Friday Roundup: Innocence and Independence

07.03.09

Happy Independence Day from all of us at the Innocence Project! While the United States celebrates its independence,

13 people exonerated by DNA testing so far in 2009

are celebrating their freedom and adjusting to life outside prison walls. Learn how you can help them build new lives after exoneration

here

.

News from around the country this week:

Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis

called on Gov. Rick Perry this week

to ensure that legislators consider a bill allowing for posthumous pardon in a special session this summer. Cole, who would have turned 49 on Wednesday, died in prison ten years ago while serving time for a crime DNA now proves he didn’t commit.

Editorials around the country continued to express dismay with the Supreme Court’s ruling in William Osborne’s case. Here are examples from the

Philadelphia Inquirer

the

Daily Freeman

(NY).

Dale Helmig, a client of the Midwestern Inncoence Project, was

denied access to DNA testing

this week by the Missouri Supreme Court. His attorneys said they will appeal to the circuit court.

The city of Boston paid a $3.8 million settlement to exoneree Anthony Powell in December, and the Boston Phoenix wrote this week that the city has paid

more than $10 million

to settle wrongful conviction lawsuits, with several other lawsuits pending.

And the budget crisis in California could lead officials to

cut the state crime lab budget by half

.

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