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Rene Sandler, Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney
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Headline Cases for Rene Sandler

RENE SANDLER OBTAINS ACQUITTAL ON TWO COUNTS; JURY UNABLE TO UNAMINOUSLY DECIDE (MISTRIAL) ON THE REMAINING COUNT  IN TWINBROOK METRO RAPE CASE

Malakai RaymondRockville attorney Rene Sandler heads to court for the weeklong trial of Malachi Raymond which took place September 23-27, 2019 in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland. Mr. Raymond is accused of second degree rape which allegedly took place at the Twinbrook Metro Station in October, 2018.  The judge found Mr. Raymond not guilty of two fourth degree sexual offenses with the jury unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the second degree rape charge which resulted in a mistrial. The case received widespread media attention last year following the initial report. Mr. Raymond will be retried by the State on the remaining charge. read article

 

Bail denied for man facing drug, firearms charges

  • FrederickNewsPost.com • December 4, 2017 • read article

 

Rene Sandler represents 17 year old brutally attacked
at Rockville High School on March 7, 2017.

  • WTOP.com • March 24, 2017 • read article
  • YouTube.com • March 26, 2017
  • MyMCMedia.org • March 27, 2017
  • WAMU.org • March 27, 2017 • read article
  • BethesdaMagazine.com • March 27, 2017 • read article
  • Your4State.com • March 28, 2017
  • Fox5DC.com • March 28, 2017

 

Rene Sandler breaks down Maryland's law on mental health defenses in the case of Catherine Hoggle in Montgomery County, MD.

Catherine Hoggle's two children are missing and she is being held in their disappearance.

  • MyMCMedia.org • January 2015

 

Rene sandler exposes violations by montgomery county police alcohol task force in Damascus alcohol case

  • Charges dropped against Damascus family accused of throwing party with underage drinking
    MyFoxDC.com • November 20, 2014
  • Damascus couple accused of hosting underage keg party has charges dropped
    WashingtonPost.com • November 17, 2014 • read article
  • State dismisses all charges against Rene Sandler's clients following Judge's ruling
    TheSentinel.com • November 17, 2014
  • Judge suppresses evidence in Damascus alcohol case after finding that police violated homeowners constitutional rights
    TheSentinel.com • November 3, 2014

 

Rene Sandler wins victory in religious freedom case
in a published opinion
by the Maryland Court of Appeals.

Maryland's highest appellate court recognized that the trial judge had abused her discretion in denying the Plaintiff, an Orthodox Jewish man, an accommodation to strictly observe his religion during the trial which would have required a brief suspension of the trial. "This opinion recognizes a person's right to freely observe his religion and requires that the court put such observance before any administrative inconvenience of the court," says Sandler. View PDF

 

Rene Sandler Represents Man Accused
of Murdering His Ex-Wife

  • No bond for Tennessee man accused of killing ex-wife in Germantown; had cash, hair dye
    WashingtonPost.com • November 1, 2013 • read article
  • Ex-Husband Ordered Held Without Bond in Montgomery County Woman's Death
    NBCWashington.com • October 31, 2013 • read article

 

Rene Sandler Represents Maryland Figure Skating Coach Arrested on Sexual Abuse Charges

  • World-class ice dancer released from Howard Co. jail
    BaltimoreSun.com • September 12, 2012
  • Extradition Denied; Maryland Figure Skating Coach to Be Released
    NBCWashington.com • September 10, 2012 • read article
  • Judge allows release of ice dancer, coach from Howard Co. jail
    BaltimoreSun.com • September 10, 2012
  • Skating coach to be freed, must surrender in NY
    HuffingtonPost.com • September 10, 2012
  • World-class ice dancer, coach arrested in Howard County on New York sex charges
    BaltimoreSun.com • September 7, 2012
  • Attorney: Md. skating coach denies sealed charges
    SportsIllustrated.CNN.com • September 5, 2012

 

Kensington Woman Killed Hours After Estranged Husband Released From Jail

  • Kensington Woman Killed Hours After Estranged Husband Released From Jai
    NBCWashington.com • March 14, 2012 • watch video

 

Rene Sandler and Brian Betts

Rene Sandler and Gloria AllredRene Sandler and her co-counsel attorney Gloria Allred represent the family of Brian Betts who was robbed and murdered in his home in April, 2010. Alante Saunders, the man who pulled the trigger and killed Brian Betts was sentenced on November 23, 2010 to serve 40 years in prison. Following Saunders' sentencing, the family of Brian Betts spoke publicly for the first time and talked about the devastating impact Brian's death has had on them.

  • Plagued by homicides, Silver Spring home for sale
    TBD.com • May 26, 2011
  • Murder house for sale: Would YOU buy a home where three people were killed in a decade?
    DailyMail.co.uk • May 27, 2011 • read article
  • Homicide House on the Market in Silver Spring
    NBCWashington.com • May 26, 2011 • read article
  • D.C. man sentenced to 18 months after pleading guilty as accessory after the fact in Betts murder
    Gazette.net • April 1, 2011
  • DCPS budget: The Brian Betts effect
    WashingtonPost.com • March 10, 2011
  • Final suspect in Brian Betts murder case expected to plead guilty Wednesday
    Gazette.net • January 26, 2011
  • Family of slain gay principal pushes hate crime prosecution
    WashingtonBlade.com • December 16, 2010 • read article
  • Was Slain Principal Targeted Because He Was Gay?
    NBCWashington.com • December 7, 2010 • read article
  • Gloria Allred meets with DoJ about Brian Betts' death 1207
    Brightcove.com • December 7, 2010
  • Rene Sandler and her co-counsel Gloria Allred met with Justice Department attorneys to urge them to prosecute Brian Betts' killers.
    WUSA9.com • December 7, 2010
  • Gloria Allred and Betts family attorney Rene Sandler meet with Justice Department
    MetroWeekly.com • December 7, 2010
  • 3rd suspect pleads in Betts slaying
    Washintgonpost.com • November 30, 2010
  • District man pleads guilty as accessory in murder
    of popular D.C. principal and Silver Spring man

    Gazette.net • December 1, 2010
  • Third man enters guilty plea in Betts Murder
    WTOP.com • November 30, 2010
  • Third Guilty Plea Due in Brian Betts Murder
    WTOP.com • November 25, 2010
  • Slain Principal's Family on Killer's Sentence
    NBCWashington.com • November 24, 2010 • watch video
  • Triggerman Sentenced in Principal Murder
    NBCWashington.com • November 23, 2010 • watch video
  • New Allegations in Beloved Principal Murder Sentencing
    WUSA9.com • November 23, 2010
  • Alante Saunders guilty plea Brian Betts murder 1108
    TBD.com • November 8, 2010
  • Alante Saunders Pleads Guilty in Murder of Principal Brian Betts
    MyFoxDC.com • November 8, 2010
  • Gunman Pleads Guilty in Principal Death
    NBCWashington.com • November 8, 2010 • read article
  • Alante Saunders Pleads Guilty in Murder of Principal Brian Betts
    MyFoxDC.com • November 8, 2010
  • Gunman Pleads Guilty in D.C. Principal's Death
    NBCWashington.com • November 8, 2010 • read article
  • Guilty plea expected in murder of D.C. principal
    WTop.com • November 8, 2010
  • Man pleads guilty in Betts slaying
    WashingtonPost.com • November 8, 2010
  • Teen admits to killing D.C. principal
    WashingtonExaminer.com • November 8, 2010
  • Shaw Middle School Principal Brian Betts Found Dead in Silver Spring Home, SUV Missing
    CBSNews.com • April 16, 2010
  • New lead in murdered principal case
    AC360.blogs.cnn.com • April 19, 2010 • read article
  • Details Emerge in Slaying of 'Inspirational' DC Principal
    AOLNews.com • April 20, 2010
  • Honor Brian Betts-Stay Honest On Student Success
    TheWashingtonTeacher.blogspot.com • April 20, 2010 • read article
  • We Want Justice for Brian Betts!
    NancyGrace.blogs.cnn.com • April 26, 2010
  • Suspects in D.C. principal Brian Betts's slaying have criminal records
    Washingtonpost.com • May 5, 2010 • read article
  • We Want Justice Update: Arrests in Murder of Brian Betts!
    NancyGrace.blogs.cnn.com • May 7, 2010

BKB Foundation for Brian Betts

The BKB Foundation was established to preserve the memory and legacy of Brian Betts who was murdered in his home in Montgomery County, Maryland in April, 2010. Donations to the Brian K. Betts Foundation (via DC Public Education Fund) will allow his family to continue to fulfill Brian's commitments to academic success. Each year the family will award monies in Brian's name to a diverse selection of causes based on the passions of this tremendous man who is deeply missed by his students, family and friends each day.

 

Rene Sandler and
University of Maryland Basketball Police Brutality

Maryland Criminal AttorneyCharges Dropped in Case Involving U-Md. Student
Rene Sandler was instrumental in having charges dropped against her client where police and prosecutors refused to turn over critical evidence. Sandler said, “It’s disgraceful that no one was interested in investigating. No one was interested in finding out the truth,” referring to police and prosecutors. read article

Prosecutor drops case against Rene Sandler's client, a University of Maryland student wrongfully charged by police following the MD/Duke Men's basketball game on March 3, 2010.
read article 1read article 2

Super LawyersRene Sandler, Esq. has been recognized on Wikipedia for uncovering police brutality in a case that received international attention. Ms. Sandler's client was beaten and then wrongfully charged by police following the Maryland vs. Duke Men's basketball game at the University of Maryland last year. All charged were dropped against Rene Sandler's client. read article

 

Rene Sandler and Teen Bombmaker

SEE RENE SANDLER INTERVIEWED ON WRC TV 4.
Rene Sandler represents one of two teens charged in explosives case
that drew international attention.
NBCWashington.com • September 23, 2009

Maryland AttorneyRene Sandler represented one of two teens charged in bombmaking case that drew international attention. In response to the entry of a guilty plea by the Co-Defendant Rene Sandler said, “"Both boys have accepted responsibility for their involvement in a very serious case and can now begin to get on with their lives." read article

Gene Meyer’s article in the March/April Bethesda Magazine edition featuring Rene Sandler’s bomb and explosives case that has received international attention. read article (PDF)

 

Potomac Murder Case

On November 30, 2010 Rene Sandler was quoted in Potomac murder case following sentencing for Co-Defendant in the Washington Post. read article

Rene Sandler is quoted in the Washington Post on local murder case.
read article

 

Rene Sandler obtains favorable result for client who will be referred to Patuxent Institution to serve his sentence.

  • Germantown Man Sentenced in Violent Robbery Spree
    Germantown.Patch.com • July 1, 2011 • read article

 

Recent Appellate Cases

  • Rene Sandler wins reversal and new trial for client in religious freedom case in Maryland. Alexander Neustadter v. Holy Cross Hospital, Maryland Court of Appeals.
  • Rene Sandler raises important religious issue in Court of Special Appeals.
    MDDailyRecord.com
  • Culture clash in the ICUWas life-support denied to Shoah survivor?
    WashingtonJewishWeek.com • November 4, 2009
  • Md. Court of Special Appeals rules trial court efficiency trumps Jewish holiday
    AllBusiness.com • October 26, 2009
  • Rory Leftwich v. State of Maryland
    March 19, 2007 • read article

Bethesda Magazine Top Attorney 2021
Rene Sandler again named 2023 Top Criminal Attorney in Bethesda Magazine.

Top 30 Best Lawyers
“The family hired a new legal team, headed by Rene Sandler, a powerhouse attorney and constitutional crusader well known in D.C. circles as a tenacious thorn in the side of law enforcement, even though she herself is a former prosecutor.” 
~ When They Come For You, David Kirby

Top 30 Best Lawyers
Rene Sandler named to Washingtonian Magazine's TOP 30 BEST LAWYERS "SUPERSTARS" of the legal community.

Super Lawyers
Rene Sandler was named to Maryland SuperLawyers 2011-2024,
Top 50 Women
2011-2018, 2020-2024
Top 100 Lawyers
2011-2018, 2020-2024

Washingtonian Top Lawyers
Rene Sandler was named to Washingtonian Magazine's Top Lawyers list for 2015.
Ms. Sandler is the only female criminal defense attorney selected from Montgomery County, Maryland. Ms. Sandler was previously named to Washingtonian Magazine's Top 30 Superstar Attorneys in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

Super Lawyers
Published in Maryland Super Lawyers 2014 - January 2014. The Humanizer
Criminal defense attorney Rene Sandler has one job: defend. View article

Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney
rated by Super Lawyers