THE HONORABLE EDMUND G. BROWN, JR. GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA ______________________________________________________________ PETITION FOR EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY PURSUANT TO ARTICLE V, SEC. 8(a) OF THE CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION AND REQUEST FOR HEARING By the undersigned, appearing as counsel for petitioner Kevin Cooper __________________________ Norman C. Hile Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP 400 Capitol Mall, Suite 3000 Sacramento, CA 95814 Tel. (916) 447-9200 Fax (916) 329-4900
[email protected] __________________________ David T. Alexander Law Office of David T. Alexander 5389 Hilltop Crescent Oakland, CA 94618
[email protected] Submitted: February 17, 2016 OHSUSA:764413457.6 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 1 A. Evidence of Innocence........................................................................................... 4 B. Discredited Evidence of Guilt................................................................................ 9 C. Evidence Destruction and Tampering.................................................................. 12 D. Further Evidence and Conclusions Confirming Mr. Cooper’s Innocence........... 14 E. Important Forensic Testing Remains to Be Done................................................ 17 II. ROAD MAP TO THE CLEMENCY PETITION ............................................ 19 III. OVERVIEW OF CLEMENCY ........................................................................ 21 A. The California Constitution