UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

JAMES E. ROGERS COLLEGE OF LAW

MAY 3, 2023

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 1-11

Final Exam Period

May 13

College of Law Convocation

June 13

University of Arizona Legal Paraprofessional Info Session

Greetings,

This week’s newsletter features the University of Arizona Law Innocence Project, which was recently awarded a $500,000 Department of Justice Grant.

The University of Arizona Innocence Project is one of 18 clinics at our law school, 13 in-house and 5 through placement with local organizations, which provide students with hands-on experience on everything from criminal law to intellectual property.

Graduating with a range of practical skills and experience is just one of the outcomes of students’ community service through the University of Arizona Innocence Project and all of our clinics. This new grant will provide additional opportunities for this service and experience.

Until the footnotes,

Marc

FEATURE

University of Arizona Innocence Project Awarded DOJ Funding to Strengthen Partnership with County Attorney’s Office, Investigate Wrongful Convictions

The University of Arizona Innocence Project (UAIP), housed within the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to increase the clinic’s capacity to investigate, litigate and overturn wrongful convictions in Pima County.

The funding comes from the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Upholding the Rule of Law and Preventing Wrongful Convictions Program which awarded grants to five other organizations this fiscal year.

As a member of the nationwide Innocence Network, UAIP is at the center of the movement to identify and overturn wrongful convictions in Arizona. After screening cases to identify claims of innocence, UAIP thoroughly investigates each case to develop strategies with the potential to bring justice to the wrongfully convicted and litigate on behalf of their clients in state and federal court. Beyond direct client representation, clinic participants also engage in policy advocacy and conduct community education and outreach.

The Arizona Collaborative Justice Initiative, as the UAIP-led project has been dubbed, will establish a partnership between UAIP and the Pima County Attorney’s Office Conviction and Sentencing Integrity Unit (CSIU), a program created by newly elected Pima County Attorney Laura Conover in 2020.

“Wrongful convictions compromise community safety and erode confidence in the criminal justice system,” said Vanessa Buch, director of UAIP. “Partnerships like ours are essential to addressing those impacts. Working together, we can not only correct past mistakes but also shed light on errors in the system in order to prevent wrongful convictions in the future.”

To learn more about the University of Arizona Innocence Project and the grant, see the full article here.

AROUND THE COLLEGE

Prof. Buch and Students Attend National Innocence Conference

Director of the University of Arizona Innocence Project Vanessa Buch and students from the clinic attended the National Innocence Network Conference on April 14-15 in Phoenix, Arizona. The conference brought together directly impacted people, advocates, and others who work to free the innocent, prevent wrongful conviction, and provide post-release support. Students were able to meet Innocence Project founder Barry Scheck (pictured above).

University of Arizona Innocence Project Students Enjoy Dining with Alum

University of Arizona Innocence Project students recently had the chance to connect with University of Arizona Law alumnus and former clinic fellow David Gurney (’16). David is now an assistant professor of law and society and director of the Investigative Genetic Genealogy Center at Ramapo College of New Jersey, where he teaches and writes on the intersection of genealogy and Constitutional rights.

For clinic students, their valuable practical experience – like the opportunities becoming available through the new DOJ grant – is often complemented by connections with fellow students and alumni, who share insight from their varied experience.

Congrats to Rose ’n’ Berg Winners!

We are happy to recognize Thomas Corrigan and Paige Ricks, this year’s winners of the Rose ’n’ Berg Distinguished Editor Award. Thomas and Paige are pictured above with Tim Berg, who, together with his Class of 1975 classmate Bob Rose, founded the award. The award – along with the traditional yellow t-shirt – is given each year to two third-year Arizona Law Review editors for dedicated leadership through mentoring, based upon a vote by second-year writers.

IN THE NEWS

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Professor Vanessa Buch, who directs the University of Arizona Law Innocence Project, has built the clinic into a leading role in the broader innocence network. That leadership is beautifully illustrated by the deeper partnership with the Pima County Attorneys Office, which should be a model nationwide, and the significant U.S. Department of Justice grant to support and share that work.

The important work of the University of Arizona Innocence Project reminds us, daily, of the ability of law schools to teach theory, practice, and skill development, help shape the law and seek justice.

Warmly,