Portrait - Edward Smith, Jr. for The New York Times

Edward Smith, Jr., a lawyer in Baltimore, Maryland, recently defended Roy Lee Clark. Mr. Lee, tried for trafficking 1-kg of heroin, took a chance at trial instead of accepting a plea bargain. He lost big when the court found him guilty – a decision that came with a life-in-prison sentence. Mr. Smith, a litigator for 4 decades, and an actor in his spare time, is astounded at such harsh judgements placed on criminals. He accommodated me for a brief portrait session in his office. The full story is here.