Herminia A Moreira

Ms. Moreira has represented me in two cases. Both were Superior Court level indictable, criminal offenses. At my first arraignment Ms. Moreira made a point of stating (and I quote) "just to state for the record, your honor, my client does have previous charges... even in another state." As she said t...his she nodded to the honorable Steven Rubin for emphasis. I was expecting that she would then add a positive spin like "but that was over eleven years ago and my client has not received any other charges, has maintained full time employment, etc.." But no such thing would follow. I was speechless. I asked her what she was doing, she said "excuse me?" I said, "why don't you go stand over there." She asked "over where?" I said "at the prosecutors table." I was refused my right to recuse her and get a lawyer that more adequately represented my interests or at the very least, made any effort whatsoever to defend me. The second case had allowed me more time to prepare. At one point I was going to go to law school and have been a law librarian during a previous incarceration. I'm by no means ignorant of the law. I prepared a brief for her outlining the details of the case as well as the defense I wished to pursue. I cited appropriate case law with references. The case could have been handled and dismissed by any lawyer that actually tried to practice law. When I met with Ms. Moreira to discuss the case, it quickly became apparent that she had not even bothered to read it... I asked her what she thought and she said "I think you're guilty!" What does one do in such a situation? I'll tell you what happened in my case, I got sentenced to three years in prison. The only reason I didn't pursue the matter was due to the fact that I was already sentenced to a three year term that team concurrent. If that weren't the case I would have made every effort to have Ms. Moreira disbarred. It sickens me that there are people like her that pretend to practice law. Her position is a shameful disgrace to law and justice. How she can even look herself in the mirror and continue to "practice law" is beyond me. Yes, I am a convicted felon. I have broken the law and paid my dues to society as a result. But one thing I am not is a hypocrite. Neither am I a coward like Ms. Moreira lacking the backbone to uphold the oath to which she has sworn, to protect the rights of those she is assigned to defend. Honestly, if she is assigned to your case, get your affairs in order because you don't have anyone in your court. She is more interested in assisting the prosecution and not doing anything that might upset the judge.