Dennis Fritz will be the featured speaker at the Iowans Against the Death Penalty's 45 th anniversary dinner Oct.27 th. Dennis Fritz, author of "Journey Toward Justice," the story of his wrongful conviction in the 1982 murder and rape of a waitress. He was freed when DNA evidence cleared him in 1999 after serving 11 years in prison. The other defendant convicted and later freed in the murder, Ron Williamson, was the subject of John Grisham's book "The Innocent Man."
James Benzoni, a Des Moines lawyer, will be honored at the anniversary dinner for his efforts to keep Iowa free of capital punishment. He once faced murder charges and became a lawyer as a result.
Others to be honored
In addition to James Benzoni, the following people will be honored:
• Former Gov. Tom Vilsack, who during eight years as governor fought attempts to reinstate the death penalty
• David Baldus , a University of Iowa law professor who conducted research on racial disparity in death penalty sentencing cases
• John Ely , a former state lawmaker who sought to abolish the death penalty in the 1960s and witnessed the last execution by hanging in Iowa in 1963.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
James Benzoni Honored
James Benzoni, a champion of immigrants and the poor, will be honored Oct. 27th for his fight against the death penalty. James Benzoni, a Des Moines lawyer, will be honored at the Iowans Against the Death Penalty's 45th anniversary dinner Oct. 27th for his efforts to keep Iowa free of capital punishment. He once faced murder charges and became a lawyer as a result.
When several lawmakers led a drive to reinstate the death penalty in 1995, Benzoni stood before the Iowa Legislature and told his story: He once faced murder charges and became a lawyer because of it. People didn't soon forget his passion, which has grown as he has become one of the state's top immigration lawyers.
In addition to James Benzoni, the following people will be honored:
• Former Gov. Tom Vilsack, who during eight years as governor fought attempts to reinstate the death penalty.
• David Baldus , a University of Iowa law professor who conducted research on racial disparity in death penalty sentencing cases.
• John Ely , a former state lawmaker who sought to abolish the death penalty in the 1960s and witnessed the last execution by hanging in Iowa in 1963.
Featured speaker: Dennis Fritz, author of "Journey Toward Justice," the story of his wrongful conviction in the 1982 murder and rape of a waitress. He was freed when DNA evidence cleared him in 1999 after serving 11 years in prison. The other defendant convicted and later freed in the murder, Ron Williamson, was the subject of John Grisham's book "The Innocent Man."
When several lawmakers led a drive to reinstate the death penalty in 1995, Benzoni stood before the Iowa Legislature and told his story: He once faced murder charges and became a lawyer because of it. People didn't soon forget his passion, which has grown as he has become one of the state's top immigration lawyers.
In addition to James Benzoni, the following people will be honored:
• Former Gov. Tom Vilsack, who during eight years as governor fought attempts to reinstate the death penalty.
• David Baldus , a University of Iowa law professor who conducted research on racial disparity in death penalty sentencing cases.
• John Ely , a former state lawmaker who sought to abolish the death penalty in the 1960s and witnessed the last execution by hanging in Iowa in 1963.
Featured speaker: Dennis Fritz, author of "Journey Toward Justice," the story of his wrongful conviction in the 1982 murder and rape of a waitress. He was freed when DNA evidence cleared him in 1999 after serving 11 years in prison. The other defendant convicted and later freed in the murder, Ron Williamson, was the subject of John Grisham's book "The Innocent Man."
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Most Moving Speakers At Inaugural Fundraising Dinner Mississippi Innocence Project Were Dennis Fritz and Cedric Willis
The most moving speakers at inaugural fundraising dinner for the newly-established Mississippi were Dennis Fritz of Oklahoma and Cedric Willis of Mississippi, two men wrongfully convicted of separate crimes, so says Gregory Wells Bowman .
Associate Professor of Law
Director, International Law Center
Gregory Wells Bowman has a blog called "Law Career Blog", ALL ABOUT LAW SCHOOLS, CAREERS IN LAW, AND ALTERNATIVE CAREER OPTIONS FOR LAWYERS
Below is from his blog. To read more click Here
The Mississippi Innocence Project
Tonight I attended the inaugural fundraising dinner for the newly-established Mississippi Innocence Project. Originally a branch of the Innocence Project in New Orleans, the MIP is now housed at the University of Mississippi School of Law in Oxford, Mississippi. (The national Innocence Project's website is located here.) I have not had much time to reflect on the event as of yet, so this post is essentially a recounting of my observations from the evening. Not a news report per se, but also not an opinion piece. Something in between, I suppose.
I attended the dinner for two reasons. First, as I have stated before on this blog, I am the faculty adviser for the Mississippi College School of Law's student-run Public Interest Law Group (PILG). Second, I attended because Mississippi is badly in need of public interest law support. It's a poor state with a relatively high crime rate and a wide gulf between the haves and the have-nots. So organizations like the MIP need support and assistance from entities like PILG and my law school.
Tonight's keynote speakers were Mississippi author John Grisham and Chicago author Scott Turow. They were eloquent, witty and passionate, which is no surprise--but the evening's most moving speakers were Dennis Fritz of Oklahoma and Cedric Willis of Mississippi, two men wrongfully convicted of separate crimes. Fritz and Willis each served 12 years in prison before being exonerated and released.
Associate Professor of Law
Director, International Law Center
Gregory Wells Bowman has a blog called "Law Career Blog", ALL ABOUT LAW SCHOOLS, CAREERS IN LAW, AND ALTERNATIVE CAREER OPTIONS FOR LAWYERS
Below is from his blog. To read more click Here
The Mississippi Innocence Project
Tonight I attended the inaugural fundraising dinner for the newly-established Mississippi Innocence Project. Originally a branch of the Innocence Project in New Orleans, the MIP is now housed at the University of Mississippi School of Law in Oxford, Mississippi. (The national Innocence Project's website is located here.) I have not had much time to reflect on the event as of yet, so this post is essentially a recounting of my observations from the evening. Not a news report per se, but also not an opinion piece. Something in between, I suppose.
I attended the dinner for two reasons. First, as I have stated before on this blog, I am the faculty adviser for the Mississippi College School of Law's student-run Public Interest Law Group (PILG). Second, I attended because Mississippi is badly in need of public interest law support. It's a poor state with a relatively high crime rate and a wide gulf between the haves and the have-nots. So organizations like the MIP need support and assistance from entities like PILG and my law school.
Tonight's keynote speakers were Mississippi author John Grisham and Chicago author Scott Turow. They were eloquent, witty and passionate, which is no surprise--but the evening's most moving speakers were Dennis Fritz of Oklahoma and Cedric Willis of Mississippi, two men wrongfully convicted of separate crimes. Fritz and Willis each served 12 years in prison before being exonerated and released.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Dennis Fritz and Iowans Against The Death Penalty Events and Book Signings
Journey Toward Justice author, Dennis Fritz, who served 12 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, will share his experiences and discuss his wrongful conviction, incarceration and eventual exoneration through The Innocence Project at St. Catherine of Siena, the Catholic Parish on the Campus of Drake University. Oct. 28th. Dennis Fritz is the other innocent man in John Grisham's book, The Innocent Man.
Dennis Fritz will also keynote the Iowans Against the Death Penalty 45th Anniversary Award Dinner on Saturday evening, October 27 at the Catholic Pastoral Center.
The event is being presented by the Iowans Against The Death Penalty.
About the book Journey Toward Justice (Description from Seven Locks Press)
A chilling illustration of how one prosecutor’s reckless pursuit of justice shattered a man’s life, Journey Toward Justice, is a testimony to the triumph of the human spirit and how one man’s extraordinary faith and resolve, along with the wonder of technology, help transform his life yet again.
“The story of the unwarranted prosecution and wrongful conviction of Dennis Fritz is compelling and fascinating,” said author John Grisham. “After serving eleven years for a murder he did not commit, Dennis was exonerated and had the strength and courage to put his life back together.”
About the Author
Prior to his conviction, Dennis Fritz taught middle school science and coached football, basketball, and track. Since his release, Fritz is a spokesman for the Innocence Project at fundraising events and works first hand with inmates. He serves as a board member of the Coalition to Demolish the Death Penalty
"Our law students work on cases just like Dennis’ and can look to his story for inspiration. Each new clinic student is required to read about Dennis’ case and the how it illustrates the flaws in our justice system. His story and courage has helped us in our own success in freeing four wrongfully convicted men in the past six years."said California Innocence Project Director and CWSL Professor Justin Brooks.
"There have been 181 post-conviction DNA exonerations in America. The exonerated and their families are the heart and soul of this movement. There is no more decent and dignified a man, nor a more gentle soul, than Dennis Fritz", said Innocence Project Attorney Barry C. Scheck. "He has had the fortitude to tell his whole story. As always, I am in awe of his courage and humbled by his efforts."
In 1987, Fritz was arrested, with his friend Ron Williamson, and charged with the rape and murder of Debbie Sue Carter in Ada, Okla. The case displayed all the warning signs of a wrongful conviction. An overzealous prosecutor relied on flimsy circumstantial data to create the illusion of guilt. Distorted statements, questionable testimony of a jailhouse informant, faulty hair evidence, dream confessions, and other bizarre clues completed the prosecution’s weak case. Though innocent, the vote of a single juror saved Fritz from the death penalty and he was sentenced to life behind bars.
After 10 years, he discovered The Innocence Project, a non-profit legal organization in New York, devoted to exonerate the wrongfully convicted through post-conviction DNA testing. With the aid of famed attorney Barry Scheck – and irrefutable DNA evidence – Fritz and Williamson were exonerated (1999) after 12 years of wrongful imprisonment and the identity of the real killer was discovered. The real killer, who turned out to be one of the prosecution’s key witnesses, was arrested, convicted, and finally brought to justice.
At the 45th Anniversary Award Dinner, University of Iowa law professor David Baldus will be honored for his advocacy work in maintaining Iowa’s position as a non-death penalty state by Iowans Against the Death Penalty when he receives the organization’s Gov. Harold E. Hughes Award on Oct. 27th.
Baldus is considered one of the nation’s leading death penalty scholars. When Iowa has considered legislation designed to reinstate capital punishment in recent years, he has conducted research on the negative effects those laws would bring to the state. He has also testified in the legislature on the issue and has developed amendments and legal critiques of the proposed death penalty bills that aided their legislative opponents.
Along with Baldus, Iowans Against the Death Penalty will honor former Gov. Tom Vilsack, Des Moines attorney James Benzoni and the late Sen. John Ely.
The award ceremony will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Catholic Pastoral Center at 601 Grand Ave. in Des Moines. For more information on the banquet, contact 515-963-2342.
About IADP
Iowans Against the Death Penalty (IADP) is an independent, non-partisan, non-sectarian, grass-roots organization committed to preventing reinstatement of the death penalty in Iowa through public education and political activism. Iowa law does not provide for punishment of any crime by death.
Dennis Fritz other events in Iowa;
Oct.25 Dennis Fritz will be on WHO-radio 1040AM Steve "Deace in the Afternoon" 4-6 p.m.Talk Show
Oct. 26 Speaking at University of Iowa Law School call school for more information.
Oct. 26th Friday Book signing at Barnes and Noble Coral Ridge Mall 7 p.m. Coralville, IA
Oct. 27th Saturday Book signing at Barnes and Noble 2 p.m. call Barnes and Noble for more information
Oct. 29 Monday Speaking at Drake Law School
Dennis Fritz will also keynote the Iowans Against the Death Penalty 45th Anniversary Award Dinner on Saturday evening, October 27 at the Catholic Pastoral Center.
The event is being presented by the Iowans Against The Death Penalty.
About the book Journey Toward Justice (Description from Seven Locks Press)
A chilling illustration of how one prosecutor’s reckless pursuit of justice shattered a man’s life, Journey Toward Justice, is a testimony to the triumph of the human spirit and how one man’s extraordinary faith and resolve, along with the wonder of technology, help transform his life yet again.
“The story of the unwarranted prosecution and wrongful conviction of Dennis Fritz is compelling and fascinating,” said author John Grisham. “After serving eleven years for a murder he did not commit, Dennis was exonerated and had the strength and courage to put his life back together.”
About the Author
Prior to his conviction, Dennis Fritz taught middle school science and coached football, basketball, and track. Since his release, Fritz is a spokesman for the Innocence Project at fundraising events and works first hand with inmates. He serves as a board member of the Coalition to Demolish the Death Penalty
"Our law students work on cases just like Dennis’ and can look to his story for inspiration. Each new clinic student is required to read about Dennis’ case and the how it illustrates the flaws in our justice system. His story and courage has helped us in our own success in freeing four wrongfully convicted men in the past six years."said California Innocence Project Director and CWSL Professor Justin Brooks.
"There have been 181 post-conviction DNA exonerations in America. The exonerated and their families are the heart and soul of this movement. There is no more decent and dignified a man, nor a more gentle soul, than Dennis Fritz", said Innocence Project Attorney Barry C. Scheck. "He has had the fortitude to tell his whole story. As always, I am in awe of his courage and humbled by his efforts."
In 1987, Fritz was arrested, with his friend Ron Williamson, and charged with the rape and murder of Debbie Sue Carter in Ada, Okla. The case displayed all the warning signs of a wrongful conviction. An overzealous prosecutor relied on flimsy circumstantial data to create the illusion of guilt. Distorted statements, questionable testimony of a jailhouse informant, faulty hair evidence, dream confessions, and other bizarre clues completed the prosecution’s weak case. Though innocent, the vote of a single juror saved Fritz from the death penalty and he was sentenced to life behind bars.
After 10 years, he discovered The Innocence Project, a non-profit legal organization in New York, devoted to exonerate the wrongfully convicted through post-conviction DNA testing. With the aid of famed attorney Barry Scheck – and irrefutable DNA evidence – Fritz and Williamson were exonerated (1999) after 12 years of wrongful imprisonment and the identity of the real killer was discovered. The real killer, who turned out to be one of the prosecution’s key witnesses, was arrested, convicted, and finally brought to justice.
At the 45th Anniversary Award Dinner, University of Iowa law professor David Baldus will be honored for his advocacy work in maintaining Iowa’s position as a non-death penalty state by Iowans Against the Death Penalty when he receives the organization’s Gov. Harold E. Hughes Award on Oct. 27th.
Baldus is considered one of the nation’s leading death penalty scholars. When Iowa has considered legislation designed to reinstate capital punishment in recent years, he has conducted research on the negative effects those laws would bring to the state. He has also testified in the legislature on the issue and has developed amendments and legal critiques of the proposed death penalty bills that aided their legislative opponents.
Along with Baldus, Iowans Against the Death Penalty will honor former Gov. Tom Vilsack, Des Moines attorney James Benzoni and the late Sen. John Ely.
The award ceremony will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Catholic Pastoral Center at 601 Grand Ave. in Des Moines. For more information on the banquet, contact 515-963-2342.
About IADP
Iowans Against the Death Penalty (IADP) is an independent, non-partisan, non-sectarian, grass-roots organization committed to preventing reinstatement of the death penalty in Iowa through public education and political activism. Iowa law does not provide for punishment of any crime by death.
Dennis Fritz other events in Iowa;
Oct.25 Dennis Fritz will be on WHO-radio 1040AM Steve "Deace in the Afternoon" 4-6 p.m.Talk Show
Oct. 26 Speaking at University of Iowa Law School call school for more information.
Oct. 26th Friday Book signing at Barnes and Noble Coral Ridge Mall 7 p.m. Coralville, IA
Oct. 27th Saturday Book signing at Barnes and Noble 2 p.m. call Barnes and Noble for more information
Oct. 29 Monday Speaking at Drake Law School
Saturday, October 20, 2007
New York Leads Nation In Wrongful Convictions
New Yorkers Against the Death Penalty www.nyadp.org
Abolitionists! As if we needed another reason to oppose the death penalty in New York State…Please watch for coverage in your newspapers and get letters into the editor and to your State Senator/Assemblyperson! Go to http://capwiz.com/lwvny/state/main/?state=NY to find their contact information.
INNOCENCE PROJECT REPORT SHOWS NEW YORK LEADS NATION IN WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS (and your Senators have done nothing to prevent it)
By David Kaczynski:
Today’s report by The Innocence Project detailing New York’s shameful record as a national leader in wrongful convictions must give pause to anyone who thinks our state should reinstate the death penalty.
We are the national leader in DNA-based exonerations of people convicted of murders they did not commit in this decade. Worse than Texas. If that doesn’t give us pause, what will?
Six of the seven wrongfully convicted in this decade could have faced the death penalty were it in effect at the time the crimes were committed, and he seventh was originally charged with a capital offense. If we restore the death penalty, the question is when - not if - an innocent person will be executed in New York.
Wrongful convictions have for a long time been among the major reasons that growing majorities of New Yorkers now support life without parole as the maximum sentence for those convicted of the most serious crimes.
Capital punishment is a system that buries its worst mistakes. You can’t correct a mistake after someone is executed.
And the fact remains that five of every six homicide cases do not yield any biological and DNA evidence. If the problems of mistaken eyewitness testimony, false confessions, forensic errors, inadequate legal defense and mishandling of evidence - or worse - by law enforcement officials marks cases where at least DNA evidence was able to establish innocence, how many other people languish in prison and potentially face capital punishment despite their innocence?
At a minimum, the Innocence Project report highlights a series of reforms to improve criminal procedures and guarantee the right of all defendants to an effective defense that must be enacted before any consideration can be given to restoring the death penalty.
Governor Spitzer and state legislators should read the Innocence Project report carefully. Worst in the nation is not where we want to be.
They should learn what all New Yorkers have learned. We can live without the death penalty.
Abolitionists! As if we needed another reason to oppose the death penalty in New York State…Please watch for coverage in your newspapers and get letters into the editor and to your State Senator/Assemblyperson! Go to http://capwiz.com/lwvny/state/main/?state=NY to find their contact information.
INNOCENCE PROJECT REPORT SHOWS NEW YORK LEADS NATION IN WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS (and your Senators have done nothing to prevent it)
By David Kaczynski:
Today’s report by The Innocence Project detailing New York’s shameful record as a national leader in wrongful convictions must give pause to anyone who thinks our state should reinstate the death penalty.
We are the national leader in DNA-based exonerations of people convicted of murders they did not commit in this decade. Worse than Texas. If that doesn’t give us pause, what will?
Six of the seven wrongfully convicted in this decade could have faced the death penalty were it in effect at the time the crimes were committed, and he seventh was originally charged with a capital offense. If we restore the death penalty, the question is when - not if - an innocent person will be executed in New York.
Wrongful convictions have for a long time been among the major reasons that growing majorities of New Yorkers now support life without parole as the maximum sentence for those convicted of the most serious crimes.
Capital punishment is a system that buries its worst mistakes. You can’t correct a mistake after someone is executed.
And the fact remains that five of every six homicide cases do not yield any biological and DNA evidence. If the problems of mistaken eyewitness testimony, false confessions, forensic errors, inadequate legal defense and mishandling of evidence - or worse - by law enforcement officials marks cases where at least DNA evidence was able to establish innocence, how many other people languish in prison and potentially face capital punishment despite their innocence?
At a minimum, the Innocence Project report highlights a series of reforms to improve criminal procedures and guarantee the right of all defendants to an effective defense that must be enacted before any consideration can be given to restoring the death penalty.
Governor Spitzer and state legislators should read the Innocence Project report carefully. Worst in the nation is not where we want to be.
They should learn what all New Yorkers have learned. We can live without the death penalty.
Authors John Grisham, Dennis Fritz, Scott Turow to Speak at Miss. Innocence Project Dinner Fundraiser
Monday Oct. 22, Authors John Grisham, Dennis Fritz and Scott Turow will attend a dinner together in order to raise money for the Mississippi Innocence Project at the Ole Miss law school. The Fundraiser Dinner is to support the Mississippi Innocence Project for wrongly convicted.
John Grisham, Dennis Fritz and Scott Turow have supported similar projects in law schools across the country.
John Grisham author, "The Innocent Man," profiling a man wrongfully convicted and freed years later with the help of several attorneys and the Innocence Project.
Dennis Fritz author of "Journey Toward Justice". Thanks to help from the Innocence Project of New York, Fritz was granted a new trial, found innocent and freed from prison in 1999.
Scott Turow is the author of "Presumed Innocent". All three books are a Bestseller on Amazon.com
The Mississippi Innocence Project was established with initial funding by Grisham and Columbus attorney Wilbur Colom, a graduate of Antioch Law School. Tucker Carrington, director of the Mississippi Innocence Project, said he expects 300 to 350 guests to attend the dinner.
Cedric Willis of Jackson, Miss. is also scheduled to speak. Willis was convicted in 1997 of murder and robbery and sentenced to life in prison despite the fact that DNA evidence excluded him as the perpetrator. Thanks to help from the Innocence Project of New Orleans, Willis was granted a new trial, found innocent and freed from prison in 2006.
The Innocence Project is currently a network of law schools, journalism schools and public defender offices. To prevent future wrongful convictions, they work with legislators and law enforcement on local, state and national levels to conduct research and training and propose a vast range of solutions for them.
The Innocence Project is a non-profit legal clinic that was founded in 1992 at Yeshiva University. The project is dedicated to helping wrongfully convicted people by the means of DNA testing and reforming the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice.
In the United States, 208 individuals have had their convictions overturned due to DNA testing, including 15 who served on death row.
Each inmate served an average of 12 years in prison before they were found not guilty.
John Grisham, Dennis Fritz and Scott Turow have supported similar projects in law schools across the country.
John Grisham author, "The Innocent Man," profiling a man wrongfully convicted and freed years later with the help of several attorneys and the Innocence Project.
Dennis Fritz author of "Journey Toward Justice". Thanks to help from the Innocence Project of New York, Fritz was granted a new trial, found innocent and freed from prison in 1999.
Scott Turow is the author of "Presumed Innocent". All three books are a Bestseller on Amazon.com
The Mississippi Innocence Project was established with initial funding by Grisham and Columbus attorney Wilbur Colom, a graduate of Antioch Law School. Tucker Carrington, director of the Mississippi Innocence Project, said he expects 300 to 350 guests to attend the dinner.
Cedric Willis of Jackson, Miss. is also scheduled to speak. Willis was convicted in 1997 of murder and robbery and sentenced to life in prison despite the fact that DNA evidence excluded him as the perpetrator. Thanks to help from the Innocence Project of New Orleans, Willis was granted a new trial, found innocent and freed from prison in 2006.
The Innocence Project is currently a network of law schools, journalism schools and public defender offices. To prevent future wrongful convictions, they work with legislators and law enforcement on local, state and national levels to conduct research and training and propose a vast range of solutions for them.
The Innocence Project is a non-profit legal clinic that was founded in 1992 at Yeshiva University. The project is dedicated to helping wrongfully convicted people by the means of DNA testing and reforming the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice.
In the United States, 208 individuals have had their convictions overturned due to DNA testing, including 15 who served on death row.
Each inmate served an average of 12 years in prison before they were found not guilty.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Red Tape Not Bars Keeping The Innocent In Jail
It’s a very sad thought that red tape, and not bars, could be keeping the innocent in jail. It is also sad that we do not hear these stories on our local and national news programs.
Via USA Today:Via USA Today
Since 2006, the Justice Department has yet to spend any of the $8 million set aside by Congress for DNA tests for convicts to prove their innocence while it has used $214 million to collect DNA from convicted criminals and improve crime labs, records show.
"DNA evidence is such a powerful tool in proving guilt or innocence that it's inexcusable not to use it," says Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the chief sponsor of a bill to provide more funding for what is known as innocence testing. If spent, the $8 million could affect dozens of cases, says Barry Scheck, a defense lawyer who specializes in using DNA to overturn convictions.
The article goes on to explain that rules imposed by Congress on how the money can be spent, make getting at the funds almost impossible.
Via USA Today:Via USA Today
Since 2006, the Justice Department has yet to spend any of the $8 million set aside by Congress for DNA tests for convicts to prove their innocence while it has used $214 million to collect DNA from convicted criminals and improve crime labs, records show.
"DNA evidence is such a powerful tool in proving guilt or innocence that it's inexcusable not to use it," says Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the chief sponsor of a bill to provide more funding for what is known as innocence testing. If spent, the $8 million could affect dozens of cases, says Barry Scheck, a defense lawyer who specializes in using DNA to overturn convictions.
The article goes on to explain that rules imposed by Congress on how the money can be spent, make getting at the funds almost impossible.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Gallup's Poll Sixty-nine Percent Americans Support Death Penalty
Capital punishment is overwhelmingly supported by the American people.
Sixty-nine percent of Americans support the Death Penalty and the majority say death penalty is applied fairly. Highest point was in 1994, but its risen in the last 4 years.
The Oct. 4-7 Gallup poll indicates that 69% of Americans respond "yes" when asked this question: "Are you in favor of the death penalty for a person convicted of murder?" This level of support for the death penalty is generally in line with the level of support that Gallup has measured in 13 polls featuring this question since 1999.
Most people do not know the danger that innocent people will be executed because of errors in the criminal justice system. Most Americans do not know the reasons, why innocent people are wrongly convicted in capital cases. The reasons included:
eyewitness error - from confusion or faulty memory.
government misconduct - by both the police and the prosecution.
junk science - mishandled evidence or use of unqualified "experts."
snitch testimony - often given in exchange for a reduction in sentence.
false confessions - resulting from mental illness or retardation, as well as from police torture
other - hearsay, questionable circumstantial evidence, etc.
The current emphasis on faster executions by the government, and less resources for the defense, and an expansion in the number of death cases mean that the execution of innocent people is inevitable. There is an increasing number of innocent defendants being found on death row. That is a clear sign that our process for sentencing people to death is fraught with many errors which cannot be remedied once an execution occurs.
Two Great Quotes
"People are largely unaware of the information critical to a judgement on the morality of the death penalty . . . if they were better informed they would consider it shocking, unjust and unacceptable."
-- Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.
"Perhaps the bleakest fact of all is that the death penalty is imposed not only in a freakish and discriminatory manner, but also in some cases upon defendants who are actually innocent."
-Justice William J. Brennan, Jr., 1994
Monday, October 8, 2007
John Grisham "The Appeal" Legal Thriller
Grisham's next legal thriller has been titled as "The Appeal"
John Grisham’s upcoming 384-page legal thriller that will be released for sale on January 29, 2008, has been titled as “The Appeal.”
In an interview to Des Moines Register, Grisham said the fictional book, set in Mississippi, will focus on the election of state Supreme Court judges.
“It’s a real political hotbed issue right now,” he said. “And these races have become just rotten with special-interest groups, cash and judges taking huge campaign donations from lawyers and parties with cases pending before the court.”
“It’s turned into a terrible system, and I hope to bring some attention to that issue.”
Source: Random House, Des Moines Register
Looks like 2008 will be THE year full of legal thrillers for John Grisham, with "The Innocent Man" lawsuit, and his new book "The Appeal."
For those who do not know John Grisham has been named in a libel lawsuit filed over his nonfiction book, "The Innocent Man". The book is about the 1982 murder of Debbie Sue Carter in Ada, Oklahoma.
At the center of the lawsuit is an Oklahoma prosecutor by the name of William N. Peterson. He got murder convictions on two men, Dennis Fritz and Ron Williamson, who did 12 years in prison before they were cleared by DNA evidence. Fritz and Williamson's experiences are chronicled in two books, John Grisham's first nonfiction book, "The Innocent Man," and Fritz's, "Journey Toward Justice".
Bill Peterson got questionable convictions on two other men, Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot, in a separate murder case. They are still in prison.
Robert Mayer, is the author of “The Dreams of Ada.” A book written primary about the murder of Denice Haraway and the subsequent investigation, prosecution and conviction of Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot.
The other Plaintiff is Gary Rogers, a former agent for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
Bill Peterson and Gary Rogers were instrumental in the conviction of Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz in the murder of Debbie Sue Carter in Ada, Oklahoma in 1982.
The lawsuit also names:
•Dennis Fritz, the author of “Journey Toward Justice.”
•Robert Mayer, author of “The Dreams of Ada.”
•Barry Scheck, one of Fritz’s lawyers who helped exonerate him, and a co-author of “Actual Innocence,” that discusses the case of Williamson and Fritz.
•The Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, publisher of “The Innocent Man” and “Actual Innocence.”
•Random House Inc., which owns Doubleday Dell.
•Broadway Books, publisher of “The Dreams of Ada.”
•Seven Locks Press and/or James C. Riordan, publisher of “Journey Toward Justice.”
The lawsuit, filed in federal court, alleges civil conspiracy, libel, placing a person in a false light and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Peterson says the defendants "coordinated their efforts to launch a massive joint defamatory attack" on him and the detective.
"There's no merit," to the suit, James C. Riordan says. The reason his book published two days before Grisham's was competitive.
Comment from Dennis Fritz, author of "Journey Toward Justice".
“The problem is that Mr. Peterson convicted two innocent men, sent Ronnie and I to the penitentiary for 12 years, based upon alleged evidence that did not go beyond a reasonable doubt." Fritz said the lawsuit is merely a power play by Peterson “to regain what he has lost because of his actions, or mis-actions.”
“He cannot handle the truth that’s been brought out in both Mr. Grisham’s book as well as mine. Dennis Fritz said every word in his book is true as he remembered the events of that time.
“Factually, it’s backed up exactly by every word out of the transcript,” he said. Fritz said that Peterson achieved their convictions through “several huge mistakes, worse than mistakes, travesties of justice.”
I will have updates on my blog, Barbara's Journey Toward Justice here
UPDATE - OCT. 2008
Dennis Fritz, "The Innocent Man" and John Grisham's Real Life, "Appeal" This story is just unbelievable. A libel lawsuit against Dennis Fritz, author of Journey Toward Justice and author, John Grisham headed to court of appeals. Click here for more on story
John Grisham’s upcoming 384-page legal thriller that will be released for sale on January 29, 2008, has been titled as “The Appeal.”
In an interview to Des Moines Register, Grisham said the fictional book, set in Mississippi, will focus on the election of state Supreme Court judges.
“It’s a real political hotbed issue right now,” he said. “And these races have become just rotten with special-interest groups, cash and judges taking huge campaign donations from lawyers and parties with cases pending before the court.”
“It’s turned into a terrible system, and I hope to bring some attention to that issue.”
Source: Random House, Des Moines Register
Looks like 2008 will be THE year full of legal thrillers for John Grisham, with "The Innocent Man" lawsuit, and his new book "The Appeal."
For those who do not know John Grisham has been named in a libel lawsuit filed over his nonfiction book, "The Innocent Man". The book is about the 1982 murder of Debbie Sue Carter in Ada, Oklahoma.
At the center of the lawsuit is an Oklahoma prosecutor by the name of William N. Peterson. He got murder convictions on two men, Dennis Fritz and Ron Williamson, who did 12 years in prison before they were cleared by DNA evidence. Fritz and Williamson's experiences are chronicled in two books, John Grisham's first nonfiction book, "The Innocent Man," and Fritz's, "Journey Toward Justice".
Bill Peterson got questionable convictions on two other men, Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot, in a separate murder case. They are still in prison.
Robert Mayer, is the author of “The Dreams of Ada.” A book written primary about the murder of Denice Haraway and the subsequent investigation, prosecution and conviction of Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot.
The other Plaintiff is Gary Rogers, a former agent for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
Bill Peterson and Gary Rogers were instrumental in the conviction of Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz in the murder of Debbie Sue Carter in Ada, Oklahoma in 1982.
The lawsuit also names:
•Dennis Fritz, the author of “Journey Toward Justice.”
•Robert Mayer, author of “The Dreams of Ada.”
•Barry Scheck, one of Fritz’s lawyers who helped exonerate him, and a co-author of “Actual Innocence,” that discusses the case of Williamson and Fritz.
•The Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, publisher of “The Innocent Man” and “Actual Innocence.”
•Random House Inc., which owns Doubleday Dell.
•Broadway Books, publisher of “The Dreams of Ada.”
•Seven Locks Press and/or James C. Riordan, publisher of “Journey Toward Justice.”
The lawsuit, filed in federal court, alleges civil conspiracy, libel, placing a person in a false light and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Peterson says the defendants "coordinated their efforts to launch a massive joint defamatory attack" on him and the detective.
"There's no merit," to the suit, James C. Riordan says. The reason his book published two days before Grisham's was competitive.
Comment from Dennis Fritz, author of "Journey Toward Justice".
“The problem is that Mr. Peterson convicted two innocent men, sent Ronnie and I to the penitentiary for 12 years, based upon alleged evidence that did not go beyond a reasonable doubt." Fritz said the lawsuit is merely a power play by Peterson “to regain what he has lost because of his actions, or mis-actions.”
“He cannot handle the truth that’s been brought out in both Mr. Grisham’s book as well as mine. Dennis Fritz said every word in his book is true as he remembered the events of that time.
“Factually, it’s backed up exactly by every word out of the transcript,” he said. Fritz said that Peterson achieved their convictions through “several huge mistakes, worse than mistakes, travesties of justice.”
I will have updates on my blog, Barbara's Journey Toward Justice here
UPDATE - OCT. 2008
Dennis Fritz, "The Innocent Man" and John Grisham's Real Life, "Appeal" This story is just unbelievable. A libel lawsuit against Dennis Fritz, author of Journey Toward Justice and author, John Grisham headed to court of appeals. Click here for more on story
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Texans on Justice Contest on YouTube
The State Bar of Texas will sponsor a contest on YouTube, a video-sharing Web site."We are the first bar association in the United States - in the world - to have a YouTube contest," says Walton, a partner in Houston's Vinson & Elkins.
On Sept. 28, State Bar President Gib Walton launched the Bar's YouTube contest, "Lone Star Stories: Texans on Justice," and invited Texans of all ages as well as lawyers licensed in Texas to submit three-minute-or-less original videos that illustrate their vision of the promise of justice for all.
The contest is part of the "Let's Do Justice for Texas", A new public education initiative by the State Bar.
Learn more at www.TexasBar.com/justicefortexas.
A public initiative that Walton announced after he was sworn in as the Bar's president in June. This is another way of getting the citizens of Texas to understand the value of the justice system and the role they play in it, Walton says of the contest.
The contest offers entrants a chance to win $2,500 in each of two categories.
Those in the younger-than-18 category are competing for a $2,500 scholarship. The State Bar will award a $2,500 cash prize to the winning contestant in the 18-and-older category.
Contestants can submit videos between Oct. 15 and Dec. 15.
The State Bar will award the prizes to the winners in each category during the Bar board's Jan. 25, 2008, meeting in Grapevine. Sirman says the Bar has not yet selected the judges for the contest.
Walton says he is anxious for the videos to start coming in. "We know Texans have opinions," Walton says. "I'm looking forward to what Texans have to say.
"We're the State Bar of Texas. Let's protect the basics. Let's do justice for Texas! And, hopefully, let's have some fun while we're doing it!."
Closing lines from,
Gib Walton's Acceptance Speech
June 22, 2007 - San Antonio, Texas
On Sept. 28, State Bar President Gib Walton launched the Bar's YouTube contest, "Lone Star Stories: Texans on Justice," and invited Texans of all ages as well as lawyers licensed in Texas to submit three-minute-or-less original videos that illustrate their vision of the promise of justice for all.
The contest is part of the "Let's Do Justice for Texas", A new public education initiative by the State Bar.
Learn more at www.TexasBar.com/justicefortexas.
A public initiative that Walton announced after he was sworn in as the Bar's president in June. This is another way of getting the citizens of Texas to understand the value of the justice system and the role they play in it, Walton says of the contest.
The contest offers entrants a chance to win $2,500 in each of two categories.
Those in the younger-than-18 category are competing for a $2,500 scholarship. The State Bar will award a $2,500 cash prize to the winning contestant in the 18-and-older category.
Contestants can submit videos between Oct. 15 and Dec. 15.
The State Bar will award the prizes to the winners in each category during the Bar board's Jan. 25, 2008, meeting in Grapevine. Sirman says the Bar has not yet selected the judges for the contest.
Walton says he is anxious for the videos to start coming in. "We know Texans have opinions," Walton says. "I'm looking forward to what Texans have to say.
"We're the State Bar of Texas. Let's protect the basics. Let's do justice for Texas! And, hopefully, let's have some fun while we're doing it!."
Closing lines from,
Gib Walton's Acceptance Speech
June 22, 2007 - San Antonio, Texas
Thursday, October 4, 2007
John Grisham and Dennis Fritz Lawsuit - Publisher welcomes libel suit
Seven Locks Press in Santa Ana is small-time, publishing about 25 titles a year. But it has joined big boys Doubleday and Random House, as well as author John Grisham and defense attorney Barry Scheck, as defendants in a defamation lawsuit involving the justice – or rather the in justice – system in the small town of Ada, Okla.
The lawsuit is one of the best things that's ever happened to Seven Locks and its owner, Jim Riordan.
"Quite frankly, when I get to put my name next to Grisham and Random House – I'll take that any day," says Riordan, who I met a few years ago when he was working with Deacon Jones on a charity fundraiser.
At the center of the lawsuit is an Oklahoma prosecutor by the name of William N. Peterson. He got murder convictions on two men who did 12 years in prison before they were cleared by DNA evidence. He also got questionable convictions on two other men in a separate murder case. They are still in prison.
The cases spawned three books: "The Dreams of Ada" by journalist Robert Mayer; "The Innocent Man," the first non-fiction book by author Grisham; and "Journey Toward Justice," by Dennis Fritz, who was one of the wrongly convicted men. To varying degrees, the books are critical of Peterson, who has been the elected district attorney for 27 years.
Seven Locks is Fritz's publisher. The first editions of the Grisham and Fritz books and an updated version of Mayer's were all published within weeks of each other last fall. Book tours and publicity ensued. Even Fritz, the least-known writer with the smallest house, got on "Dateline," "Hannity and Colmes" and other national shows. In Oklahoma, Peterson seethed.
Last Friday, Peterson and a detective who worked on the Fritz case sued the publishers, the authors and attorney Scheck, who represented Fritz, wrote the foreward for Fritz's book and wrote about the case in his own book, "Actual Innocence." Grisham had also provided a cover blurb for Fritz.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court, alleges civil conspiracy, libel, placing a person in a false light and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Peterson says the defendants "coordinated their efforts to launch a massive joint defamatory attack" on him and the detective.
"There's no merit," to the suit, Riordan says. The reason his book published two days before Grisham's was competitive.
By rights, Riordan says, Fritz's book should have gone to a major publishing house, but with Grisham's in the works at Random, no one else wanted to touch it. So, Riordan says, he bought it on the condition that it would be finished in time to compete with Grisham's, not complement it.
You tell from his voice that Riordan is as emotionally invested in Fritz's story as he is financially. He talks about how when Fritz finally got out of jail in 1999, he went to a motel and was puzzled when they wouldn't give him a key – just a piece of plastic that resembled a credit card. And how when he went to a gas station, no attendant came out to wait on him.
"That's what losing 12 years does to you," Riordan says.
I read "The Dreams of Ada." In about three days. In most true-crime books you're scared of the defendants. In this one, you're scared of the prosecutor. I have "Journey Toward Justice" on deck. It's sold about 35,000 copies so far, the fastest-selling book in Seven Lock's 30-year history. The lawsuit will only help.
read more Orange Countrys News Source FRANK MICKADEIT
Register columnist
UPDATE SEPT. 2008 CASE DISMISSED Grisham - Fritz - Mayer - Scheck Lawsuit
Click here for update
The lawsuit is one of the best things that's ever happened to Seven Locks and its owner, Jim Riordan.
"Quite frankly, when I get to put my name next to Grisham and Random House – I'll take that any day," says Riordan, who I met a few years ago when he was working with Deacon Jones on a charity fundraiser.
At the center of the lawsuit is an Oklahoma prosecutor by the name of William N. Peterson. He got murder convictions on two men who did 12 years in prison before they were cleared by DNA evidence. He also got questionable convictions on two other men in a separate murder case. They are still in prison.
The cases spawned three books: "The Dreams of Ada" by journalist Robert Mayer; "The Innocent Man," the first non-fiction book by author Grisham; and "Journey Toward Justice," by Dennis Fritz, who was one of the wrongly convicted men. To varying degrees, the books are critical of Peterson, who has been the elected district attorney for 27 years.
Seven Locks is Fritz's publisher. The first editions of the Grisham and Fritz books and an updated version of Mayer's were all published within weeks of each other last fall. Book tours and publicity ensued. Even Fritz, the least-known writer with the smallest house, got on "Dateline," "Hannity and Colmes" and other national shows. In Oklahoma, Peterson seethed.
Last Friday, Peterson and a detective who worked on the Fritz case sued the publishers, the authors and attorney Scheck, who represented Fritz, wrote the foreward for Fritz's book and wrote about the case in his own book, "Actual Innocence." Grisham had also provided a cover blurb for Fritz.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court, alleges civil conspiracy, libel, placing a person in a false light and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Peterson says the defendants "coordinated their efforts to launch a massive joint defamatory attack" on him and the detective.
"There's no merit," to the suit, Riordan says. The reason his book published two days before Grisham's was competitive.
By rights, Riordan says, Fritz's book should have gone to a major publishing house, but with Grisham's in the works at Random, no one else wanted to touch it. So, Riordan says, he bought it on the condition that it would be finished in time to compete with Grisham's, not complement it.
You tell from his voice that Riordan is as emotionally invested in Fritz's story as he is financially. He talks about how when Fritz finally got out of jail in 1999, he went to a motel and was puzzled when they wouldn't give him a key – just a piece of plastic that resembled a credit card. And how when he went to a gas station, no attendant came out to wait on him.
"That's what losing 12 years does to you," Riordan says.
I read "The Dreams of Ada." In about three days. In most true-crime books you're scared of the defendants. In this one, you're scared of the prosecutor. I have "Journey Toward Justice" on deck. It's sold about 35,000 copies so far, the fastest-selling book in Seven Lock's 30-year history. The lawsuit will only help.
read more Orange Countrys News Source FRANK MICKADEIT
Register columnist
UPDATE SEPT. 2008 CASE DISMISSED Grisham - Fritz - Mayer - Scheck Lawsuit
Click here for update
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
The New York Crank: Prosecutor and criminal investigator, discredited by various authors for outrageous prosecutions, decide to sue, sue, sue, sue, sue everybody
From The New York Crank Blog The New York Crank: Prosecutor and criminal investigator, discredited by various authors for outrageous prosecutions, decide to sue, sue, sue, sue, sue everybody
More from The New York Crank Blogger..So Prosecutor Peterson, along with former Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation gumshoe Gary Rogers are suing in an Oklahoma Federal court. According to the September 28th issue of the Tulsa, OK, World, their laundry-list of defendants against charges of libel and slander include:
•John Grisham, author of “The Innocent Man.”
•Robert Mayer, author of “The Dreams of Ada.”
•Dennis Fritz, the author of “Journey Toward Justice.”
•Barry Scheck, one of Fritz’s lawyers who helped exonerate him, and a co-author of “Actual Innocence,” that discusses the case of Williamson and Fritz.
•The Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, publisher of “The Innocent Man” and “Actual Innocence.”
•Random House Inc., which owns Doubleday Dell.
•Broadway Books, publisher of “The Dreams of Ada.”
•Seven Locks Press and/or James C. Riordan, publisher of “Journey Toward Justice.”
You’ll find more complete details here, with a link to the Tulsa World article:
http://justicedenied.org/wordpress/?p=23
I would fervently wish that the jury will decide to assign court and legal costs to the loser, except for one little problem:
Oklahoma juries seem to have a bad habit of regularly deciding against the wrong people. (See any of the books listed above.)
Labels: Barry Sheck, Bill Peterson, Dennis Fritz, Gary Rogers, John Grisham, Robert Mayer, Ron Williamson
Read Full story here by New York Crank here
More from The New York Crank Blogger..So Prosecutor Peterson, along with former Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation gumshoe Gary Rogers are suing in an Oklahoma Federal court. According to the September 28th issue of the Tulsa, OK, World, their laundry-list of defendants against charges of libel and slander include:
•John Grisham, author of “The Innocent Man.”
•Robert Mayer, author of “The Dreams of Ada.”
•Dennis Fritz, the author of “Journey Toward Justice.”
•Barry Scheck, one of Fritz’s lawyers who helped exonerate him, and a co-author of “Actual Innocence,” that discusses the case of Williamson and Fritz.
•The Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, publisher of “The Innocent Man” and “Actual Innocence.”
•Random House Inc., which owns Doubleday Dell.
•Broadway Books, publisher of “The Dreams of Ada.”
•Seven Locks Press and/or James C. Riordan, publisher of “Journey Toward Justice.”
You’ll find more complete details here, with a link to the Tulsa World article:
http://justicedenied.org/wordpress/?p=23
I would fervently wish that the jury will decide to assign court and legal costs to the loser, except for one little problem:
Oklahoma juries seem to have a bad habit of regularly deciding against the wrong people. (See any of the books listed above.)
Labels: Barry Sheck, Bill Peterson, Dennis Fritz, Gary Rogers, John Grisham, Robert Mayer, Ron Williamson
Read Full story here by New York Crank here
Dennis Fritz Being Sued By The Prosecutor Who Put Him Behind Bars Video Of Story Here
Dennis Fritz Video The Kansas City News Channel Video click here KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A local man who spent 11 years in an Oklahoma prison for a murder he did not commit is now being sued by the prosecutor who put him behind bars.
Dennis Fritz was exonerated in 1999. Last year, Fritz published a book called "Journey Toward Justice" about his experience. The book pulled no punches about the prosecutor in his case, KMBC's Martin Augustine reported.
But the prosecutor said Fritz got it wrong, and is taking him to court again for libel. Watch Dennis Fritz tell his story
HERE
Dennis Fritz's Book "Journey Toward Justice" click On Amazon Here
International Orders Order Here "Journey Toward Justice" by Dennis Fritz From Around The World click on here Amazon International Just type in Journey Toward Justice Author Dennis Fritz
Dennis Fritz was exonerated in 1999. Last year, Fritz published a book called "Journey Toward Justice" about his experience. The book pulled no punches about the prosecutor in his case, KMBC's Martin Augustine reported.
But the prosecutor said Fritz got it wrong, and is taking him to court again for libel. Watch Dennis Fritz tell his story
HERE
Dennis Fritz's Book "Journey Toward Justice" click On Amazon Here
International Orders Order Here "Journey Toward Justice" by Dennis Fritz From Around The World click on here Amazon International Just type in Journey Toward Justice Author Dennis Fritz
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
DA Bill Peterson Suing The Innocent Man Dennis Fritz For Emotional Distress
Dennis Fritz, who wrote the book, "Journey Toward Justice", is named as a defendant in a libel lawsuit along with , John Grisham, author of "The Innocent Man", Robert Mayer, author of "The Dreams of Ada", and all their publishers, and New York City attorney Barry Scheck, Fritz's former lawyer who once represented Fritz and is co-director of The Innocence Project. With the aid of Barry Scheck and irrefutable DNA evidence, Dennis Fritz and Ron Williamson were exonerated in 1999.
Pontotoc County District Attorney Bill Peterson and Gary Rogers, a former agent for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation filed the libel lawsuit.
The lawsuit, seeks at least $75,000 compensation and demands a jury trial. Peterson and Rogers were instrumental in the conviction of Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz in the murder of Debbie Sue Carter in Ada, Oklahoma in 1982. The conviction was later overturned on DNA evidence pursued by the Innocence Project, which Scheck heads, Dennis Fritz was wrongfully convicted of a crime he did not commit and spent 12 years in prison. Part of the lawsuit claims the defendants conspired to commit libel against the plaintiffs, generate publicity for self interest by placing them in a false light and intentionally inflicting emotional distress upon them.
So... Prosecutor with the help of Gary Rogers sent 2 innocent men, Dennis Fritz and Ron Williamson to prison for 12 years. Both Innocent men freed by DNA evaluation of crime scene evidence. Innocent man, Dennis Fritz writes book about his experiences. Prosecutor and Gary Rogers sue the innocent man they wrongfully sent to prison and Prosecutor and Rogers sue for intentionally inflicting emotional distress upon them. Only in America Folks...
Pontotoc County District Attorney Bill Peterson and Gary Rogers, a former agent for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation filed the libel lawsuit.
The lawsuit, seeks at least $75,000 compensation and demands a jury trial. Peterson and Rogers were instrumental in the conviction of Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz in the murder of Debbie Sue Carter in Ada, Oklahoma in 1982. The conviction was later overturned on DNA evidence pursued by the Innocence Project, which Scheck heads, Dennis Fritz was wrongfully convicted of a crime he did not commit and spent 12 years in prison. Part of the lawsuit claims the defendants conspired to commit libel against the plaintiffs, generate publicity for self interest by placing them in a false light and intentionally inflicting emotional distress upon them.
So... Prosecutor with the help of Gary Rogers sent 2 innocent men, Dennis Fritz and Ron Williamson to prison for 12 years. Both Innocent men freed by DNA evaluation of crime scene evidence. Innocent man, Dennis Fritz writes book about his experiences. Prosecutor and Gary Rogers sue the innocent man they wrongfully sent to prison and Prosecutor and Rogers sue for intentionally inflicting emotional distress upon them. Only in America Folks...
UPDATE SEPT 18th, 2008 Federal Judge Dismisses Libel Lawsuit Against John Grisham
UPDATE OCT. 2008
This story is just unbelievable. A libel lawsuit against Dennis Fritz, author of Journey Toward Justice and author, John Grisham headed to court of appeals
Read more Here
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