CenterOnWrongfulConvictions

Never Too Late: Pardon Sought For Illinois Man Executed in 1908 - blackenterprise.com/never-too-late…

Pardon sought for Joe James, a Black man executed in 1908 in IL after not receiving a fair trial. ⁦This month, along with partners at ⁦@NUSL⁩ Civil Rights and Restorative Justice Project, the CWC filed a petition for executive clemency. abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/p…

For Dr. Phil and Laura’s conversation about Brendan Dassey’s coerced false confession, see minute mark 27:20.

17yrs ago today, police used deceptive tactics to extract a false confession from 16yo Brendan Dassey, client of @lauranirider & @sdrizin. Laura and @DThompsonWZ join @DrPhil to discuss reforms needed to ban police from lying during interrogation. Listen: megaphone.link/ADV1626543578

.@lauranirider & @DThompsonWZ join @DrPhil to highlight the need to reform police interrogation tactics that cause false confessions - esp for kids like Laura & @SDrizin client Brendan Dassey just 16 when he falsely confessed to a crime he did not commit. http://bi/t.ly/DrPhilpod

Along w/ interrogation training expert @DThompsonWZ, attorney Daniel Woofter from Goldstein & Russell, @LauraNirider appeared on @DrPhil to discuss Atif Rafay’s unreliable confession and the urgent need to prohibit police from lying during interrogations. m.youtube.com/watch?v=x_vIa2…

Watch @DrPhil’s episode featuring Atif Rafay's story. 29 years ago, 19yo Atif gave a murder confession widely believed to be false after police assumed fake identities as mobsters and threatened him into confessing. Goldstein & Russell will argue Atif’s case before CA9 tomorrow.

#Missouri plans to execute an innocent man in 8 days. Despite his airtight alibi, Leonard "Raheem" Taylor sits in solitary confinement awaiting execution. This is unconscionable. Follow @MADPMO to learn how you can support Raheem's fight for his life. kansascity.com/news/state/mis…

What turns a life-long skeptic of wrongful convictions into such a staunch believer he quits his judgeship to represent an inmate with a strong innocence claim? The answer: the truth responsibly & compellingly told. Read Mr. Schofield’s story here. nytimes.com/2023/01/28/bus…

Today marks 20 years since former IL Governor George Ryan commuted the sentences of all death row inmates in Illinois. “The commutations paved the way for Illinois’ eventual abolition of the death penalty in 2011.” @DPInfoCtr deathpenaltyinfo.org/news/illinois-…

As we look back on 2022, all of us at the Center are filled with gratitude for our partners, colleagues, and allies - like you - without whom none of our achievements would have been possible. Here's to our shared, unflagging fight for justice in 2023.

Wrongfully convicted at 16. Unfortunately an all too familiar reality in our country. Laws that ban police deception of youth during interrogation are crucial to avoiding false confessions and, thus, the fight against wrongful convictions of kids. nytimes.com/2022/11/17/nyr…

NYC to name Central Park gate in honor of teens falsely convicted of 1989 rape. “First of its kind in the US. Somewhere we are going wrong and we’ve got to fix this.“ Sharonne Salaam- her then 15yo son Yusef was one of the five teens wrongfully convicted. theguardian.com/us-news/2022/d…

Lawyers, Advocates Prod Albany for More Legal Protections for Kids Under Arrest thecity.nyc/2022/12/7/2349… @dr_yusefsalaam leads the charge for this essential reform to protect kids from false and coerced confessions.

As we look back on Thanksgivings past, we remember all we have to be grateful for — like our incredible clients. Here’s to CWC client, Wayne Antusas, a whole year (&change) after being granted his certificate of innocence. We continue to wish you and yours the very best, Wayne!

“Eleanor Jackson Piel, a civil rights lawyer renowned for handling wrongful convictions and death row appeals — once securing a reprieve for a man 16 hours before he was to be executed — died on Saturday at her home in Austin, Texas. She was 102.”⁦ nytimes.com/2022/11/28/us/…

This week, we celebrate CWC client, Gabriel Solache, who was finally granted a certificate of innocence! Gabriel’s COI is a tribute to former CWC director, the late Karen Daniel, & all who fight to free those wrongfully convicted under corrupt Chicago detective Guevara.

Today, our own @LauraNirider spoke to the National Judicial Institute in Vancouver about how to prevent false confessions. Educating judges is crucial to preventing wrongful convictions- esp poignant as it’s been 6 years since a judge ruled Brendan’s confession to be unreliable.

Six years ago today, a judge ordered Brendan Dassey freed from prison. His confession was unreliable & he posed no danger whatsoever, the judge found. 3 days later, the State got a higher court to block it. We fight for Brendan every day b/c no innocent should be behind bars.

Looking Back: Teenagers Need Lawyers When Cops Question Them davisvanguard.org/2022/11/lookin… Jeff Deskovic continues to use his voice & his story to advocate for changes aimed at preventing wrongful convictions. Bravo!