Shortly after its development in 1985, DNA testing became a powerful defense tool. It enabled offenders to challenge criminal convictions by presenting new evidence connected to their own unique DNA. According to the National Registry of Exonerations, DNA evidence...
Post-Conviction Relief
The importance of post-conviction relief
When a verdict comes down, and it is not in your favor, it could feel like the end of the world. However, the legal system acknowledges that the path to justice does not end with a guilty verdict. Post-conviction relief represents an opportunity to challenge the...
Can DNA evidence help overturn criminal convictions?
DNA evidence can be instrumental in exonerating individuals who have suffered wrongful convictions, especially in cases where such evidence and testing were not available at the time of the original trial. Each person has a unique DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) profile...
Challenging witness testimony with DNA evidence
We often see a scenario in movies and TV shows where someone's freedom hinges on a witness's words. But it is not just fiction. Real life has shown us that human memory can be shaky, especially under stress. This can lead to mistakes and, in some cases, wrongful...
4-3 Reversal Over Violation of Right to Counsel, both under the Sixth Amendment and Articles 21 and 24
Clark v. State (No. 25. September Term 2022, opinion by Honorable Shirley M. Watts), decided on the last day of the term, is unusual and remarkable. This 132-page, 4-3 opinion is really a 4-4-3-3 decision which includes a majority opinion by Justice Watts, joined by...
Judge Tosses Abuse Convictions Of MD. Teacher, Citing Bad Lawyering
The Washington Post By Dan Norse and Nicole Asbury July 23, 2023 A new trial was ordered for John Vigna, 56, who taught at a Montgomery County elementary school for more than 20 years ...“Trial counsel failed to investigate and prepare Vigna’s defense,” Vigna’s new...
Data reveals most innocent defendants never get day in court
The United States Justice system exonerated more than 3,000 inmates since 1989. However, most wrongfully convicted prisoners will never get their day in court, according to data from the National Registry of Exonerations. What does this data reveal about the future of...
What does it mean to voluntarily and knowingly accept a plea?
There are thousands of criminal prosecutions in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., every single year. This means court dockets can become almost overwhelming. Still, the U.S. Constitution guarantees most criminal defendants speedy trials. Plea deals are one...
What kind of life could wait for exonerees?
DNA has become some of the most powerful evidence to stop murder and other serious, violent crimes in recent years. It has also become a tool with which innocent people have begun to fight the unjust convictions that changed their lives forever. Even a relatively...
Determining eligibility for post-conviction relief in Maryland
A Maryland criminal conviction has the potential to impact and upend many aspects of your life. Depending on the details surrounding your offense, some of the penalties you face in the aftermath of a criminal conviction may wind up impacting you for years to come....