PANEL OF LEADING LEGAL AND DNA EXPERTS TO DISCUSS PLIGHT OF THE WRONGLY CONVICTED AND HOW GOVERNMENT SHOULD RESPOND

joan.dim@nyu.edu

MEDIA INVITED

NYU School of Law, Thursday, Nov. 7, 6-8 PM

The New York University Law Alumni Association will present a discussion, GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT: IS THERE JUSTICE FOR THE WRONGLY CONVICTED, THE ACTUALLY INNOCENT? The discussion will be held on Thursday, Nov. 7, at the New York University School of Law, Vanderbilt Hall, 40 Washington Square South, 6-8 PM.

With increasing frequency, we read about the release of prisoners wrongly convicted and who have served many years for crimes they did not commit. Most of the these innocent but convicted prisoners have been freed as a result of teams of lawyers and law students from the Innocence Project founded and directed by Peter Neufeld and Barry Scheck.

The discussion, featuring Neufeld and Scheck, will be from the perspective of judge, prosecution and defense. Issues and questions to be discussed: Should governors refuse to permit scheduled executions? If there is no DNA evidence, how do the wrongly convicted make their claims for exoneration? Should states compensate exonerated former prisoners for time served? Do judges and prosecutors have an affirmative obligation to act to investigate such cases? Specific cases will be discussed, including the Central Park jogger case.

Panelists:

Zachary W. Carter Partner, Dorsey & Whitney, LLP

Peter J. Neufeld and Barry C. Scheck Co-founders and Co-Directors, The Innocence Project

The Honorable Patricia Anne Williams Acting Justice, New York State Supreme Court

Moderator, Holly Maguigan Professor of Law, New York University School of Law

N-46, 2002-03

10/22/02