On March 4, 2025, Lecturer John N. Sharifi, who is an appellate public defender in Maryland, challenged in the Maryland Supreme Court a current evidentiary rule permitting prosecutors to designate a police officer witness as a party “representative.” As a result of that designation, the officer can be exempt from witness sequestration. Mr. Sharifi argued the rule is unfair and inconsistent with Maryland’s common law history.

The case is Fred Cromartie v. Maryland, and the oral argument can be viewed here beginning at the 8:30 mark. This argument was held at the Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center at Montgomery College in Rockville, instead of the Supreme Court courtroom in Annapolis, as part of the Court’s effort to promote public understanding of the Court and its proceedings.

Mr. Sharifi teaches Evidence and Advanced Evidence at Catholic Law.