Category Archives: Events

Tuesday’s Quick Clicks…

Posted on April 28, 2015 by | Leave a comment

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Thursday’s Quick Clicks…

Posted on April 23, 2015 by | Leave a comment

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Posted in Commissions/Innocence Commissions/Governmental Case Review Agencies, Compensation/Exoneree compensation, Events, Forensic controls, Junk science

Center for Prosecutor Integrity – Innocence Summit – June 12, 13

Posted on April 15, 2015 by | 1 comment

This from Ed Bartlett, Director of the Center for Prosecutor Integrity:

I’m pleased to report that we have now finalized the program for the 2015 Innocence Summit, to be held June 12-13 at the National Airport — Crowne Plaza in Arlington, Virginia. The Summit will feature an All-Star line-up of forward-thinking prosecutors, Innocence Network leaders, civil rights advocates, researchers, journalists, and others. These are some of the highlights:

  • On June 12, the Summit will lead off with a panel of four prosecutors who have challenged conventional wisdom and forged new models of prosecutorial practice.
  • The Friday evening banquet speaker will be former United States Attorney Joseph diGenova, a man who never hesitates to speak his mind!

On Saturday, I’m personally looking forward to Mara Leveritt’s presentation, “Death Threats and More: A Reporter Shares True-Life Experiences Investigating Criminal Justice Abuses.”

And I haven’t said anything about the impressive range of workshops…and networking opportunities….and more.

Check it out: http://www.prosecutorintegrity.org/summit/  Looking forward to seeing you June 12-13!

See the Summit schedule here.

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Posted in Events, Prosecutorial conduct (good and bad), Reforming/Improving the system, Scholarship

Thursday’s Quick Clicks…

Posted on April 2, 2015 by | 1 comment

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Posted in Asia, Commissions/Innocence Commissions/Governmental Case Review Agencies, Compensation/Exoneree compensation, Events, Police conduct (good and bad), Prosecutorial conduct (good and bad), United Kingdom

Tuesday’s Quick Clicks…

Posted on February 17, 2015 by | 2 comments

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Posted in Asia, Capital punishment, Defense lawyering (good and bad), Events, False confessions, Forensic controls, Junk science, United Kingdom

New York Law Journal – New Medical Knowledge Debunks Shaken Baby Conviction

Posted on December 23, 2014 by | 2 comments

Yesterday, Dec. 22, 2014, in a Monroe County, New York court, Rene’ Bailey was ordered released from prison without bail, and is expected to return home today.  See the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle story here.

We highlighted the Rene’ Bailey case in a previous WCB post, “Shaken Baby Syndrome ……. Progress for True Science?” last January here.

She was convicted in 2002 of murdering a 2½ year old child in her care, and the conviction was based upon medical testimony of “shaken baby syndrome.”

The actual cause of death is believed to have been a short fall from a piece of play equipment onto a carpeted garage floor.  The prosecution has yet to decide upon appeal or retrial.

See the New York Law Journal article here.     Note: accessing the article requires registration with the site.

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Posted in Events, Junk science, Reforming/Improving the system

Submit Papers for Innocence Network Conference…

Posted on December 18, 2014 by | Leave a comment

The Innocence Scholarship Committee of the Innocence Network is seeking high quality social science and legal scholarship for presentation at the 2015 Innocence Network Conference in Orlando, Florida on May 1-2 (http://www.innocencenetwork.org/conference).

Areas of research are open but should touch upon the multifaceted causes, implications, and/or remedies of wrongful conviction. International papers are welcome but must be submitted in English. Please submit a title and paper proposal to the Innocence Scholarship Committee at this G-Mail account: innocencescholarship@gmail.com by February 13, 2015. Paper proposals must be no more than 200 words. Completed drafts must be submitted to the Committee by April 17th, 2015.

The Innocence Scholarship Committee is actively seeking publication for those papers accepted for Conference presentations in a law review symposium edition. More information about that is forthcoming.

The Innocence Scholarship Committee is comprised of the following Members: Professor Aliza Kaplan, Oregon Innocence Project, Lewis & Clark School of Law, Portland, Oregon; Professor Valena Beety, West Virginia Innocence Project, West Virginia School of Law; and Dr. Robert Schehr, Arizona Innocence Project, Northern Arizona University.

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Posted in Events, Scholarship

Center for Prosecutor Integrity’s 2015 Innocence Summit – Call for Session Proposals

Posted on December 15, 2014 by | 1 comment

CPI Logo

2015 Innocence Summit – Invitation for Workshop Proposals

Crowne Plaza Hotel, Arlington, Virginia              June 12-13, 2015

 The Center for Prosecutor Integrity (CPI) is announcing its Invitation for Workshop Proposals for the 2015 Innocence Summit, themed “Forging Best Practices for Innocence Reform.” CPI invites individuals and organizations throughout the criminal legal system to submit a proposal.

Workshops are designed to educate attendees on issues of substantive law and practical interest. Recent research findings, program descriptions, case studies, legal analyses, advocacy strategies, and innovative solutions are all welcome.

Proposals must include the following:

  • Workshop title
  • Three learning objectives
  • Description of the workshop content (maximum 500 words)
  • Presenter biography (maximum 250 words)

Proposals are welcome from a variety of presenters and using a variety of presentation formats. Workshops will be 60 minutes in length.

Proposals should be submitted here: summit@prosecutorintegrity.org. Applications are due no later than Friday, January 16th, 2015.

Applicants will be notified whether their proposal has been selected by February 20th. Presenters are responsible for their own conference registration, travel, and lodging expenses. Further information about the Innocence Summit can be found here: http://www.prosecutorintegrity.org/summit/2015-3/

Last year’s Innocence Summit was a great success, and we invite you to participate in this exciting opportunity to advance best practices for innocence reform!

If you have any questions, contact Gina Lauterio, CPI Program Director, at summit@prosecutorintegrity.org .

Thank you,

Gina R. Lauterio Esq., Program Director, Center for Prosecutor Integrity (CPI)

P.O. Box 1221, Rockville, MD 20849

Office: 301-801-0608, Cell: 908-783-3542

Email: glauterio@prosecutorintegrity.org, Internet: www.prosecutorintegrity.org

The Center for Prosecutor Integrity, a 501(c)3 organization, works toward preserving the presumption of innocence, assuring equal treatment under the law, and ending wrongful convictions.

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Posted in Events, Prosecutorial conduct (good and bad), Reforming/Improving the system, Scholarship

Ireland: Inaugural International Wrongful Conviction Conference & Film Festival

Posted on December 9, 2014 by | Leave a comment

The Irish Innocence Project, working since 2009 at Griffith College, has announced Ireland’s Inaugural International Wrongful Conviction Conference and Film Festival – to newlogo2be held 26th and 27th June 2015. They have also launched a crowd funding appeal: “Be the Key: Set an Innocent Free”, to help the college students to work on overturning wrongful convictions in Ireland.

300914 Wrongful Conviction CR Shutterstock_0_0

See more details of the  conference and film festival – with great speakers, and the crowd funding appeal here:

Inaugural International Wrongful Conviction Conference & Film Festival

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Posted in Events, Film/Cinema, Uncategorized, United Kingdom

The Marshall Project – Journalism for Justice

Posted on November 23, 2014 by | 1 comment

It’s been my belief that the media have done a “pretty good” job of making us aware of some of the flaws in the justice system   Just as an example, I believe their coverage of exonerations has been quite good.  But I also believe that one of the major obstacles to justice system reform is that the typical John and Jane Q. Public (aka: the electorate) are of the opinion that the justice system is just fine the way it is. Now there is a new group, with a new website, that is dedicated to seeing that journalism is perhaps even more active in addressing the issues with the justice system. This is The Marshall Project.

The Marshall Project’s mission statement speaks for itself, and appears below. (The bolding emphasis is mine.)

Mission Statement

The Marshall Project is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization founded on two simple ideas:

1) There is a pressing national need for high-quality journalism about the American criminal justice system. The U.S. incarcerates more people than any country in the world. Spiraling costs, inhumane prison conditions, controversial drug laws, and concerns about systemic racial bias have contributed to a growing bipartisan consensus that our criminal justice system is in desperate need of reform.  The recent disruption in traditional media means that fewer institutions have the resources to take on complex issues such as criminal justice. The Marshall Project stands out against this landscape by investing in journalism on all aspects of our justice system. Our work will be shaped by accuracy, fairness, independence, and impartiality, with an emphasis on stories that have been underreported or misunderstood. We will partner with a broad array of media organizations to magnify our message, and our innovative website will serve as a dynamic hub for the most significant news and comment from the world of criminal justice.

2) With the growing awareness of the system’s failings, now is an opportune moment to amplify the national conversation about criminal justice. We believe that storytelling can be a powerful agent of social change. Our mission is to raise public awareness around issues of criminal justice and the possibility for reform. But while we are nonpartisan, we are not neutral. Our hope is that by bringing transparency to the systemic problems that plague our courts and prisons, we can help stimulate a national conversation about how best to reform our system of crime and punishment.

We certainly welcome their contribution, and I look forward to following them.

 

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Posted in Editorials/Opinion, Events

Ricky Jackson Prison Release Video

Posted on November 22, 2014 by | 1 comment

On Wednesday, November 19, Nancy Petro reported on this blog about the exoneration of Ricky Jackson after 39 years in prison.  See that story here.

CNN has posted a great video of his release from prison.  See the 2 minute CNN video here.

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Posted in Events, Exonerations, Eyewitness identification

Tuesday’s Quick Clicks…

Posted on November 4, 2014 by | Leave a comment

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Posted in Asia, Commissions/Innocence Commissions/Governmental Case Review Agencies, Compensation/Exoneree compensation, Events, Prosecutorial conduct (good and bad)

Today is the First International Wrongful Conviction Day…

Posted on October 2, 2014 by | 1 comment

Here are some of the groups holding events today, with links:

Canada—The Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted: http://www.aidwyc.org/wcd-2014/

Canada—The Ontario Poetry Society: http://www.theontariopoetrysociety.ca/convicted.pdf

SSH Student Society (Canada) https://www.facebook.com/events/1495255117394681/?source=1

Canada—The University of Manitoba:       http://law.robsonhall.ca/events/icalrepeat.detail/2014/10/02/1125/36/distinguished-visitor-lecture-qconvicting-women-easy-to-do-well-nigh-impossible-to-undoq-speaker-kim-pate-an-event-to-mark-wrongful-conviction-day

Canada—Windsor Law, University of Windsor (Ontario): http://www.uwindsor.ca/law/409/wrongful-conviction-day

Illinois—Justice for the Illinois’ Wrongfully Convicted: https://sites.google.com/a/sihrg.org/solicitors-international-human-rights-group/Home

https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/16874-wrongful-conviction-day-10-2

California—Humber School of Social and Community Services (California):             https://twitter.com/HumberSSCS/status/515136055818080256/photo/1

California Western School of Law https://www.facebook.com/events/1494548694148202/permalink/1494748220794916/

Ireland—Griffith College (Ireland):  https://www.griffith.ie/about-griffith/events/inaugural-wrongful-conviction-day-taking-place-griffith-college

Australia—Griffith University: http://www.griffith.edu.au/

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California Anti-Junk Science Forensics Bill Signed Into Law

Posted on September 27, 2014 by | 4 comments

Mike Bowers, on his blog Forensics in Focus, has posted the news that a new “anti-junk science forensics” bill has been signed into law in California.

The law permits post conviction defendants the ability to contest expert testimony that was presented against them at trial. In other words, convictions in which experts have either repudiated their past testimony, or used forensic “science” that is later deemed faulty by legitimate research, are subject to later proceedings reversing that conviction.

This is a huge deal, because it prevents prosecutors and judges from just using old case law as an excuse for ignoring habeas corpus appeals expressing new forensic research and attitudes.

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Posted in Editorials/Opinion, Events, Forensic controls, Junk science, Legislation, Reforming/Improving the system

Wednesday’s Quick Clicks…

Posted on September 24, 2014 by | 1 comment
  • Ohio Innocence Project sues Columbus Police Department for release of records under Public Records Act, seeking clarification from Ohio Supreme Court over obligation of state to disclose files in old, post-conviction cases under investigation by OIP.
  • Irish Innocence Project now on Facebook
  • Ohio Innocence Project to celebrate 10-year anniversary and 17 released from prison at gala on October 25th
  • Midwest Innocence Project will partner with clinic at University of Kansas law school to more effectively investigate Kansas cases of wrongful conviction

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Posted in Events

Friday’s Quick Clicks…

Posted on September 12, 2014 by | Leave a comment

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Posted in Events, Project Spotlights, Prosecutorial conduct (good and bad)

Flawed Forensics – Part of a TV Series from Al Jazeera America Examining the US Justice System

Posted on May 31, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Al Jazeera America is running an eight part series called The System which examines the state of the justice system in the US.  This coming Sunday, June 1, the program will cover flawed forensics, and will highlight the case of Mississippi death row inmate Willie Manning.  Manning is a victim of the now-acknowledged faulty hair analysis practices of the FBI.

There is a zip code box on the Al Jazeera America home page to help you find their programming in your area:

AlJazeera3

Here is the schedule for the entire series, The System:

Episode 1: False Confessions, Sunday May 18th at 9E/6P

Episode 2: Mandatory Sentencing, Sunday May 25th at 9E/6P

Episode 3: Flawed Forensics, Sunday June 1st at 9E/6P

Episode 4: Eyewitness Identification, Sunday June 8th at 9E/6P

Episode 5: Parole: High Risks, High Stakes, Sunday June 15th at 9E/6P

Episode 6: Juvenile Justice, Sunday June 22nd at 9E/6P

Episode 7: Geography of Punishment, Sunday June 29th at 9E/6P

Episode 8: Prosecutorial Misconduct, Sunday July 6th at 9E/6P
 

 

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Posted in Capital punishment, Events, Forensic controls, Junk science, Reforming/Improving the system

Friday’s Quick Clicks…

Posted on April 25, 2014 by | 2 comments

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Posted in Events, Prosecutorial conduct (good and bad)

Innocence Network Conference…..

Posted on April 10, 2014 by | Leave a comment

It’s time for the annual Innocence Network Conference, this year in Portland, Oregon.  All the innocence leaders from around the U.S. (and world) are currently descending on this beautiful city in the mountains for 3 days of learning and sharing.  Find details about the conference here…

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Wrongful Convictions Symposium in Chicago will Honor Rob Warden

Posted on March 8, 2014 by | 1 comment

The Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern School of Law will recognize its co-founder and longtime executive director Rob Warden as a “Champion of Justice,” at a Wrongful Convictions Symposium on May 9, 2014. The Symposium—to be held at Thorne Auditorium from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m.— is described as “a celebratory event to honor Rob Warden’s quest to free the innocent.” It is free and open to the public.

Barry Scheck, Co-Founder of the Innocence Project, will be the keynote speaker. The program will also include two panel discussions and a conversation with Warden and Eric Zorn, columnist for the Chicago Tribune. A reception will immediately follow.

Rob Warden, recipient of more than fifty journalism awards, is one of the leading pioneers in exposing the conviction of the innocent. He has dedicated much of his career to investigative journalism focused on cases of claimed injustice. His work has not only prompted the freeing of the wrongfully convicted, but also the expansion of awareness of the scope of conviction error. He has increased our understanding of the causes of and contributors to miscarriages of justice, and he has been at the forefront of exposing the risk of error in death penalty cases.

Lawrence Marshall, a former Northwestern law professor who co-founded the Center on Wrongful Convictions with Warden in 1999, credits Warden with contributing to the elimination of the death penalty in Illinois. At a conference in 1998, Warden helped highlight more than two-dozen persons who had been freed from death row. This sobering display of miscarriages in death penalty cases influenced then-Governor George Ryan in his decision to place a moratorium on the Illinois death penalty in 2000. It was abolished in the state in 2011.

Read more on Warden here, here, here, and here.

According to Dan Hinkel’s article in the Chicago Tribune (here), Warden, 73, has no intention of leaving the work of researching, writing, and advocating for an improved criminal justice system. The seemingly tireless journalist, author, and advocate intends to be a force in eliminating the death penalty nationwide.

Mr. Warden’s work has had an inestimable impact on the lives of those freed from prison after wrongful conviction and on our understanding of how the criminal justice system can come closer to its promise of fair and accurate justice for all. The upcoming symposium will provide an opportunity to celebrate and thank an inspiring original, an accomplished writer and advocate, a true American hero.

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Posted in Editorials/Opinion, Events

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