A Decade of Advocacy Leads to Asylum Victory
Commitment Paved the Way to a Governor-Granted Pardon
After a journey that began in 2022, one of our pro bono clients received a full pardon— approved by
the Board of Pardons and granted by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. This outcome represents both justice and changed lives. The client’ s application told a compelling story: he unknowingly pawned stolen earrings and immediately cooperated with law enforcement to recover them once notified, and he has had no further involvement with the criminal justice system since. Today, he is a married father of three children, coaches their sports teams, serves his church community, and is pursuing education to further his career. The successful pardon is a result of Jeffrey N. Rosenthal’ s steadfast advocacy, guiding the case from initial application through approval by the Board of Pardons. It also exemplifies Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity’ s mission to uplift communities most affected by social justice inequities by helping individuals overcome barriers created by criminal records, which expands opportunities for clients and their families.
After 10 years of persistent advocacy, Kierstan L. Carlson, Dana S. Merkel, Amanda C. DeLaPerriere, and Michael Joseph helped a longtime pro bono client secure asylum in the United States. The client, a gay man from Yemen, had faced blackmail and death threats because of his sexual orientation. His asylum application, originally filed in 2015, was delayed for years as immigration policies shifted and did not reach a final interview until recently.
Through the team’ s unwavering commitment and tireless representation, the client can now live safely and openly in the United States.
Dismissal of Misdemeanor Charges Provides a Fresh Start
Gabrielle N. Ganze successfully worked with the Illinois State Attorney’ s Office to resolve a client’ s long-standing legal challenges, resulting in the dismissal of all misdemeanor charges. Gabrielle also secured the dismissal of two decades-old traffic tickets without any fines— an important outcome for a client with limited financial means. With all matters resolved, the client is now eligible to apply for reinstatement of his driver’ s license, which had been revoked for
more than 10 years. Restoring his ability to drive will allow him to be more present in his young son’ s life.
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The BRoader Impact- 2026 Annual Report