Actual Innocence

Austinite wrongfully convicted for a decade-old school prank hopes to clear his name

"...In Texas over the past decade, during which "actual innocence" has become a prominent legal concept, there have..."

July 29, 2011 News Feature by Caitlin Meredith

Springsteen Sues for Innocence – in Bexar County

Freed inmate takes his case to a friendlier venue

"...that a judge make a finding that he is actually innocent of that crime. "Without a judicial declaration of..."

March 7, 2014 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Innocence

This story about a damaged, young woman mired in the mundanities of boarding-school life is utterly bloodless.

"...Suspiria), and the far superior Ginger Snaps series – Innocence certainly has all the right genre conventions to toy..."

Sept. 5, 2014 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

Death Watch: A Startling Last-Minute Claim of Innocence

New evidence emerges in case of man slated for March 8 execution

"...to the murders, and he has always maintained his innocence. The police examined Gonzales on the day of the..."

March 4, 2022 News Feature by Brant Bingamon

Criminal Justice: Innocence Is No Defense

There are several dozen criminal justice reforms under consideration, and a handful might actually be enacted.

"...multiple stays of execution, SB 1045 would create an "Innocence Commission" on wrongful convictions, and SB 1607 would regulate..."

April 11, 2003 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Innocence Project Seeks Justice

Timothy Cole died before his false conviction could be overturned, but his family – and the victim of the real attacker – still seek closure

"...the victim of the 1985 Lubbock rape, Michelle Mallin, Innocence Project of Texas Chief Counsel Jeff Blackburn is asking..."

Oct. 3, 2008 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Metaphysical Slumming in Mexico Missing Actual Mexicans

"...in this David Copperfield conversation is – surprise! – actual Mexicans themselves. Those who, in a region burgeoning with..."

April 17, 2010 Postmarks

Tim O'Brien's In the Lake of the Woods Rage of Innocence

"...has invented his own fictional form. Certain chapters describe actual events through the eyes of a sympathetic, non-omniscient narrator:..."

Jan. 12, 1996 Books Feature

Dallas D.A. Says Supremes Should Take Jimenez Case

Watkins asking court to decide standard for actual innocence

"...What does it take to prove actual innocence? That is among the questions now before the..."

Oct. 31, 2012 News Post by Jordan Smith

Defending the Innocent in Texas

The Texas Center for Actual Innocence is open for business at the UT Law School

"...professor Bill Allison received a call from the Wisconsin Innocence Project asking if he would act as local counsel..."

May 7, 2004 News Feature by Rita Radostitz

Learning From Our Mistakes

Free, but not exonerated, Fran and Dan Keller are the victims of a continuing injustice

"...medical testimony. But the ruling was not accompanied by actual exoneration from the allegedly heinous crimes...."

March 11, 2016 News Feature by Michael King

All Aboard for the Death Penalty Express

Republicans aim to kill federal appeals law

"...often than not, lay the groundwork for claims of innocence, new evidence testing, or the granting of a new..."

Aug. 12, 2005 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Framing the Guilty?

Houston police thought they had their man – so the evidence was no problem

"...is guilty or innocent. According to the New York-based Innocence Project, government misconduct is a leading cause of wrongful..."

Nov. 2, 2012 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Judge Recommends Rejecting Rodney Reed Appeal

Magistrate judge contends that DNA proves Reed's guilt

"...it be denied. He concluded that Reed's claims of actual innocence are not persuasive, which further means that several..."

June 29, 2012 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Targeting Wrongful Convictions

Bills attempt to right the wrongs that put Texas at the forefront of wrongful convictions

"...Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon, D-San Antonio, which creates an Innocence Commission to investigate each of Texas' growing number of..."

April 17, 2009 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Supremes Reject Jimenez Appeal

Case moves back to federal district court

"...as the state, but also that evidence of Jimenez's innocence was not "clear and convincing," the standard by which..."

Jan. 8, 2013 News Post by Jordan Smith

Kellers Granted Relief

Court rules with little explanation

"...unanimously grant relief – yet deny a ruling of actual innocence – to former child care providers Frances and Dan..."

May 29, 2015 News Feature by Chase Hoffberger

Fairness, Consistency, Safety

Rosemary Lehmberg defends her record

"...larger effort that I've been working on with the Innocence Project. We needed to make sure that defense attorneys..."

Jan. 20, 2012 News Feature

Death Watch: A Mother Set to Die

Melissa Lucio says she didn't kill her daughter and half of the Texas House of Representatives agree

"...That includes what Vanessa Pot­kin, the Innocence Project attorney who's been working on the case since..."

April 8, 2022 News Feature by Brant Bingamon

Kellers Exonerated, Await Compensation

Tears of joy and thanks precede hope of financial safety

"...that inculpates the defendants” and that the Kellers “are actually innocent of the crime for which each was sentenced.”..."

June 20, 2017 News Post by Michael King

Point Austin: Welcome to the Madhouse

The Keller day care fiasco and the madness of crowds

"...only returned the story to public attention and an innocence investigation, but also cast serious doubt on the only..."

Jan. 18, 2013 News Column by Michael King

Panel Emphasizes Need for Prosecutorial Oversight

Michael Morton's case is one of dozens in which misconduct has been alleged

"...their misbehavior, according to new data compiled by the Innocence Proj­ect. (Allegations of prosecutor misconduct were raised in another..."

April 6, 2012 News Feature by Jordan Smith

DNA Evidence Clears Morton of Murder Conviction

Georgetown man was wrongfully convicted for wife's murder

"...John Bradley agreed with Morton's defense counsel and the Innocence Project that DNA evidence proves Morton was not responsible..."

Oct. 7, 2011 News Feature by Jordan Smith

The Wrong Way To Right a Wrongful Conviction

Graves sues for compensation for time spent behind bars

"...her daughter, and four grandchildren (one of whom was actually Carter's son). Carter later recanted, saying that Graves wasn't..."

June 3, 2011 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Criminally Innocent

How can you be exonerated of a crime that never happened?

"...was 14), but by the time the case was actually investigated – more than a year after LaVonna said..."

Nov. 5, 2010 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Where's Your Evidence?

Advances in forensic science have made physical evidence increasingly crucial in criminal justice – but the practice of preserving and maintaining that evidence is often underfunded, poorly managed, or just plain sloppy

"...In short, testing the jacket might help prove Skin­ner's innocence – or confirm his guilt...."

Feb. 15, 2013 News Feature by Jordan Smith

Naked City

Breaking stories from Austin and beyond

"...option to subdue King (that is, if the officers actually had access to either a Taser gun or beanbag..."

April 23, 2004 News Feature by Michael King

Allied

WWII espionage thriller can't hold a candle to Casablanca

"...a bold mission that ultimately brings them together as actual spouses. Other overt references to the Oscar-winning 1942 film..."

Nov. 23, 2016 Movie Review by Steve Davis

Unpardonable

The Bush record of 'compassionate conservatism' is amply illustrated by his clemency record in Texas

"...theory – but very difficult to document from the actual Bush record...."

June 11, 2004 News Feature by Lucius Lomax

The Fugitive

Flinty Tommy Lee Jones is the best thing about this otherwise standard chase film.

"...in question. For non-fans of the series (which was actually quite good, come to think of it), Kimble is..."

Aug. 6, 1993 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

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