The first exclusively non-DNA Innocence Clinic in the country, the Michigan Innocence Clinic has successfully won the release of 41 men and women who had been wrongfully convicted of crimes and served anywhere from a few months to 46 years in prison. 

About the Michigan Innocence Clinic

Unlike many other innocence clinics, which specialize in DNA exonerations, the Michigan Innocence Clinic focuses on innocence cases where there is no DNA to be tested. 

Under the supervision of co-directors David Moran and Imran Syed and clinical fellow Elizabeth Cole, Innocence Clinic students work on all aspects of the cases, including investigating new evidence, researching and writing briefs, arguing court motions and conducting evidentiary hearings. 

The clinic’s work spans all levels of state and federal courts. Since its founding in 2009, the clinic has successfully won the release of 41 people who had been wrongfully convicted and served anywhere from a few months to 46 years in prison.

  • Information for Students

    Current Michigan Law School students who are interested in being a part of the Michigan Innocence Clinic can do so in two ways: either by enrolling in the clinic for credit during the academic year, or by applying to be an intern in the summer.

    During the academic year, the clinic requires a one-year enrollment commitment (seven graded credits per semester); prospective students can apply to enroll for the following academic year during the winter clinic enrollment period (March).

    Internship applications (consisting of a cover letter and resume) are accepted early in the winter semester for the following summer. Details will be posted by the clinical programs administrator, as summer hiring for all MLaw clinics is handled through a centralized process.

    General questions about the Innocence Clinic can be sent to [email protected].

  • Information for Convicted People

    We highly recommend that applications for review by the Innocence Clinic be completed by the convicted person. However, it is also permissible to have the application completed by a friend or family member. When completing the application, applicants are encouraged to:

    • Make sure their answers are legible. Feel free to use a typewriter if needed.
    • Be clear about what relevant documents are available and who has them.

    Please do not send any supporting materials along with an application. We will request additional materials if we need them.

    Fill Out a Client Application (pdf)

  • Support the Clinic’s Work

    The Michigan Innocence Clinic is a nonprofit legal aid program that provides its services free of charge. Substantial costs are involved in our investigative and litigation efforts, and we are grateful for the generous support of the University and the Law School that makes our work possible. 

    An area in which the clinic continues to seek support is the re-entry needs of our exonerees. Despite being innocent, our exonerated clients face significant financial hurdles upon release, and they don’t receive any state support for months or even years after release.

    Michigan Innocence Clinic co-founder and co-director David Moran has created a special fund to provide stopgap financial support to our exonerees. Those looking to make a donation to this fund should contact Prof. Moran at [email protected] or 734.615.5419.

Stories of Freed Clients

Jeff Titus
Wrongfully convicted: July 19, 2002
Exonerated: June 1, 2023
Kalamazoo County

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Mack Howell
Wrongfully convicted: August 29, 2016
Exonerated: March 20, 2023
Macomb County

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Keith Robinson
Wrongfully convicted: March 28, 1996
Released through clemency: March 14, 2023
Wayne County

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Donyelle Woods
Wrongfully convicted: March 17, 2004
Released through clemency: March 14, 2023
Wayne County

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Kelvin Nolen
Wrongfully convicted: February 22, 2016
Exonerated: December 30, 2022
Wayne County

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Dartanion Edwards
Wrongfully convicted: February 17, 2009
Exonerated: December 22, 2022
Genesee County

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Kenneth Webb
Wrongfully convicted: August 10, 1987
Exonerated: November 3, 2022
Washtenaw County

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Anthony Kyles
Wrongfully convicted: October 17, 1997
Exonerated: October 26, 2022
Oakland County

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Richard Phillips 2
Wrongfully convicted: November 9, 1971
Exonerated: September 28, 2022
Oakland County

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Mark Craighead
Wrongfully convicted: June 25, 2002
Exonerated: August 5, 2022
Wayne County

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Ronnell Johnson
Wrongfully convicted: March 24, 2008
Exonerated: June 1, 2022
Washtenaw County

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Melvin DeJesus
Wrongfully convicted: December 11, 1997
Exonerated: March 22, 2022
Oakland County

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Terry Ceasor
Wrongfully convicted: December 19, 2005
Exonerated: September 30, 2021
St. Clair County

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Juwan Deering
Wrongfully convicted: August 1, 2006
Exonerated: September 30, 2021
Oakland County

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Tonia Miller
Wrongfully convicted: April 14, 2003
Exonerated: August 30, 2021
Calhoun County

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Portrait of Shawn Brown
Shawn Brown
Wrongfully Convicted: August 18, 2010
Exonerated: April 6, 2021
Calhoun County

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FlipcardInnClinic_Perry
Alex Perry Jr.
Wrongfully Convicted: February 22, 2011
Freed: April 5, 2021
Oakland County

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Portrait of Walter Forbes
Walter Forbes
Wrongfully Convicted: May 3, 1983
Exonerated: December 9, 2020
Jackson County

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Kevin Harrington
Kevin Harrington
Wrongfully convicted: February 11, 2003
Exonerated: April 21, 2020
Wayne County

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Eric Anderson
Wrongfully convicted: November 5, 2010
Exonerated: April 30, 2019
Wayne County

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KENDRICK SCOTT
Kendrick Scott
Wrongfully convicted: June 1, 2000
Exonerated: November 28, 2018
Wayne County

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JUSTLY JOHNSON
Justly Johnson
Wrongfully convicted: January 12, 2000
Exonerated: November 28, 2018
Wayne County

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MUBAREZ AHMED
Mubarez Ahmed
Wrongfully convicted: March 25, 2002
Exonerated: October 26, 2018
Wayne County

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RICHARD PHILLIPS
Richard Phillips 1
Wrongfully convicted: October 5, 1972
Exonerated: March 28, 2018
Wayne County

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RAYMOND MCCANN
Ray McCann
Wrongfully convicted: February 11, 2015
Exonerated: December 7, 2017
St. Joseph County

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LAMARR MONSON
Lamarr Monson
Wrongfully convicted: March 7, 1997
Exonerated: August 25, 2017
Wayne County

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DESMOND RICKS
Desmond Ricks
Wrongfully convicted: September 23, 1992
Exonerated: June 1, 2017
Wayne County

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MARWIN MCHENRY
Marwin McHenry
Wrongfully convicted: October 10, 2013
Exonerated: May 1, 2017
Wayne County

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DAVONTAE SANFORD
Davontae Sanford
Wrongfully convicted: March 18, 2008
Exonerated: July 19, 2016
Wayne County

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LORINDA SWAIN
Lorinda Swain
Wrongfully convicted: August 20, 2002
Exonerated: May 19, 2016
Calhoun County

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DAWAN TYNER
Dawan Tyner
Wrongfully convicted: February 16, 2007
Successfully concluded: September 22, 2015
Wayne County

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Babick
Andrew Babick
Wrongfully convicted: November 14, 1996
Successfully concluded: February 4, 2015
Calhoun County

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Peterson
Jaime Peterson
Wrongfully convicted: December 14, 1998
Exonerated: September 8, 2014
Kalkaska County

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Caminata
Victor Caminata
Wrongfully convicted: May 14, 2009
Exonerated: January 22, 2014
Wexford County

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Likine
Selesa Likine
Wrongfully convicted: December 22, 2008
Exonerated: November 14, 2012
Oakland County

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Gavitt
David Gavitt
Wrongfully convicted: April 18, 1986
Exonerated: June 6, 2012
Ionia County

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Cress
Thomas Cress
Wrongfully convicted: June 5, 1985
Released through clemency: December 28, 2010
Calhoun County

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Baumer
Julie Baumer
Wrongfully convicted: September 29, 2005
Exonerated: October 15, 2010
Macomb County

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DWAYNE PROVIENCE
Dwayne Provience
Wrongfully convicted: February 21, 2001
Exonerated: April 14, 2010
Wayne County

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Marvin Reed
Marvin Reed
Wrongfully convicted: August 27, 2001
Exonerated: July 8, 2009
Wayne County

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Flipcard 1
Deshawn Reed
Wrongfully convicted: August 27, 2001
Exonerated: July 8, 2009
Wayne County

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Pending Case - Temujin Kensu

Our client Temujin Kensu (aka Fred Freeman) has been in prison for 34 years for a crime he did not commit. His is among the most overwhelming cases of actual innocence anywhere in the country. 

Temujin Kensu