In the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama Tenth Judicial Circuit, Criminal Division

DOCUMENT 63 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, ALABAMA TENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, CRIMINAL DIVISION TOFOREST O. JOHNSON, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) v. ) CASE NO: CC-1996-386.61 ) STATE OF ALABAMA, ) ) Respondent. ) BRIEF OF ALABAMA LAW STUDENTS AS AMICI CURIAE IN SUPPORT OF PETITIONER TOFOREST JOHNSON’S REQUEST FOR A NEW TRIAL Toforest Johnson’s case presents a prime opportunity for the justice system to work the way Alabama law students are taught that it does—as an instrument of truth and justice. But without this Court’s lawful intervention, Mr. Johnson’s case threatens to gravely discredit the principled ideals that this state’s law schools instill in the next generation of Alabama lawyers. Amici—over 100 current law students in Alabama, spanning a wide ideological spectrum— are moved to add their voices to the call for justice in this case. They have witnessed a rare and diverse coalition of legal and community leaders unite in support of a request for a new trial for Toforest Johnson, a man on Alabama’s death row. Former prosecutors and judges, faith leaders, law professors, legal ethics experts, leaders in the criminal defense bar, and other community leaders have joined with Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr and the lead trial prosecutor in Mr. Johnson’s case to ask this Court to grant Mr. Johnson a new trial. As students, these amici do not have the years of experience the other amici have. But they have a significant stake in our justice system; indeed, they represent its future. With hope that the lessons taught in Alabama’s legal classrooms hold true in Alabama’s courtrooms, law students from across Alabama submit this brief supporting Mr. Johnson’s request for a new trial. 1 DOCUMENT 63 IDENTITY AND INTEREST OF AMICI CURIAE Amici, listed below, are 120 current law students from Alabama’s five law schools: The University of Alabama School of Law, Cumberland School of Law, Thomas Goode Jones School of Law, Miles Law School, and Birmingham School of Law. Many, if not most, intend to practice law in Alabama. Many are already registered with the Alabama State Bar. They are the future leaders of Alabama’s legal community and the product of its teachings, mentorship, and guidance. Amici come from diverse backgrounds and represent a broad spectrum of ideologies, faiths, races, regions, and generations. Some were born and raised in Alabama, while others have newly made it home. They plan to work in varying fields of law. They are members of the following organizations: American Constitution Society, Federalist Society, Black Law Students Association, Student Bar Association, National Moot Court Competition Teams, various law reviews, Dorbin Women’s Association, First Generation Law Students Association, Hispanic National Bar Association, Middle Eastern and South Asian Law Students Association, Bench and Bar Honor Society, Parents Attending Law School, Women in Law Society, Military Justice Society, Environmental Law Society, Business Law Society, Christian Legal Society, Criminal Law Society, and more. Amici embrace these differences because they believe the legal system works best with a multitude of perspectives. More importantly, they embrace the shared responsibility of upholding the integrity and fairness of the legal system they are studying. That responsibility is why they collectively feel compelled to add their voices to the many others who believe that justice—the fundamental principle for which the legal profession strives—requires that Mr. Johnson receive a new trial. 2 DOCUMENT 63 LAW STUDENT AMICI: Katrina M. Smith Erica Webb University of Alabama School of Law ’22 University of Alabama School of Law ’22 Chris Aiken Cole Adams University of Alabama School of Law ’22 University of Alabama School of Law ’23 Marcus Armband Crystal Armstrong University of Alabama School of Law ’22 University of Alabama School of Law ’23 Rebecca Atkin Frank Johnson Baxley Cumberland School of Law ’23 Cumberland School of Law ’24 Christian Bayas Adrianna Bayles Cumberland School of Law ’24 Cumberland School of Law ’24 Adelaide Beckman Spencer Bowley University of Alabama School of Law ’22 University of Alabama School of Law ’22 Lauren Bradley Treona Brown Cumberland School of Law ’23 Cumberland School of Law ’24 William Bruner Kelsey Cain Cumberland School of Law ’24 Cumberland School of Law ’22 Haley Carter Jackson Colburn University of Alabama School of Law ’22 University of Alabama School of Law ’22 Anne Compton Brantley Cook University of Alabama School of Law ’24 University of Alabama School of Law ’24 Raine Cook Haley Czarnek University of Alabama School of Law ’23 University of Alabama School of Law ’22 Natalie Daniel Chloe Dasinger University of Alabama School of Law ’22 Cumberland School of Law ’23 Bryce Dean Caroline Dean University of Alabama School of Law ’23 University of Alabama School of Law ’23 3 DOCUMENT 63 Lucie Dierikx Hannah Dillashaw University of Alabama School of Law ’23 Cumberland School of Law ’24 Cameron Dobbs Matt Duggan University of Alabama School of Law ’23 University of Alabama School of Law ’22 Lamar Dukes Kalen Early Cumberland School of Law ’24 Cumberland School of Law ’24 Cierra Ferrell Kiara Freeman Cumberland School of Law ’22 Cumberland School of Law ’22 Julian Garner William Samuel Gaston Cumberland School of Law ’22 Cumberland School of Law ’24 Summer George Tiyona Griggs Cumberland School of Law ’23 University of Alabama School of Law ’22 Morgan Grissett Julius Hammond Cumberland School of Law ’23 University of Alabama School of Law ’24 Wala Hijaz Aliah Hill Thomas Goode Jones School of Law ’22 Cumberland School of Law ’24 Brandon Hobbs Chotsani Holifield University of Alabama School of Law ’22 Cumberland School of Law ’24 Brian Hottinger Caleb Howard University of Alabama School of Law ’22 University of Alabama School of Law ’23 Hope Hudgins Aryne Hudson University of Alabama School of Law ’24 University of Alabama School of Law ’22 Hunter Jackson Jalen Johnson University of Alabama School of Law ’23 Cumberland School of Law ’23 Demarcus Joiner Erin Jolley University of Alabama School of Law ’24 University of Alabama School of Law ’24 4 DOCUMENT 63 Victoria Jones Cassidy Keith University of Alabama School of Law ’24 University of Alabama School of Law ’22 Kiana Kennamore Hannah King Cumberland School of Law ’22 University of Alabama School of Law ’24 Courtney Kirbis Allison Koszyk University of Alabama School of Law ’24 University of Alabama School of Law ’22 Alan Kouns Makenna Krist Thomas Goode Jones School of Law ’22 University of Alabama School of Law ’24 Katie Larsen Rubayet Lasker Cumberland School of Law ’22 University of Alabama School of Law ’22 Teylor Lavin LaDara Lee Cumberland School of Law ’23 Miles Law School ’22 Brianna Lewis Aaliyah Locke University of Alabama School of Law ’24 University of Alabama School of Law ’22 Angelica Mamani Mark Martin University of Alabama School of Law ’22 Cumberland School of Law ’22 Sara Martin Meghan McLeroy Cumberland School of Law ’22 University of Alabama School of Law ’23 Byron McMath Amani Moore Birmingham School of Law ’22 University of Alabama School of Law ’23 Makenzie L. Moore Lejla Mujadzic University of Alabama School of Law ’22 University of Alabama School of Law ’23 Amethyst Muncy Julie Newton University of Alabama School of Law ’23 University of Alabama School of Law ’23 Margaret Olsen Anne Ormond University of Alabama School of Law ’22 University of Alabama School of Law ’22 5 DOCUMENT 63 Carmen Paige Chloe Patterson University of Alabama School of Law ’24 Cumberland School of Law ’23 Kelsey Perine Nathan Poulosky University of Alabama School of Law ’24 University of Alabama School of Law ’24 Aditi Prasad Antoinette Pruitt University of Alabama School of Law ’22 Cumberland School of Law ’22 Ariel Ramirez Roxana Ramos Thomas Goode Jones School of Law ’22 University of Alabama School of Law ’23 Samantha Reiersen Samantha Renshaw University of Alabama School of Law ’23 University of Alabama School of Law ’22 Holly Russo Varian Shaw University of Alabama School of Law ’22 Thomas Goode Jones School of Law ’22 Taylor Shetina Bachittar Singh University of Alabama School of Law ’22 University of Alabama School of Law ’24 Dakota Slaughter Erin Smith University of Alabama School of Law ’22 University of Alabama School of Law ’24 Karli Smith Laura Kate Smith University of Alabama School of Law ’23 University of Alabama School of Law ’23 Lauryn Smith Ryne Smith Cumberland School of Law ’24 University of Alabama School of Law ’22 Caleb Smoke Diana Snellgrove University of Alabama School of Law ’22 University of Alabama School of Law ’23 Matthew Spencer Shelby Soares University of Alabama School of Law ’22 Cumberland School of Law ’23 Maya Stevenson Samantha Szekely University of Alabama School of Law ’24 Cumberland School of Law ’23 6 DOCUMENT 63 Cooper Taylor Shelby Taylor University of Alabama School of Law ’22 University of Alabama School of Law ’23 Xavier Thomas Monroe Thornton III Thomas Goode Jones School of Law ’22 Cumberland School of Law ’23 Claire Tomberlin Hunter Tucker Cumberland School of Law ’24 University of Alabama School of Law ’24 Madeline Turner Maggie Utsey University of Alabama School of Law ’23 Cumberland School of Law ’24 Vincent Van Deventer Jordan Van Gundy Cumberland School of Law ’24 University of Alabama School of Law ’22 Jaleel Washington Mariah Welter University of Alabama School of Law ’23 University of Alabama School of Law ’24 Carlos Whitaker Angela Whitlock Cumberland School of Law ’24 Cumberland School of Law ’24 Carneil Wilson Christopher Wilson University of Alabama School of Law ’22 University of Alabama School of Law ’22 7 DOCUMENT 63 BACKGROUND On July 19, 1995, Deputy Sheriff William G.

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