end discriminatory profiling by police, making Maryland the first state to answer former Attorney General Eric Holder's call for states to issue guidelines on profiling.[19] [20] [21]

As a prosecutor, Vignarajah handled a number of notable cases in Maryland.[22] He was responsible for prosecuting, among others, the alleged mastermind of a series of armed robberies that resulted in the murder of a Greek businessman in Baltimore;[23] a former nonprofit board director who allegedly set a row home on fire with his mistress and her five-year-old son sleeping inside;[24] and two alleged members of the Black Guerrilla Family who killed a 12-year-old boy and shot three other teenagers.[25] [26]

Vignarajah has taught constitutional law, administrative law, and law and education as a member of the adjunct faculty at the University of Baltimore School of Law and the University of Maryland School of Law. He also teaches a course on crime policy at Johns Hopkins University.[27]

Killing of Hae Min Lee

See main article: Killing of Hae Min Lee.

The first season of the podcast Serial focused attention on the 1999 killing of Baltimore teen Hae Min Lee. A high school classmate, Adnan Syed, was convicted of her murder in 2000. Vignarajah has handled multiple appeals filed by Syed's legal team.[28] On March 29, 2018, Maryland's Court of Special Appeals upheld a ruling that Syed was entitled to a new trial.[29] On May 14, 2018, Vignarajah appealed the ruling.[30] On March 8, 2019, Maryland's Court of Appeals overturned the ruling and reinstated Syed's original conviction.[31]

Recorded sharing of nonpublic information

While serving as Deputy Attorney General of Maryland, Vignarajah was covertly filmed by conservative political activist James O'Keefe for his organization, Project Veritas. Vignarajah was filmed in a hotel room giving a female Project Veritas reporter information about plans to side with the Environmental Protection Agency against Maryland Governor Hogan. The plan had not yet been announced to the public. A spokesperson for Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh said that “No protected or confidential information was revealed in any discussions." Ivan Bates, who at the time was running against Vignarajah, said that Vignarajah was "relaying this sensitive material to impress this young lady."[32] [33]

Hostile work environment

In an interview in May 2020, seven attorneys who worked under Vignarajah alleged that "he was a controlling and unreasonably demanding boss, one who would surround himself with young lawyers and press them to work all night and take his phone calls after-hours".[34] In July 2022, Vignarajah was accused of creating a hostile work environment in the Major Investigations Unit at the Baltimore City State's Attorney Office and the Office of the Attorney General.[35] Vignarajah has strongly denied these accusations,[36] telling The Baltimore Sun that he had "supervised nearly 200 interns and law clerks in the past decade without incident".

Political career

On September 14, 2017, Vignarajah declared his candidacy for Baltimore City State's Attorney as a Democrat.[37] He lost the primary with 23% of the vote against 28% for Ivan Bates and 49% for incumbent Marilyn Mosby. Mosby was unopposed in the general election.[38]

After Baltimore Police Commissioner Darryl De Sousa resigned (after being indicted), Vignarajah said the resignation showed the need for the city's top prosecutor to retain the confidence of the public. Ivan Bates, who was one of Vignarajah's opponents in the race for Baltimore City State's attorney, responded that the Project Veritas video shows that Vignarajah lacks the judgment to be State's attorney.

Bates and Vignarajah also clashed over the Syed case, with Bates saying that, if elected, he would drop the case against Syed, because he found the evidence against Syed to be unreliable.[39]

On April 10, 2019, Vignarajah declared his candidacy for the 2020 election for Mayor of the City of Baltimore as a Democrat. He lost the June 2020 primary, taking 11% of the vote.[40]

On March 22, 2022, Vignarajah declared his candidacy for Baltimore City State's Attorney as a Democrat.[41] During the primary, Vignarajah was endorsed by Republican Governor Larry Hogan.[42] Vignarajah was defeated in the Democratic primary on July 19, 2022, by defense attorney Ivan Bates.[43]

In December 2023, Vignarajah formed an exploratory committee to explore a second run for mayor of Baltimore in 2024, seeking to challenge incumbent mayor Brandon Scott.[44] He officially entered the race on January 24, 2024,[45] but withdrew on May 1 and endorsed former mayor Sheila Dixon. After his withdrawal, the Scott campaign alleged that Vignarajah had offered his endorsement to Scott in exchange to become the Baltimore Police Commissioner or the CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools; Scott declined Vignarajah's offer, instead encouraging him to remain in the race. Vignarajah neither confirmed nor denied these accusations.[46] [47] Dixon responded to the Scott campaign's allegations by disputing rumors that she had made a similar agreement with Vignarajah if she wins the Democratic primary.[48]

Police stop

Vignarajah was pulled over late into the night on September 26, 2019, by Baltimore City Police. Vignarajah was allegedly driving with suspended license plates. During the traffic stop he asked the officer "We are 600 patrol officers down and that's what you're doing in Greenmount?", then later asked the officers to turn off their body cameras.[49] [50] City Council President Brandon Scott criticized Vignarajah's behavior during the stop, saying "You get into public service to do good for all, not to get special treatment for yourself". Baltimore Police Sgt Bill Shiflett said that Vignarajah put the officers in a no-win position, because turning the cameras off is against police department policy, and Vignarajah knew it.[51] [52]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Fenton. Justin. Top city prosecutor, O'Malley aide join AG's office. The Baltimore Sun. December 30, 2014. April 25, 2017. April 25, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170425121142/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-frosh-deputies-vignarajah-harris-20141230-story.html. live.
  2. Web site: Brief of Appellee, Adnan Syed v. State of Maryland . May 6, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161007050432/http://mdcourts.gov/cosappeals/pdfs/syed/appelleebrief201505.pdf . October 7, 2016.
  3. News: Rector. Kevin. State calls Adnan Syed's request to reopen proceedings 'meritless'. The Baltimore Sun. September 24, 2015. April 25, 2017. February 17, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170217022051/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-syed-state-response-20150923-story.html. live.
  4. News: Francke. Caitlin. Jury finds teen guilty of killing ex-girlfriend. The Baltimore Sun. February 26, 2000. subscription. May 24, 2022. October 1, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181001191542/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2000-02-26/news/0002280318_1_woodlawn-high-min-lee-syed. live.
  5. Larson. Sarah. Serial: The Podcast We've Been Waiting For. The New Yorker. October 9, 2014. May 24, 2022. October 11, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141011221411/http://www.newyorker.com/culture/sarah-larson/serial-podcast-weve-waiting. live.
  6. Now That Adnan Syed Has Won His Release, What Comes Next? . . December 13, 2022 . September 21, 2022 . Ron . Cassie.
  7. News: Best of 2014 and Lawyer to Watch in 2015 . Center Maryland . January 4, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160819021612/http://centermaryland.org/index.php?option=com_easyblog&view=entry&id=1145 . August 19, 2016.
  8. News: Bishop. Tricia. New city division to target violent repeat offenders. The Baltimore Sun. June 2, 2011. April 25, 2017. April 25, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170425114154/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-06-02/news/bs-md-ci-bernstein-division-chief-20110602_1_offenders-baltimore-school-bernstein. live.
  9. Web site: Cutter. Kimberly. April 17, 2018. Krishanti Vignarajah Wants to Be the First Female Governor of Maryland. March 22, 2021. Marie Claire. en-US. April 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210414031514/https://www.marieclaire.com/politics/a19810102/krishanti-vignarajah-governor-of-maryland/. live.
  10. News: Fenton. Justin. Heralded young prosecutor joins city state's attorney's office. The Baltimore Sun. November 27, 2011. April 25, 2017. April 25, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170425120708/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-11-27/news/bs-md-ci-major-crimes-unit-20111126_1_new-unit-thiru-vignarajah-prosecutor. live.
  11. News: Harvard Law Review Elects New President. Harvard Law School. Harvard Law Today. February 23, 2004. August 16, 2022. August 16, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220816190150/https://today.law.harvard.edu/harvard-law-review-elects-new-president/. live.
  12. Web site: Alumni News. Yale Debate Assoc.. Yale Debate Association. April 10, 2020. May 16, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200516034301/http://www.yaledebate.org/alumni.html. live.
  13. News: Esensten. Andrew C.. Harvard Law Review Names New President, second-year law student seeks to eliminate gender gap. The Harvard Crimson. March 1, 2004. April 17, 2020. October 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201026095539/https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2004/3/1/harvard-law-review-names-new-president/. live.
  14. News: Levine. Adina. Law Review elects new president. Harvard Law Record. February 19, 2004. August 16, 2022. August 16, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220816190150/https://hlrecord.org/law-review-elects-new-president/. live.
  15. Web site: Thiru . Vignarajah . Articles Policy Changes by Harvard Law Review . February 9, 2005 . April 10, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110604160712/http://www.temple.edu/lawschool/faculty/hlr.htm . June 4, 2011.
  16. News: Zhao. Yilu. Beyond 'Sweetie'. The New York Times. November 7, 2004. September 16, 2017. August 6, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170806223927/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/07/education/edlife/beyond-sweetie.html?_r=0. live.
  17. Miller. Arthur R.. Common Law Protections for Products of the Mind. Harvard Law Review. January 2006. April 25, 2017. April 25, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170425115035/https://litigation-essentials.lexisnexis.com/webcd/app?action=DocumentDisplay&crawlid=1&doctype=cite&docid=119+Harv.+L.+Rev.+703&srctype=smi&srcid=3B15&key=77e5dcb2d1e5a3c49aaef164b47544d5. live.
  18. News: Rodricks. Dan. Prosecutor's commitment makes a city neighborhood safer. The Baltimore Sun. September 19, 2015. subscription. April 25, 2017. April 26, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170426062925/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-rodricks-0920-20150918-column.html. live.
  19. News: Kast. Sheilah. McKone. Jonna. Translating 'Equal Justice For All' To Routine Policing. WYPR. September 11, 2015. April 25, 2017. April 26, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170426150826/http://wypr.org/post/translating-equal-justice-all-routine-policing. live.
  20. News: Stolberg. Sheryl Gay. Maryland Restricts Racial Profiling in New Guidelines for Law Enforcement. The New York Times. August 25, 2015. September 16, 2017. August 11, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190811231907/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/26/us/maryland-restricts-racial-profiling-in-new-guidelines-for-law-enforcement.html?_r=0. live.
  21. News: Burke. Sonya. Attorney General Brian Frosh Releases Memo Designed to End Racial Profiling by Police. Montgomery Community Media. August 25, 2015. August 16, 2022. August 16, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220816185712/https://archive.mymcmedia.org/attorney-general-brian-frosh-releases-memo-designed-to-end-racial-profiling-by-police-video/. live.
  22. News: Fenton. Justin. Exposed to violence at early age, gang member became 'agent of fear'. The Baltimore Sun. September 11, 2015. April 25, 2017. April 25, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170425115241/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-ci-bgf-gang-sentencing-20150911-story.html. live.
  23. News: Bishop. Tricia. Armed robbery mastermind sentenced to 77 years, Greek businessman died after being tied up. The Baltimore Sun. June 17, 2011. April 25, 2017. April 25, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170425121740/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-06-17/news/bs-md-ci-mamalis-sentencing-20110617_1_pharmacy-owner-precision-vending-legg. live.
  24. News: Donovan. Doug. Lives on the Line. The Baltimore Sun. July 13, 2014. April 25, 2017. September 19, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220919234047/http://data.baltimoresun.com/lifeline/. live.
  25. News: Fenton. Justin. Two men convicted in murder of 12-year-old Baltimore boy. The Baltimore Sun. March 16, 2014. April 25, 2017. April 25, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170425204702/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2014-03-16/news/bs-md-sean-johnson-trial-20140316_1_antwan-mosley-danyae-robinson-fellow-gang-member. live.
  26. News: Duncan. Ian. Killers of 12-year-old boy sentenced to prison. The Baltimore Sun. October 17, 2014. April 25, 2017. April 25, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170425122052/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-ci-murder-sentences-20141017-story.html. live.
  27. News: Thiru Vignarajah . DLA Piper Global Law Firm . DLA Piper . April 24, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210413022959/https://www.dlapiper.com/en/us/people/v/vignarajah-thiruvendran/ . April 13, 2021.
  28. Web site: Conviction vacated, new trial granted for Adnan Syed of 'Serial'. Justin. Fenton. Justin. George. The Baltimore Sun. June 30, 2016. April 5, 2018. October 11, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181011084004/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-ci-adnan-syed-new-trial-20160630-story.html. live.
  29. Web site: New Trial Upheld for Adnan Syed of 'Serial'. Liam. Stack. The New York Times. March 29, 2018. April 5, 2018. April 12, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190412070353/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/29/us/adnan-syed-serial.html. live.
  30. News: Tim . Prudente . Prosecutors ask Maryland's highest court to reverse ruling of new trial for 'Serial' subject Adnan Syed . The Baltimore Sun . May 14, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180514225726/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-ci-adnan-syed-appeal-20180514-story.html . May 14, 2018.
  31. News: Adnan Syed case: Maryland high court reinstates 'Serial' subject's conviction. Tim. Prudente. The Baltimore Sun. March 8, 2019. April 12, 2019. April 20, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190420115658/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-ci-syed-appeal-20190222-story.html. live.
  32. News: Ivan Bates cites Project Veritas video of rival as race for Baltimore state's attorney heats up. The Baltimore Sun. May 25, 2018. Tim. Prudente. https://web.archive.org/web/20180525193934/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-ci-states-attorney-race-20180517-story.html. May 25, 2018.
  33. News: Attorney general defends top aide after recording surfaces. March 13, 2018. WBAL-TV. December 1, 2015. March 14, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180314043157/http://www.wbaltv.com/article/attorney-general-defends-top-aide-after-recording-surfaces/7097488. live.
  34. News: Prudente . Tim . Smart, dedicated, shadowed by questions: Vignarajah emerges as complicated choice in Baltimore mayoral race . June 25, 2022 . . May 19, 2020 . June 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220625200128/https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/elections/bs-md-pol-vignarajah-profile-20200519-tcsvyxa6nrharjhhxacii6a554-story.html . live .
  35. News: Sanderlin . Lee . Thiru Vignarajah harassed and abused staff at attorney general's, Baltimore state's attorney offices, former subordinates say . July 6, 2022 . . July 6, 2022 . July 6, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220706200426/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/investigations/bs-md-vignarajah-staff-20220706-v2jmd3bznfbshnf5onq2xiekdi-story.html . live .
  36. News: Shen . Fern . A critical article drops and Thiru Vignarajah leaves a candidate forum early . June 25, 2022 . . June 23, 2022 . June 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220625002838/https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2022/06/23/a-critical-article-drops-and-thiru-vignarajah-leaves-a-candidate-forum-early/ . live .
  37. News: Fenton. Justin. Former deputy attorney general, 'Serial' appeal prosecutor running for Baltimore state's attorney. The Baltimore Sun. September 17, 2017. September 14, 2017. September 14, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170914222823/http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-ci-vignarajah-states-attorney-20170913-story.html. live.
  38. Web site: Marilyn Mosby wins Baltimore State's Attorney race again. 2 WMAR Baltimore. Corey. Shegda. June 27, 2018. July 14, 2018. July 14, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180714135302/https://www.wmar2news.com/news/region/baltimore-city/three-candidates-anxiously-await-results-of-the-baltimore-state-s-attorney-race. live.
  39. 'Serial': Baltimore State's Attorney Race Could Mean Freedom for Adnan Syed. Rolling Stone. Amelia. Mcdonnell-Parry. May 21, 2018. June 1, 2018. June 1, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180601192525/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/serial-states-attorney-race-freedom-adnan-syed-w520510. live.
  40. Web site: 2020 Election Results Official 2020 Presidential Primary Election results for Baltimore City . elections.maryland.gov . Maryland State Board of Elections . August 16, 2022 . July 2, 2020 . May 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220508074531/https://elections.maryland.gov/elections/2020/results/Primary/gen_results_2020_3_by_county_030.html . live .
  41. News: Mann . Alex . Two years removed from Baltimore mayoral candidacy, Thiru Vignarajah announces run for state's attorney . June 25, 2022 . . March 22, 2022 . June 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220625200547/https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-thiru-vignarajah-states-attorney-candidacy-20220322-h42lbu5rtree7bwelfk4opkq2u-story.html . live .
  42. News: Mann . Alex . Maryland Gov. Hogan endorses Thiru Vignarajah for Baltimore State's Attorney . June 25, 2022 . . March 31, 2022 . June 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220625200127/https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-hogan-endorses-vignarajah-20220331-tnkowxpbrvckbghw65szbwnzsa-story.html . live .
  43. News: Mann . Alex . Sanderlin . Lee . Ivan Bates wins Democratic primary for Baltimore State's Attorney; Marilyn Mosby comes up short of third term . July 22, 2022 . . July 22, 2022 . July 22, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220722231919/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/crime/bs-md-ci-cr-ivan-bates-wins-democrat-primary-states-attorney-over-marilyn-mosby-20220722-w4h2wdtlvzc2raht6zhxmhjcay-story.html . live .
  44. News: Opilo . Emily . Thiru Vignarajah explores second bid for Baltimore mayor . December 22, 2023 . . December 22, 2023.
  45. News: Sullivan . Emily . Thiru Vignarajah makes run for mayor official, will use public financing . January 24, 2024 . . January 24, 2024 . en.
  46. News: Clark . Tommie . Thiru Vignarajah drops out of mayor's race, offers endorsement . May 1, 2024 . . May 1, 2024 . en.
  47. News: Sullivan . Emily . Thiru Vignarajah drops out of mayor's race, endorses Sheila Dixon . May 1, 2024 . . May 1, 2024 . en.
  48. News: Olaniran . Christian . Thompson . Adam . Thiru Vignarajah drops out of Baltimore mayoral race. Source says he offered to endorse Mayor Scott in exchange for administration position . May 1, 2024 . . May 1, 2024.
  49. Web site: VID | Mayoral candidate Thiru Vignarajah pulled over for suspended license plates. Bryna. Zumer. January 21, 2020. WBFF. April 10, 2020. June 8, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200608221939/https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/vid-mayoral-candidate-thiru-vignarajah-pulled-over-for-suspended-license-plates. live.
  50. Web site: Video of late-night traffic stop shows Baltimore mayoral candidate Thiru Vignarajah drove on suspended tags. The Baltimore Sun. January 20, 2020. Luke. Broadwater. February 14, 2020. January 21, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200121164205/https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-thiru-traffic-stop-20200120-xkfzi6ahozgbdp3xyovvvpgbnm-story.html. live.
  51. Web site: Questions Raised About Baltimore Mayoral Candidate Thiru Vignarajah's Treatment During Traffic Stop. IndiaWest. February 14, 2020. June 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200611205119/https://www.indiawest.com/news/global_indian/questions-raised-about-baltimore-mayoral-candidate-thiru-vignarajah-s-treatment/article_9b022bbc-4dd2-11ea-914d-e7aaff5629c2.html. live.
  52. Web site: Sergeant tells mayoral candidate Thiru Vignarajah he put 'officers in jeopardy'. Bryna. Zumer. January 20, 2020. February 14, 2020. WBFF. September 19, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220919234152/https://gum.criteo.com/syncframe?origin=publishertag&topUrl=foxbaltimore.com. live.

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