• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

For the Innocent & Wrongfully Imprisoned Wrongfully & theInnocent For YEAR IN REVIEW 2o19 ARIZONA JUSTICE PROJECT MISSION: To seek justice for the innocent and the wrongfully imprisoned—the marginalized and forgotten of Arizona’s criminal justice system. 2 - 2019 YEAR IN REVIEW CONTENT Message From the President 4 Message From the Executive Director 5 Case Work & Freedom 6 Identify and Prevent Wrongful Convictions 10 Education, Training, Community Engagement 12 AJP Partners 16 Honor Roll of Donors 18 2018-2019 Fiscal Year Budget 21 2019 YEAR IN REVIEW - 3 Message From the President As 2019 draws to a close, I find myself enjoying the rare opportunity to pause and reflect on the work of the Arizona Justice Project. For the last three months, my wife and I have been away from Phoenix on a sabbatical from daily practice with Osborn Maledon, my law firm. While out of town, I have turned off everything related to the practice of law, except for the Project. Instead, I have had the luxury of time and distance to hear and see daily what our lawyers, staff, volunteers and clients have been up to. I wish I could convey in these few words how impressive it is to see innocence and justice reform at work. Here is a collage of some of what I’ve seen. Every day this Project answers the unending stream of communications from inmates, their families and supporters. Legal calls to Arizona’s prisons are a daily occurrence. Visits to our wide-spread State prisons happen every week, on top of the many court filings, records requests, hearings, and the constant need to collaborate with defense Larry Hammond lawyers, public defense offices, and prosecutors. All of this is accomplished by our half President dozen staff members, by the students and professional staff in the Post-Conviction Clinic, and by lawyer volunteers across the State. All of this is made possible because the endless fund development work—essential to our survival. And then, in the middle of all that, breathtaking moments of success emerge. This year’s most memorable moment might be the day Veronica Torres became a free person. There is not space enough for me to tell her full story, but I cannot reflect on the Project’s 22- year history without focusing on this woman’s case. She was prosecuted for a crime committed when she was 14, by a prosecutor that was blindly committed to seeking to forever end her life as a free person before it had barely begun. The Project became involved in her case—believe it or not—20 years ago. I have often said that on her behalf we “lost in every court an Arizona inmate could lose in.” State and Federal. Along the way, this young woman survived and grew to become a model of maturity within the prison system. She found ways to contribute to others from within the walls. I invite you all to read her story. Low and behold, the last few days have brought us another truly memorable moment: the Governor’s grant of clemency to Doyle Williams. Doyle, too, has been a client for 20 years, and he also has endured numerous disappointments. I am intensely proud of both Doyle and Veronica, but I am equally as proud of the lawyers, law students, law professors, and Project staff who clung with them throughout their ordeals. Pretty easy to love this Project in 2019. Thank you all. Larry A. Hammond President, Arizona Justice Project 4 - 2019 YEAR IN REVIEW Message From the Executive Director As I reflect on the work of the Arizona Justice Project in 2019, I think of a variety of successes, which seemed nearly impossible at the beginning of the year, that are coming to fruition thanks to the efforts of the incredible people committed to seeking justice. We end the year representing nine individuals whose cases are in legal proceedings on claims of wrongful conviction or manifest injustice with help from pro bono lawyers from seven different law firms in Arizona. This work truly takes a village and we could not do it without these dedicated lawyers. We end the year with a broader and stronger community of support than ever before. I am honored to share each workday with an incredibly devoted staff, to collaborate with the ASU Post-Conviction Clinic, to receive support and guidance from our Board of Directors, to work alongside gifted law students, to work with investigators and Lindsay Herf experts uncovering the truth, to partner with private foundations dedicated to making a difference in Arizona, and to connect with countless individuals in the community Executive Director supporting our efforts to bring our clients home. Finally, we end the year with two clients returning home. First, Doyle Williams. Since 1969, Doyle has been incarcerated for a homicide that he has maintained he did not commit. With the case file and evidence long gone, Doyle’s only avenue to freedom became the very slim chance of executive clemency, a two–phase hearing process with the ultimate decision resting with the Governor. Doyle is the shining example of how one can survive fifty years in prison and do so with dignity. Doyle avoided prison politics and gangs, stayed far away from drugs, bridged relationships with men of other races to maintain peace on the yard, mentored countless young men, had zero disciplinary infractions, and led a bible study practice for decades. On November 27, 2019, the Governor granted Doyle a commutation of sentence. Additionally, Veronica Torres, who entered the system at age 14, walked free on September 24, 2019. It is hard to imagine what it would be like at age 14 to enter prison and not know if you would ever get home again. It is hard to imagine what we, as a society, would expect from a person facing this reality. But I do know that Veronica Torres is unlike any other. Her accomplishments are nothing short of inspiring and she can teach us all a bit about compassion and the importance of lifting up those around us. We end the year grateful for our freedom, for all who partner with us and support these efforts, and for our clients—who make it all worthwhile. Sincerely, Lindsay Herf Executive Director, Arizona Justice Project 2019 YEAR IN REVIEW - 5 CASE WORK & FREEDOM Bringing Clients Home The work of the Arizona Justice Project is an uphill challenge. To overturn a conviction or correct an excessive sentence, the burden is high and the evidence must be strong. The inspiration for us to keep fighting comes from our clients, who suffered an injustice that should never have occurred. Veronica Torres Veronica “Vero” Torres Nevertheless, she persisted. Vero’s list of was taken into custody at accomplishments while incarcerated goes on age 14 and charged with and on, as does the list of women whom Vero murder based on a drive-by impacted with her humility, love, encouragement, shooting which occurred in and support. Vero positively affects everyone she 1994 while she was riding comes into contact with and constantly provides in a car with five other encouragement to lift up those around her. teenage girls. Vero and the AJP connected in 2002 and with the help of volunteer After a 2014 legislative fix reinstating parole eligibility attorneys, the AJP represented Vero on post-conviction for juveniles, Vero had her first parole hearing in May of relief claims related to sentencing. Unfortunately, the 2019. The Board voted 3-0 in favor of Vero’s release and post-conviction appeals were unsuccessful. Vero, on September 24, 2019, Vero came home. There is so still a young woman, faced uncertainty as to whether much good this woman can offer the world and we can’t she would ever have a chance to return home. wait to stand by her side in this next chapter of life. Doyle Williams Doyle first wrote to the AJP documents. Unfortunately, every bit of evidence on May 10, 1999, for help had been destroyed, witnesses were no longer with his case. By that time, around, and records were incomplete. Doyle had already been in prison for thirty years. It soon became clear that the only avenue to freedom Back in October of 1969, would be the very slim chance of executive clemency. Doyle and another man, Mr. In fact, Doyle had twice previously applied for executive Chambers, were arrested clemency, received unanimous recommendations and charged with the murder of a man they worked from the Board of Executive Clemency, only to be for. Mr. Chambers, admitting his guilt in the murder, dismissed by the then Governors of Arizona. pled guilty and was sentenced to 10-12 years in prison. He was released after serving 3 years. Doyle This year, Doyle and the AJP team tried again. maintained that he did not kill the victim. Doyle went In June, we had a successful clemency hearing to trial and was convicted and sentenced to “life.” where the Board voted unanimously to recommend Doyle to the Governor for clemency. After serving From 1999 to 2010, AJP law students and volunteer 50 years in prison, Governor Ducey issued a attorneys worked to track down evidence, locate proclamation granting commutation of sentence on witnesses, dig up police records, and court November 27, 2019, making him parole eligible. 6 - 2019 YEAR IN REVIEW CASE WORK & FREEDOM 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 BOARD OF EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY LITIGATION DNA TESTING FACT INVESTIGATION AMICUS BRIEFS REVIEW PROCEDURAL ISSUES AND FACTS PRE-SCREEN Litigation Update Over this past year, the AJP has reviewed and investigated dozens of cases and ends the year with nine cases pending in state or federal judicial proceedings and having represented four clients before the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency.

Load more

  24

Copy Link