The plight of the wrongfully
convicted takes center stage at the University of Miami
The University of Miami Wrongful Convictions Project sponsors
Janet Reno and other panelists to discuss the effect of wrongful
convictions in Florida.
Coral Gables, FL (February 27, 2003)-Former
U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno will visit the University
of Miami School of Law on Thursday, March sixth to discuss
reasons and remedies for wrongful convictions in Florida.
Reno, along with a panel of leading scholars and attorneys,
including Dade County’s head public defender Bennett
Brummer, will be speaking at the University of Miami in room
352 of the Law School from 12:30-2:00. Panelists will discuss
their views on wrongful convictions, a question and answer
session will follow.
Florida has one of the highest rates for wrongful convictions
in the nation. Since 1973, over 24 Florida death row prisoners
have been exonerated through the use of DNA and scientific
practices not available at the time they were convicted. Reno
and Brummer, with the other panelists, will discuss the implications
of Florida’s conviction statistics, recent cases of the
innocent in Florida, and the affect of new legislation that
caps post-conviction DNA testing at two years. Additionally,
panelists will share views on Governor Bush’s proposal
to eliminate the Capital Collateral Regional Counsel.
The plight of the wrongfully convicted is a priority for the
faculty and students at the University of Miami School of
Law (UM Law). Fall 2002 saw the offering of the first course
covering wrongful convictions in the UM law curriculum. Additionally,
a group of students began the University of Miami Wrongful
Convictions Project with the goal of working with lawyers
in the Miami area to facilitate the appeals process for the
wrongfully convicted. This project is based on similar projects
at law schools throughout the nation that have worked successfully
to exonerate wrongfully convicted prisoners.
About the University of Miami Wrongful Convictions Project
The UM wrongful convictions project was begun in 2003 and
is dedicated to identifying and rectifying wrongful convictions
and other serious miscarriages of justice. The Project has
three components: representation, research and public education.
Project faculty, staff, cooperating outside attorneys, and
University of Miami Law students investigate possible wrongful
convictions and represent imprisoned clients with claims of
actual innocence.
For more information on the wrongful convictions project or
to send a case to the University of Miami for evaluation go
to www.wrongfulconvictions.com
