So deeply loved by his family, baby Justice was a joyful soul with bright blue eyes and a hearty laugh. He loved playing peekaboo and cuddling his favorite stuffed bear. But the family’s time with him was heartbreakingly short. At just four months old, Justice was found unresponsive in his crib. He was rushed to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, placed on life support, and later passed away. His mother’s boyfriend at the time—who was not Justice’s father—was later convicted of his murder.

In the midst of unimaginable grief, Justice’s family chose to honor his memory by fighting for change. For years, they worked tirelessly to strengthen Maryland’s laws surrounding child abuse. Their efforts led to the passing of Justice’s Law in 2016, as part of a criminal justice reform bill. The law increased the maximum sentence for child abuse resulting in death from 30 years to 40 years to life—a lasting legacy in Justice’s name.