Michigan Innocence Clinic

Clinic News
July 12, 2009: Innocence Clinic wins its first major case. Find out more.

Watch the Big Ten Network's short film about the Innocence Clinic's victory in the case of Deshawn and Marvin Reed, who were exonerated on July 31, 2009, after serving 9 years in prison for assault with intent to kill.  Innocence Clinic students handled the case from beginning to end.  See their work here.

In this clinic students will investigate and litigate cases on behalf of prisoners with new evidence that may establish that they are actually innocent of the crimes for which they have been convicted.  Unlike many other innocence clinics, which specialize in DNA exonerations, this clinic's docket will focus on innocence cases where there is no biological evidence to be tested.  Students will work on all aspects of the cases, including investigating new evidence, preparing state post-conviction motions, conducting hearings and arguing motions in conjunction with these motions, and filing appeals to the state and federal courts.  Since Winter 2009 is the first semester that the clinic will be operating, students will also spend much of their time screening and developing new cases.

Prisoners must submit an application to the Innocence Clinic to determine whether the clinic can take the case.

Contact information:
Michigan Innocence Clinic
University of Michigan Law School
625 South State Street
1029 Legal Research Building
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1215
Phone: 734.763.9353
Fax:  734.764.8242