Blog author Marla Mitchell-Cichon, is the director of WMU-Cooley Law School’s Innocence Project. She has been recognized many times in her career for her commitment to right the wrongs in our criminal justices system. She has received the State Bar of Michigan’s Champion of Justice Award, Michigan Lawyers Weekly 30 Leaders in the Law, and Ingham County Bar Association’s Leo A. Farhat Outstanding Lawyer Award to name a few.
Call To Action: What Does Accountability Mean To You?
Quadfecta: Federal Grant Awards Support WMU-Cooley's Innocence Project
Quadfecta. Noun. A set of four wins at related events. The WMU-Cooley Innocence Project not only was the recipient of one federal grant in support of the vital work being done by the clinic, but ultimately received four total federal grants this year to continue to right the wrongs in our criminal justice system.
#BrianBanks Movie Reminder of Two WMU-Cooley Connections; our own Innocence Project in Michigan and Professor Justin Brooks
Some of you may have already watched the movie and true story about Brian Banks. It recently opened in theaters, but a quick trailer captures the wrenching heartache of how, in 2002, a seventeen-year-old Brian Banks was wrongfully convicted of rape.
Exonerees Say Freedom is in the Hands of Law Students as Future Lawyers
During the month of October, the WMU-Cooley Law School Innocence Project is doing its part to build awareness about wrongful conviction and its human impact. Part of their efforts included bringing back and giving voice to those exonerees who found freedom through the work of the WMU-Cooley Innocence Project and the national network of advocates working steadfastly to right this wrong.
WMU-Cooley Oxford Program Hosts Wrongfully Convicted at Krinock Lecture
Did you ever wonder if the the American justice system really is the best system in the world? When mistakes are made, are the mistakes different in different countries?
LeDura Watkins; One Year Later – Living Life Simply
On June 15, 2017, the WMU-Cooley Law School Innocence Project made history with the release of LeDura Watkins from prison after serving more than 41 years behind bars for a crime he did not commit. At the time, he was the longest-serving exonerated person. On June 15, 2018, Watkins came to WMU-Cooley’s Lansing campus to talk about life then, and life now.
Beyond the Basics: Learning How to Practice Law in WMU-Cooley’s Innocence Project
Ken Wyniemko — Never Giving Up, Never Giving In
Nine years can be a relatively short time, or a very long time, depending upon circumstances. If you’re raising a family, nurturing your children and watching them grow, it can whip by in a flash. If you’re in prison for a crime you didn’t commit, it would drag on, second by miserable second.
Innocence Project’s Efforts Free Detroit Man After 42 Years of Wrongful Imprisonment
Almost 42 years after being sent to prison for robbery and murder, two crimes he didn't commit, LeDura (Ledora) Watkins was released on June 15, 2017, thanks to the efforts of the WMU-Cooley Innocence Project. Following a motion for a new trial, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office agreed to vacate the judgment of conviction and dismiss all charges in the 1975 murder of a Detroit woman. Watkins had spent more than two-thirds of his life in prison for no reason.
Exoneree Donya Davis rejoicing: Gets to spend his first Mother’s Day with his mom after 7 years in prison
WMU-Cooley Innocence Project’s exoneree Donya Davis was choked up just thinking about this Mother’s Day.
