Michael Maggio, the founder and chairman of Maggio & Kattar, P.C., died on February 10, 2008, at the age of 60 after a courageous 10-month battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Michael was a beloved colleague, mentor, teacher, and friend.

Justice, the rule of law, and human rights - these core principles were the foundation of Michael's legal philosophy. Michael fought for fairness and equal protection under the law. He profoundly affected the legal landscape of immigration law and beyond, and did so with tremendous wit, skill, and bravado. "He was a brilliant legal mind who not only interpreted the law without peer, but he recognized also that justice could only be served by changing it. His life embodied that commitment to change," said friend and colleague José Pertierra. Moreover, Michael loved what he did, enjoyed the challenge, and made it fun, even after thirty years.

Michael founded what is now Maggio & Kattar, P.C. in 1978 in the Adams Morgan neighborhood, located in the heart of Washington, DC's Latino community. A fluent Spanish speaker who was active in the opposition to U.S. intervention in Latin America, Michael's legal career jump started just months after he graduated law school.

Michael took on what arguably is the most significant human rights case in American history and his most influential, Filartiga v. Peña-Irala. The case is seminal not only for what it held -- that torture by a government official anywhere in the world violates universal human rights and that a foreign official may be held accountable in U.S. court - but also for what it triggered - the fusing of international legal rights with domestic judicial remedies.

While Michael was at the heart of many high-profile cases during his 30-year legal career, he equally loved representing everyday people who just needed a good immigration lawyer. It was from representing these people that he sustained his drive and commitment to furthering justice for those seeking a better life. "Immigrants are the best thing about this country" he often said, "they are the risk takers, the essence of capitalism and free enterprise."

Those who knew Michael recognized how he served his clients with finely honed legal skill and reassuring confidence. By mastering the twists and turns of immigration law, he not only solved foreign nationals' immigration problems, but also profoundly touched their lives. And, he became their friends for life.

Throughout his career, Michael received countless professional awards and was honored for his extraordinary legal representation, astute strategizing, unwavering commitment to the highest ethical standards, and his deep passion for justice and upholding the rule of law. Most recently, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild honored Michael "for his courageous and visionary work in defending immigrant rights and, in so doing, strengthening the constitutional rights of all U.S. residents and citizens." The Tahirih Justice Center, which focuses on gender-based violence, and the National Coalition to Protect Political Freedom, also honored his work.

Integrity, respect, legal excellence - these are the characteristics that embodied Michael Maggio's legal practice and his life.