Board of Advisors
Meet the Flex Your Rights Board of Advisors. We rely upon these legal and law-enforcement experts to make sure our materials are legally accurate and practical.
Stanford “Neill” Franklin
Neill Franklin, a 32-year law enforcement veteran, retired from the Maryland State Police in 1999. During his time on the force he held the position of commander for the Education and Training Division and the Bureau of Drug and Criminal Enforcement. Major Franklin instituted and oversaw the very first Domestic Violence Investigative Units for the Maryland State Police. After 23 years of dedicated service to the Maryland State Police, he was recruited in 2000 by the Commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department to reconstruct and command Baltimore’s Education and Training Section. (Read full bio.)
Ira Glasser
Mr. Glasser served as Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union from 1978 until 2001. Previously, he was Executive Director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. (Read full bio.)
Ronald E. Hampton
Ronald Hampton is the executive director of the National Black Police Association.
Hampton retired from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department after twenty-three years of service as Community Relations Officer. He is reputed for his outstanding work, with the citizens of the Third District in Washington, D.C. in crime prevention and community participation and relations. His extensive experience and knowledge in community relations and policing has resulted in education and training opportunities for Mr. Hampton locally, nationally, and internationally. (Read full bio.)
Jon Katz, Esq.
Jon Katz is a criminal defense lawyer for clients accused of felonies and misdemeanors in the state and federal courts in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. He has been defending in criminal courts since 1991, and is frequently sought by the news media for legal commentary. (Read full bio.)
Timothy Lynch
Under the direction of Tim Lynch, The Cato Institute's Project on Criminal Justice has become a leading voice in support of the Bill of Rights and civil liberties. His research interests include the war on terrorism, overcriminalization, the drug war, the militarization of police tactics, and gun control. (Read full bio.)
Judge William "Billy" Murphy, Jr.
When the Governor of Maryland sought an attorney to serve on the Judicial Appointments Committee, Governor Ehrlich called Judge Billy Murphy "an attorney who has won more cases in front of more judges in Maryland" a man respected and known across the state for his legal acuity and expertise inside and out of the courtroom. (Read full bio.)
Deborah Peterson Small, Esq.
Deborah Peterson Small is the Executive Director and founder of Break the Chains. Before founding Break the Chains, Ms. Small was Director of Public Policy for the Drug Policy Alliance where she led a variety of community-based initiatives for progressive drug policy reform. (Read full bio.)
Norm Stamper, Ph.D.
Norm Stamper, Ph.D., was a police officer for 34 years. He served as chief of the Seattle Police Department from 1994 to 2000. In his 28 years with SDPD Norm rose quickly through the ranks and as a deputy chief served in each of the agency's bureaus. (Read full bio.)
Eric E. Sterling, Esq.
Since 1989, Eric E. Sterling has been the President of The Criminal Justice Policy Foundation, a private non-profit educational organization that helps educate the nation about criminal justice problems. Mr. Sterling frequently lectures at colleges and universities, and to professional societies throughout the nation about criminal justice issues. Mr. Sterling is currently an Adjunct Lecturer in Sociology at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. (Read full bio.)
