As a criminal defense attorney practicing post-conviction law for nearly twenty years, I’ve watched the Supreme Court whittle away convicted defendants’ right to contest their wrongful state convictions. The most recent example is the Supreme Court’s opinion in Shinn v. Martinez Ramirez, which prevents prisoners from entering federal court to litigate claims that were forfeited [...]
Commentaries by Chris Perri
Last week, a Travis County judge in Texas ordered that Rosa Jimenez be released from prison because false scientific testimony was used to secure her 2005 conviction for murdering a 21-month-old toddler in her care. The saga of Jimenez’ wrongful conviction highlights several major flaws in our criminal justice system. At her trial, Jimenez was accused [...]
Joe Biden doesn’t deserve due process and the presumption of innocence with respect to Tara Reade’s sexual assault allegation. Brett Kavanaugh didn’t deserve them with respect to Christine Blasey Ford either. Why? Neither is facing a criminal prosecution — no one has threatened to take their liberty away. The #MeToo movement has inspired people across [...]