MACON – Brian Kammer has been appointed as the new director of Mercer Law School’s Habeas Project, beginning summer 2019.
Kammer has served as executive director of the Georgia Resource Center since 2009, providing representation to death sentenced prisoners in Georgia in state and federal habeas corpus proceedings.
Professor Sarah Gerwig-Moore, who founded and directed the Habeas Project and joined Mercer’s faculty in 2006, transitioned to the role of associate dean for academic affairs on
July 1.
“I know this clinic and our students and clients will benefit from Brian’s experience and his passion for justice,” said Gerwig-Moore.
Kammer has extensive experience in state and federal courts with appellate practice and skills in in both constitutional criminal law and habeas corpus law. Some of his expertise was acquired while working at the Georgia Resource Center, which is dedicated to providing free representation for prisoners who are sentenced to death in Georgia for both state and federal habeas corpus proceedings.
“Under Professor Gerwig-Moore’s leadership, the Habeas Project has provided litigation and client interaction experiences which are memorable for the students and invaluable in terms of learning about the actual practice of law, especially in the field of indigent defense – all while delivering a valuable service to the community. I am honored to join the clinic as the new director and look forward to carrying on its important work in the coming semester,” said Kammer.
The Habeas Project is the only program in Georgia to handle non-capital, post-conviction cases on a strictly pro bono basis. Mercer students have helped with more than 90 cases and have won relief for more than half of their clients. Much of the clinic’s work is on behalf of pro se litigants in criminal or habeas cases pending in the Supreme Court of Georgia.
