8 Moving Moments from Leonard Mack’s Historic Exoneration after 47 Years

After a staggering 47 years bearing the weight of a crime he did not commit, Vietnam War veteran Leonard Mack finally received justice on his birthday in White Plains, NY.

A collaboration between the Innocence Project and the Westchester County District Attorney’s Conviction Review Unit, combined with new DNA testing of crime scene evidence, sealed Mr. Mack’s long-awaited exoneration for a 1976 rape and criminal possession of a weapon conviction. In a series of groundbreaking events, not only did Mr. Mack’s conviction emerge as the longest overturned by DNA evidence in U.S. history, but the actual assailant was identified from the DNA test results and subsequently confessed to the crime.

“The last time I was in this courthouse, it was 1976 and I went through the back entrance in handcuffs,” Mr. Mack said before walking into the White Plains courthouse for the exoneration hearing. 

“It’s overwhelming that today I am walking through the front door as a free man.”

Take a look at the most moving moments from the historic day.

1. Mr. Mack’s case makes history as the longest wrongful conviction overturned by DNA. 

Mr. Mack spent 7.5 years in prison but it took 47 years for the court to clear his name in the rape and sexual assault of two girls. He was just 23 years old when he was convicted and sentenced to prison and 72 on the day he was exonerated. This is the longest known wrongful conviction case overturned by DNA in U.S. history. 

2. State Supreme Court Judge Anne E. Minihan walked off the bench to embrace Mr. Mack after overturning his conviction.

“[Presiding over this case] has been the highlight of my career,” said Judge Minihan, concluding her remarks on overturning Mr. Mack’s case. She then asked Mr. Mack if she could give him a hug, walked over to embrace him, gave him a kiss on the cheek and they exchanged a few words. When asked by the press about his feelings following the hearing, Mr. Mack shared that he was still processing the judge’s declaration of his long-overdue exoneration.