About Eric Oberer
Eric Oberer is the author of the award-winning book Courts of Law, Not Courts of Justice from Atmosphere Press which takes a critical look at the American justice system from the vantage point of a seasoned lawyer who has served as a former Baltimore prosecutor, civil litigator, trial lawyer, title attorney, and land development and acquisition negotiator for a Fortune 500 company at a major law firm. It examines Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes’ cutting quote, “[t]his is a court of law, young man, not a court of justice”.
Eric currently serves as the Maryland State Counsel for First American Title Insurance Company and as the President of the Maryland Land Title Association. Prior to serving in these roles, he served as Maryland and Washington, D.C. Senior Underwriting Counsel. In his current role, he oversees underwriting and affiliated responsibilities including legal oversight and compliance, risk management, regulatory matters, processes, and communications.
His legal and negotiation experience allows him to navigate and counsel his clients in a highly effective manner to successfully complete transactions using his pragmatic, personalized, and client-focused approach. Eric’s pro-business methods were honed during his tenure as a law clerk for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business. He also served as a law clerk for the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps for the First Infantry Division in Germany, as well as a White House intern, United Nations intern, and Congressional Page.
Eric received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and Bachelor of Science in finance from New Jersey City University where he was president of his class and named the Thomas M. Gerrity Scholar-Athlete of the Year for NCAA tennis.
Eric chairs the Maryland State Bar Association real property section closings and title committee. He has been designated as Certified Land Title Professional (CLTP) for the State of Maryland. He is licensed to practice law in the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia and is a member of both the Maryland and Washington, D.C. Bar Associations. He has also authored articles published by both the American Bar Association and Maryland State Bar Association.
Reviews
"A brisk legal summary that acknowledges the flaws of American criminal justice while also making a case that it may not be as dysfunctional as it looks." -Kirkus Reviews
"I love the way without bias he told the story then let the reader make up their mind. That is the mark of a truly talented author. I really enjoyed this book and highly, highly recommend it." -Janalyn Prude, Goodreads
"Oberer's book is informative, not political. The reader will not find rhetoric that sensationalizes or demonizes the justice system here. Instead, this project educates and informs so as to encourage more realistic demands of the United States legal system. For Americans seeking to confront flaws in the legal system, this book is a must-read." -Rebecca Jane Johnson, Feathered Quill
"I love the way without bias he told the story then let the reader make up their mind. That is the mark of a truly talented author. I really enjoyed this book and highly, highly recommend it." -Janalyn Prude, Goodreads
"Oberer's book is informative, not political. The reader will not find rhetoric that sensationalizes or demonizes the justice system here. Instead, this project educates and informs so as to encourage more realistic demands of the United States legal system. For Americans seeking to confront flaws in the legal system, this book is a must-read." -Rebecca Jane Johnson, Feathered Quill
About the Book
What if I told you that the American criminal justice system has never been about, is not set up to seek out, and is not equipped to find, justice –- at least “justice” as understood by most? In many ways, it was designed this way by the Founding Fathers based on Benjamin Franklin’s vision that “it is better a hundred guilty persons should escape than one innocent person should suffer.”
Americans are taught that justice means fairness. They expect it from our legal system. “Equal Justice Under Law” is prominently inscribed on the Supreme Court. Yet law and justice in America are not necessarily the same thing. And they are certainly not applied in equal ways.
The disconnect between these realities and what Americans are taught about justice has led to great strife in our society. But what if everyone grew up understanding the limitations of our justice system, yet understood what it is striving to achieve? Through the Revolutionary War, historic cases, civil unrest, Broken Windows law enforcement, corrupt police and attorneys, and jury bias, the lens through which you see the American justice system is about to change, all as told by former Baltimore prosecutor –- Eric Oberer. It is time for a paradigm shift…
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