The Anatomy of a Wrongful Conviction

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Prof. Jimmy Gurulé will discuss the legal challenges and the clinic’s role in securing justice (Veranstaltung englischsprachig).

Reginald (Reggie) Dillard, a client of the Notre Dame Law Exoneration Justice Clinic (EJC), was recently exonerated after spending 27 years in prison for a crime he did not commit.  Dillard was convicted of murder in 2000 based on a murder committed in 1998 and sentenced to 65 years in prison.

During an evidentiary hearing, the EJC presented evidence that the lead police investigator in the Dillard case was the subject to an internal affairs investigation where the police department found that he had engaged in improper sexual relations with female informants, including a key witness against Dillard.  However, this evidence was not disclosed to defense counsel.  The EJC also presented new evidence that exculpatory impeachment material was withheld from Dillard, including benefits promised to key witnesses and compelling evidence implicating two other men in the murder.  At the end of the evidentiary hearing, the prosecutor agreed to vacate Dillard’s wrongful conviction and the judge signed the order dismissing the criminal charges, officially exonerating Dillard.

University of Notre Dame Law Professor Jimmy Gurulé, founder and director of the Exoneration Justice Clinic, will discuss the legal hurdles and obstacles the clinic confronted in its efforts to correct the miscarriage of justice and the role clinic law students played in assisting Dillard to regain his freedom.