Topic: Death Penalty

From Shy Child to the Supreme Court: Innocence Project Executive Director Christina Swarns’ Rise in Justice Reform 

From Shy Child to the Supreme Court: Innocence Project Executive Director Christina Swarns’ Rise in Justice Reform 

Named one of America’s top lawyers, Ms. Swarns has spent decades challenging injustice. Here’s how she got there.

02.25.25 by Alyxaundria Sanford

{Photo: Connor Sovak/Innocence Project)

Named one of America’s top lawyers, Ms. Swarns has spent decades challenging injustice. Here’s how she got there.

02.25.25 by Alyxaundria Sanford

Citing New Expert Reports and Other Evidence Supporting His Innocence, Robert Roberson Again Asks Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to Overturn His Wrongful 'Shaken Baby' Conviction

Citing New Expert Reports and Other Evidence Supporting His Innocence, Robert Roberson Again Asks Texas Court of Criminal Appeals to Overturn His Wrongful 'Shaken Baby' Conviction

Mr. Roberson asked the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) again to grant relief based on significant new evidence supporting his actual innocence.

Breaking news 02.19.25 by Innocence Staff

12/19/23, Livingston, Texas: Robert Roberson photographed through plexiglass at TDCJ Polunsky Unit. Ilana Panich-Linsman for The Innocence Project

Mr. Roberson asked the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) again to grant relief based on significant new evidence supporting his actual innocence.

Breaking news 02.19.25 by Innocence Staff

A Poet, an Imam, a Life Cut Short: Remembering Marcellus Williams on His Birthday

A Poet, an Imam, a Life Cut Short: Remembering Marcellus Williams on His Birthday

On Dec. 30, we honor the life and legacy of Marcellus "Khaliifah" Williams, a man whose poetry and compassion touched hundreds of thousands of lives.

12.23.24 by Innocence Staff

Marcellus Williams (Image courtesy of Marcellus' legal team).

On Dec. 30, we honor the life and legacy of Marcellus "Khaliifah" Williams, a man whose poetry and compassion touched hundreds of thousands of lives.

12.23.24 by Innocence Staff

Innocence Groups and Others in Support of President Biden's Commutation of 37 Federal Death Sentences

Innocence Groups and Others in Support of President Biden's Commutation of 37 Federal Death Sentences

Historic Decision Follows Widespread and Diverse Calls Based on Concerns About Arbitrariness, Racial Bias, and Other Systemic Flaws

12.23.24 by Innocence Staff

President Joe Biden speaks during an event about high speed internet infrastructure, in the East Room of the White House, Monday, June 26, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Historic Decision Follows Widespread and Diverse Calls Based on Concerns About Arbitrariness, Racial Bias, and Other Systemic Flaws

12.23.24 by Innocence Staff

Innocence Project Co-founders Urge President Biden to Commute the Federal Death Row

Innocence Project Co-founders Urge President Biden to Commute the Federal Death Row

In a letter to the president, Barry Scheck, Peter Neufeld and Jim McCloskey stress the unacceptable risk and irreversible injustice of executing an innocent person.

12.20.24 by Innocence Staff

U.S. President Joe Biden during the official G7 summit welcome ceremony at Castle Elmau in Kruen, near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, on Sunday, June 26, 2022. The Group of Seven leading economic powers are meeting in Germany for their annual gathering Sunday through Tuesday. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

In a letter to the president, Barry Scheck, Peter Neufeld and Jim McCloskey stress the unacceptable risk and irreversible injustice of executing an innocent person.

12.20.24 by Innocence Staff

Growing Chorus of Advocates and Innocence Organizations Call on President Biden to Commute All Federal Death Sentences

Growing Chorus of Advocates and Innocence Organizations Call on President Biden to Commute All Federal Death Sentences

Letters to President Biden released today say federal death penalty is a failed policy riddled with racial bias and other unfairness.

12.09.24 by Innocence Staff

U.S. President Joe Biden during the official G7 summit welcome ceremony at Castle Elmau in Kruen, near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, on Sunday, June 26, 2022. The Group of Seven leading economic powers are meeting in Germany for their annual gathering Sunday through Tuesday. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Letters to President Biden released today say federal death penalty is a failed policy riddled with racial bias and other unfairness.

12.09.24 by Innocence Staff

Rebuttal from Robert Roberson’s Legal Team to 10.23.2024 Statement from Office of Attorney General (OAG)

Rebuttal from Robert Roberson’s Legal Team to 10.23.2024 Statement from Office of Attorney General (OAG)

The Office of the Attorney General issued a press release, bearing the seal of the State of Texas, doubling down on its grotesque misrepresentations of Robert Roberson’s innocence case endeavoring to discredit Mr. Roberson.

10.24.24 by Innocence Staff

Robert Roberson visited with Texas state legislators on Sept. 27, 2024 in Livingston. (Photo courtesy of Rep. John Bucy III)

The Office of the Attorney General issued a press release, bearing the seal of the State of Texas, doubling down on its grotesque misrepresentations of Robert Roberson’s innocence case endeavoring to discredit Mr. Roberson.

10.24.24 by Innocence Staff

Robert Roberson Will Not Be Executed in Texas Tonight

Robert Roberson Will Not Be Executed in Texas Tonight

The Texas Supreme Court has reinstated the temporary restraining order requested by the Texas lawmakers.  

10.18.24 by Innocence Staff

12/19/23, Livingston, Texas: Robert Roberson photographed through plexiglass at TDCJ Polunsky Unit. Ilana Panich-Linsman for The Innocence Project

The Texas Supreme Court has reinstated the temporary restraining order requested by the Texas lawmakers.  

10.18.24 by Innocence Staff

Roberson Attorney Statement: Texas Court's Decision Reveals Its Failure to Consider Any of the New Evidence That Robert Roberson Is Innocent

Roberson Attorney Statement: Texas Court's Decision Reveals Its Failure to Consider Any of the New Evidence That Robert Roberson Is Innocent

Robert Roberson’s execution is scheduled for October 17 despite overwhelming evidence that no crime occurred and widespread, bipartisan support for clemency.

10.11.24 by Innocence Staff

12/19/23, Livingston, Texas: Robert Roberson photographed through plexiglass at TDCJ Polunsky Unit. Ilana Panich-Linsman for The Innocence Project

Robert Roberson’s execution is scheduled for October 17 despite overwhelming evidence that no crime occurred and widespread, bipartisan support for clemency.

10.11.24 by Innocence Staff

The Injustice of Death Row: The Profound Tragedy of Marcellus Williams and the Fight to Save Robert Roberson

The Injustice of Death Row: The Profound Tragedy of Marcellus Williams and the Fight to Save Robert Roberson

From the wrongful execution of Marcellus Williams to the looming threat over Robert Roberson, systemic biases and failures are sending innocent people to death row.

10.09.24 by Alyxaundria Sanford

The Injustice of Death Row: The Profound Tragedy of Marcellus Williams and the Fight to Save Robert Roberson

From the wrongful execution of Marcellus Williams to the looming threat over Robert Roberson, systemic biases and failures are sending innocent people to death row.

10.09.24 by Alyxaundria Sanford

Robert Roberson's Attorney Responds to CCA Granting New Trial to Andrew Roark Convicted on Unreliable Shaken Baby Syndrome

Robert Roberson's Attorney Responds to CCA Granting New Trial to Andrew Roark Convicted on Unreliable Shaken Baby Syndrome

"The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has wisely held that the Shaken Baby hypothesis used to convict a Dallas man named Andrew Roark has not withstood scrutiny as science has evolved."

10.09.24 by Innocence Staff

Robert Roberson visited with Texas state legislators on Sept. 27, 2024 in Livingston. (Photo courtesy of Rep. John Bucy III)

"The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has wisely held that the Shaken Baby hypothesis used to convict a Dallas man named Andrew Roark has not withstood scrutiny as science has evolved."

10.09.24 by Innocence Staff

Robert Roberson Asks Texas Court to Stay Oct. 17 Execution and Reconsider Innocence Claim Based on New Scientific Evidence

Robert Roberson Asks Texas Court to Stay Oct. 17 Execution and Reconsider Innocence Claim Based on New Scientific Evidence

86 Bipartisan Texas Legislators Support Roberson’s Innocence and Urge Application of Texas “Junk Science” Law to His Case

10.07.24 by Innocence Staff

Robert Roberson visited with Texas state legislators on Sept. 27, 2024 in Livingston. (Photo courtesy of Rep. John Bucy III)

86 Bipartisan Texas Legislators Support Roberson’s Innocence and Urge Application of Texas “Junk Science” Law to His Case

10.07.24 by Innocence Staff

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