Attorney makes donation to school's Innocence Project

Novi attorney Wolfgang Mueller said he "cannot think of a more noble calling" after donating to Western Michigan University Cooley Law School's Innocence Project. The founder of the Mueller Law Firm donated $8,500 to the project to support their work. The project strives to earn the release of factually innocent prisoners who have been wrongfully convicted. "I am proud to support the WMU-Cooley Innocence Project in their efforts to correct wrongful convictions," said Mueller. "Their diligence and perseverance has allowed individuals to avoid dying in prison for crimes they did not commit." Mueller, who specializes in wrongful conviction and police misconduct cases, has been a speaker at seminars for the American Association for Justice and the Michigan Association for Justice (MAJ). He is a past member of the MAJ's executive board and is a member of the Council for the State Bar of Michigan's Negligence Section. Mueller often speaks at law schools on the issue of police misconduct. "We are thankful for Mr. Mueller's dedication to the Innocence Project's work," said Tracey Brame, director, WMU-Cooley Innocence Project. "His donation will provide additional support for our review of cases and provide much needed resources to those applicants who we accept as clients." WMU-Cooley Innocence Project is part of the Innocence Network, which has been credited with the release of over 375 wrongfully accused prisoners through the use of DNA testing. The WMU-Cooley project has screened more than 5,800 cases and is responsible for the exoneration of five men: Kenneth Wyniemko (2003), Nathaniel Hatchett (2008), and Wayne County residents Donya Davis (2014) LeDura Watkins (2017) and Kenneth Nixon (2021). The WMU-Cooley Innocence Project supported the exonerations of Ramon Ward and Lacino Hamilton by contributing its DNA expertise and grant resources to obtain testing. The project is staffed by WMU-Cooley students, who work under the supervision of WMU-Cooley Innocence Project attorneys. Those interested in donating and supporting the work of the WMU-Cooley Innocence Project can do so at cooley.edu/academics/experiential-learning/innocence-project. Published: Tue, Mar 30, 2021