About
MARYLIN'S STORY
In 1975, Marylin and her family immigrated to the United States from Haiti in search of a better life. At an early age, Marylin was inspired to practice law after listening to the passionate arguments of the first African American Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall. Her career went on to thrive.
Marylin is a retired First Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve who served as an officer in the Military Police Corps. She graduated from Howard University School of Law and John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She has been practicing law in Montgomery County for over 30 years.
Marylin is also a well-known community organizer, public servant, and legal expert in Montgomery County, Maryland. She has worked hard to ensure that everyone has equitable access to legal representation and is treated with dignity and respect in the eyes of the law. She knows the meaning of family which involves determination, understanding, and communication because, throughout her career, she continues to receive support from her husband of almost 29 years, Reynold Pierre-Louis, and their three wonderful children.
A THRIVING CAREER
Marylin was a facilitator for the Montgomery County Circuit Court Domestic Relations Division for almost 10 years. As a facilitator, Marylin helped numerous parties with divorce, child support, custody, visitation, and other cases resolve their issues; and wrote consent orders that were to be signed by the family law magistrates and the Circuit Court judges. This helped lessened the court’s docket and empowered the parties who were then able to resolve their disputes in manners satisfactory to them.
Marylin has addressed the United States Supreme Court, the country’s highest court and the Maryland Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court. She has represented clients in the Maryland Court of Special Appeals; various Maryland Circuit and District Courts; the District of Columbia trial and appellate courts; and New York trial courts. She has also represented clients before the Office of Administrative Hearings; the Motor Vehicle Administration; and the Worker’s Compensation Commission.
Marylin is a former officer in the United States Army Military Police Corps; a former chair of the Montgomery County Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission; and a former president of the J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association, Maryland’s largest and most active specialty bar association. Marylin is a consumer member of the Maryland State Board of Occupational Therapy and the legal counsel for the Business and Professional Women of Maryland. She is a former legal counsel and a former board member of the Montgomery County Historical Society, a former legal redress attorney for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Montgomery County, Maryland Branch, and a former Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).
Accomplishments
-
Education:
May 1990 - Howard University School of Law, Juris Doctor
Leadership Montgomery, Graduate 2009
Emerge Maryland Graduate, 201
Employment:
1985 – Enlisted in the United States Army Reserved (ROTC)
1987 – Commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the United States Army
1992 - Law Office of Woodard & Howard Associate Attorney
Admitted to:
2000 - United States District Court for the Southern District of New York Bar
2000 - United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York Bar
1999 - State of New York Bar
1999 - District of Columbia Bar
1997 - United States Supreme Court Bar
1996 - United States District Court for the District of Columbia
1992 - United States District Court for the District of Maryland Bar
1992 - State of Maryland Bar
1991 - Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Bar
Member of Bar Association:
2013 - Vietnamese American Bar Association of the District of Columbia Member
2009 - Asian American Pacific Bar Association, Member
2007 - Monumental Bar Association, Member
1992- Women's Bar Association Member
1992 - Montgomery County Bar Association Member, Leader 2009
1992 - J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association Member, President 2012
Member:
2009 - Simon E. Sobeloff Law Society, Member
2008 - Lincoln Park Historical Foundation Board, Member
2007 - Alliance of Black Women Attorneys, Member
Other:
2009 - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Legal Redress Attorney
2008 - Riley House/Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site Central Research Center of African American History, Legal Advisor
2006 - Montgomery County Circuit Court Domestic Relations Facilitator
-
2015
Montgomery County Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission, Member, Chair 2019
Maryland State Board of Occupational Therapy
2010
Menare Foundation, Board Member
2009
Women's Democratic Club, Member
Montgomery Women, Vice-Chair
Montgomery County Historical Society, Board Member
Comptroller Peter Franchot's Montgomery County Steering Committee, Member
2008
Montgomery Women, Member
2007
African American Democratic Club of Montgomery County, Member
African American Democratic Club of Montgomery County, Financial Officer
-
2019
Leadership in Law Award, 2019
2018
Toastmasters International, Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM), 2018
United States Senate’s Citation, 2018
State of Maryland Governor's Citation, 2018
Maryland State Senate Citation, 2018
Business and Professional Women of Maryland Montgomery County Woman of Achievement, 2018
2016
J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association Community Service Award, 2016
2014
The Daily Record's Maryland’s Top 100 Women (Circle of Excellence), 2014
Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee (MCDCC) Morgan/Jerney Community Service Award, 2014
Maryland State Conference’s Enolia Pettigen McMillan “Women in NAACP" Award, 2014
United States Senate Certificate of Special Recognition, 2014
Maryland State Senate Certificate of Recognition, 2014
Howard County Certificate of Recognition, 2014
2012
The Daily Record's Maryland’s Top 100 Women, 2012
2010
The Daily Record's Maryland’s Top 100 Women, 2010
United States House of Representatives Certificate of Congressional Recognition, 2010
Lincoln Park Historical Society Honored Veteran, 2010
Montgomery County Bar Association Pro Bono Award
Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland, Pro Bono Star, 2010
2002
United States Senate’s Citation, 2002
State of Maryland Governor's Citation, 2002
African American Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County Businesswoman of the Year, 2002
