Amir H. Ali is the founder and Director of the MacArthur Justice Center’s Washington, D.C. office. He also directs the Criminal Justice Appellate Clinic at Harvard Law School, where he has taught courses on Supreme Court advocacy.  

Amir has briefed and argued multiple criminal cases before the Supreme Court. He successfully argued Garza v. Idaho, which held that prejudice is presumed when a defense attorney forfeits his client’s appeal, even if the defendant signed a plea agreement that waived his right to appeal.  Amir also successfully argued Welch v. United States, which held that the invalidation of ACCA’s residual clause applied retroactively.  Before that, Amir represented death-row prisoner Kevan Brumfield in a string of victories before the U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, leading to the permanent reversal of Mr. Brumfield’s death sentence.

Amir has twice filed certiorari or original habeas petitions that caused the government to stipulate to the immediate release of his clients. In 2018, Amir filed a petition on behalf of former Louisiana death row inmate Corey Williams and, after having defended Mr. Williams’ conviction for 20 years, Louisiana stipulated to his release in exchange for dismissal of the certiorari petition. In 2015, Amir represented Juan Butler in an original habeas petition before the Supreme Court and in subsequent consultations with the U.S. Solicitor General’s office. Following those discussions, the Solicitor General reversed its earlier defense of Mr. Butler’s sentence and stipulated to his immediate release from prison. 

Amir also regularly argues civil-rights appeals on behalf of victims of police violence and indigent prisoners.