Honorable Erik S. Atas
Juvenile Justice Center
300 North Gay Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Telephone: (410) 396-4916/17
Fax: (410) 545-7326
Erik Atas joined Zirkin & Schmerling Law in 2013 and heads up the firm’s criminal department.
Hogan announced that he is nominating Erik Atas for a judgeship on the Baltimore City Circuit Court. Atas is the head of the criminal defense department at Zirkin & Schmerling Law, a firm helmed by former state Sen. Robert A. Zirkin (D-Baltimore County). Until the beginning of this year, Zirkin ― one of the Republican governor’s closest Democratic allies in the legislature ― was chairman of the Judicial Proceedings Committee.
Atas has worked for Zirkin & Schmerling Law since 2013, and while he heads the criminal defense practice, he also handles personal injury cases, protection orders and peace orders, and administrative hearings before the Motor Vehicle Administration. His pro bono work includes working with nonprofit drug treatment programs and women’s shelters to help people expunge their criminal records.
Prior to joining Zirkin & Schmerling Law, Atas worked as a public defender in Baltimore City for six years. He received his B.A. from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and his J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland. Attended Gilman School, Baltimore, Maryland; University of Maryland Baltimore County, B.A. (history) 2003; University of Baltimore School of Law, J.D., 2006. Admitted to Maryland Bar, 2006; U.S. District Court for District of Maryland, 2013. Associate, Zirkin and Schmerling Law, 2013-21. Member, Maryland State Bar Association, 2013-; Baltimore City Bar Association, 2013- (co-chair, criminal law section, 2019-; council, 2020-); Baltimore County Bar Association, 2013-; Maryland Association for Justice, 2013- (chair & co-chair, criminal law section, 2014-20; board of governors, 2016-17; co-chair, education & programming committee, 2017-; foundation, 2018-); American Association for Justice, 2016-17; Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys’ Association, 2016-. Adjunct professor, Carroll Community College, 2014-16. Board of Directors, Maryland Youth and the Law, 2016-. Volunteer moot court judge. Volunteer Attorney, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, 2017-21.Board of Directors, Gaudenzia, 2019-. Board of Directors, Baltimore Tennis Patrons, 2016-17. Community Quarterback Award, Baltimore Ravens, 2018. Simon K. Walton Civil Justice Award, Maryland Association for Justice, 2018. Volunteer of the Month, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, October 2018. Advancement of Public Understanding of the Law Award, Maryland Bar Foundation, 2019.