Women Criminal Defense Attorneys: “When I Grow Up I Want to Represent a Princess”
How many criminal defense attorneys can claim to have represented royalty?
Jennifer Keller, of Keller Rackauckas Umber Zipser, LLP, did just that. Keller was involved in the successful defense of Saudi Arabian princess Meshael Alayban, who was arrested in Orange County, California in July. The princess was charged with one count of felony human trafficking. The charge originated from a Kenyan domestic worker who claimed that she was lied to about her salary and working hours, and thereafter was forced to work long hours for minimal pay and prevented from leaving the house. She claimed her passport was confiscated and that she was held against her will. When Alayban was arrested, the prosecutor was quoted as likening the case to modern day slavery.
In a dramatic turn of events, at the arraignment last Friday, the prosecutors dropped the charges while stating that the evidence did not support the accusations. When the princess was originally arrested, the arrest and the 5 million-dollar bond posted by the Saudi Arabian consulate were all over the news. After the case was dropped, just over two months after the arrest, Keller spoke to the Los Angeles Times about law enforcement's rush to judgment. She noted that many of the allegations by Alayban's employee could have been disproved simply by talking to the neighbors. Neighbors would have confirmed that the employee was seen coming and going all the time. Keller and the other lawyers on the team jumped into action and sent 22 investigators to collect evidence in Kenya, Saudi Arabia and the Philippines. “They concluded the allegations were based on lies and were part of a scam by the employee to gain legal status in the U.S.” Keller said. Keller was quoted as thanking the prosecutor for being a “man of integrity” in an ABC news story.
Keller is a criminal defense lawyer and litigator practicing in Irvine, California with over 30 years of experience. She was just named, for the third year in a row, as one of the “Top 100 Lawyers in California.” This case demonstrates the truth in that statement. There is no substitute for being quick on your feet, and Keller and her team clearly hit the ground running - which made all the difference in the case. They did the detailed legwork that law enforcement did not do, but should have.
From my perspective, there are two especially important takeaways from this case.
First, that developing and preserving evidence quickly can make or break our ability to successfully defend a client. And second, this case reinforces the importance of being able to dialogue with prosecutors when the situation calls for it. Making sure that the door to the prosecutor remains open is not always easy when acting as an advocate - but it’s important. That doesn’t mean you have to roll over for a prosecutor to get them to like you, it simply means that you should make a point of always treating them professionally and respectfully. The ability to walk that tightrope is the difference between average lawyering and exceptional lawyering.
It is obvious that Keller understands both of these key principles. Being able to quickly change a prosecutor’s perception, especially in such a high profile case, demonstrates that Jennifer Keller knew how to accomplish both of these tasks effectively… much to the benefit of her royal client.