On June 14, the Cooley Law School Innocence Project hosted a panel discussion, titled: “Inside the Innocence Movement: A Panel Discussion with the Freed and Exonerated.” Pictured are (back, l-r) Melvin DeJesus; George DeJesus; Marla Mitchell-Cichon, Cooley Law School distinguished professor emeritus and counsel to the Cooley Innocence Project; Dell Crawford; Ann Garant, co-director for the Cooley Law School Innocence Project; Niquole Caringi, Cooley Innocence Project staff attorney; Kenneth Nixon; Eric Anderson; and Roy Blackman. In the front row are (l-r) Ruben Pinuelas; Jessa Webber, Cooley Innocence Project staff attorney; and Tracey Brame, co-director of the Cooley Innocence Project.
Cooley Law School Innocence Project hosted a panel discussion on Sunday, June 14, titled, “Inside the Innocence Movement: A Panel Discussion with the Freed and Exonerated.” A total of seven exonerees participated in the event, including Dell Crawford, George DeJesus, Melvin DeJesus, Kenneth Nixon, Eric Anderson, Roy Blackman, and Ruben Pinuelas.
“For the innocent people in prison, keep fighting,” said George DeJesus, who, along with his brother Melvin, was exonerated on March 22, 2022, after serving 25 years in prison. “Keep fighting even if they tell you there’s no hope. If you’re innocent, and you know you’re innocent, keep fighting.”
The event provided first-hand accounts of how flaws in Michigan's criminal justice system resulted in them being wrongly convicted and what it took for them to finally be exonerated. Attendees also heard from Cooley Law School Innocence Project staff about their work on behalf of those who have been wrongly convicted and incarcerated. They gave attendees the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about what they can do to recognize and prevent wrongful convictions.
“I’m still adapting with the new technology, I can barely use my phone,” said Dell Crawford, who has been free for almost 90 days after serving 17 years in prison. “The way you shop, the way you eat, the way you order… everything is different.”
Ann Garant, co-director for the Cooley Law School Innocence Project, facilitated the event.
“The number of exonerated participants in the panel just goes to show how many individuals have been wrongfully convicted,” she said. “Fellow exonerees are extremely supportive of their brothers and sisters in this community.”
Since its inception, the Cooley Innocence Project has screened over 7,500 cases and is responsible for the exoneration of 10 individuals: Kenneth Wyniemko (2003), Nathaniel Hatchett (2008), Donya Davis (2014), LeDura Watkins (2017), Kenneth Nixon (2021), Gilbert Poole (2021), Corey Quentin McCall (2021), George DeJesus (2022), Louis Wright (2023), and Dell Crawford (2026). In addition, the Cooley Innocence Project has helped to exonerate Lacino Hamilton, Ramon Ward, Terance Calhoun, and Crystal Mulherin, Duane Williams, and George Calicut Jr.
In honor of its 25th anniversary, the Cooley Innocence Project is hosting a gala on Sept. 19 at Grewal Hall in Lansing. The event, featuring NBC Dateline Producer Dan Slepian, an advocate for the innocence movement, as the keynote speaker, will begin at 6 p.m.
More information about purchasing tickets to the gala or supporting the work of the Cooley Innocence project can be found at https://cooley.edu/innocence25. Organizations interested in scheduling the Cooley Innocence Project for speaking engagements can contact Ann Garant at innocence@cooley. edu.
“For the innocent people in prison, keep fighting,” said George DeJesus, who, along with his brother Melvin, was exonerated on March 22, 2022, after serving 25 years in prison. “Keep fighting even if they tell you there’s no hope. If you’re innocent, and you know you’re innocent, keep fighting.”
The event provided first-hand accounts of how flaws in Michigan's criminal justice system resulted in them being wrongly convicted and what it took for them to finally be exonerated. Attendees also heard from Cooley Law School Innocence Project staff about their work on behalf of those who have been wrongly convicted and incarcerated. They gave attendees the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about what they can do to recognize and prevent wrongful convictions.
“I’m still adapting with the new technology, I can barely use my phone,” said Dell Crawford, who has been free for almost 90 days after serving 17 years in prison. “The way you shop, the way you eat, the way you order… everything is different.”
Ann Garant, co-director for the Cooley Law School Innocence Project, facilitated the event.
“The number of exonerated participants in the panel just goes to show how many individuals have been wrongfully convicted,” she said. “Fellow exonerees are extremely supportive of their brothers and sisters in this community.”
Since its inception, the Cooley Innocence Project has screened over 7,500 cases and is responsible for the exoneration of 10 individuals: Kenneth Wyniemko (2003), Nathaniel Hatchett (2008), Donya Davis (2014), LeDura Watkins (2017), Kenneth Nixon (2021), Gilbert Poole (2021), Corey Quentin McCall (2021), George DeJesus (2022), Louis Wright (2023), and Dell Crawford (2026). In addition, the Cooley Innocence Project has helped to exonerate Lacino Hamilton, Ramon Ward, Terance Calhoun, and Crystal Mulherin, Duane Williams, and George Calicut Jr.
In honor of its 25th anniversary, the Cooley Innocence Project is hosting a gala on Sept. 19 at Grewal Hall in Lansing. The event, featuring NBC Dateline Producer Dan Slepian, an advocate for the innocence movement, as the keynote speaker, will begin at 6 p.m.
More information about purchasing tickets to the gala or supporting the work of the Cooley Innocence project can be found at https://cooley.edu/innocence25. Organizations interested in scheduling the Cooley Innocence Project for speaking engagements can contact Ann Garant at innocence@cooley. edu.
On June 14, the Cooley Law School Innocence Project hosted a panel discussion, titled: “Inside the Innocence Movement: A Panel Discussion with the Freed and Exonerated.” Pictured from left to right are: George DeJesus; Marla Mitchell-Cichon, Cooley Law School distinguished professor emeritus and counsel to the Cooley Innocence Project; and Melvin DeJesus.
On June 14, the Cooley Law School Innocence Project hosted a panel discussion, titled: “Inside the Innocence Movement: A Panel Discussion with the Freed and Exonerated.” Pictured from left to right are: Tracey Brame, co-director of the Cooley Innocence Project; Melvin DeJesus; Ann Garant, co-director of the Cooley Innocence Project; George DeJesus; and Jessa Webber, Cooley Innocence Project staff attorney.
Ann Garant, co-director of the Cooley Innocence Project, addresses attendees during a panel discussion, titled: “Inside the Innocence Movement: A Panel Discussion with the Freed and Exonerated,” on June 14 at Cooley Law School.
Panel attendees gather inside the Cooley Law School lobby on June 14 for the Cooley Innocence Project panel discussion, titled: “Inside the Innocence Movement: A Panel Discussion with the Freed and Exonerated.”
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