Exoneration

Decades-Long Battle for Justice: Lawyer Exposes Deep Flaws in System through 1981 Murder Case Exoneration Effort

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Trenton, NJ – Nearly four decades after a 1981 murder case resulted in a conviction that has been contested ever since, recent efforts to reexamine the evidence point to what supporters say are major systemic failures in the judicial process. At the heart of the battle for exoneration is an increasing awareness of the complexities and potential pitfalls of the American legal system, especially concerning older cases where forensic technologies were less developed. Legal experts emphasize that the reevaluation of such cases is critical, not just for the individuals involved, but for the integrity of … Read more

Jonesboro Jury Awards Millions in Landmark Exoneration Case

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Jonesboro, Ark. – In a landmark verdict, an Arkansas jury awarded three individuals $5 million each in damages after finding they were wrongfully arrested and incarcerated for nearly two decades. The plaintiffs, who have since been exonerated, were granted this sum as part of a civil rights lawsuit they filed following their release. The case, involving Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley Jr., and Jason Baldwin, dubbed the West Memphis Three, attracted national attention when they were originally convicted as teenagers in 1994 for the murders of three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis. The convictions were largely … Read more

Notre Dame Law School Alumna Joins Exoneration Justice Clinic as Legal Fellow

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame Law School’s Exoneration Justice Clinic has announced the hiring of Mary-Kathryn (“Katie”) Takeuchi as a legal fellow. Takeuchi, an alumna of the law school, will be instrumental in the clinic’s selection process for new cases, overseeing the work of students, and providing assistance on active cases. Takeuchi returns to Notre Dame after a successful stint as an associate attorney at Heise Suarez Melville, PA, in Coral Gables, Florida. Notably, she represented a client in a wrongful-death jury trial involving police misconduct, which resulted in a $3 million verdict against … Read more

Attorney for Convicted Killer’s Parents Faces $500 Sanction Over Baseless Lawsuit, Vows to Continue Fight for Exoneration

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Naperville, Illinois – A federal judge has imposed a $500 penalty on an attorney representing the parents of Christopher Vaughn, a convicted killer. The judge determined that the attorney, Keith Altman, displayed “reckless indifference” by bringing baseless arguments in a recent lawsuit. However, Altman maintains that the judge’s decision was unwarranted and asserts that he will continue to advocate for Vaughn’s freedom and exoneration. In 2012, a jury in Will County found Vaughn guilty of murdering his wife, Kimberly, and their three children. The bodies were discovered in the family’s SUV parked along a secluded … Read more