AZ Justice Project Brochure
The Arizona Justice Project, c/o Arizona State University, Mail Code 4420, 411 N. Central Ave. Suite 600, Phoenix, AZ 85004-2139, (602) 496-0286, www.azjusticeproject.org
Thank you!
We hope you will join us!
For volunteer opportunities or externships, please contact Attorney Case Coordinator, Kindra Helferich at [email protected]
Elli Mae Justice Witt: Released November 12, 2013
And…
Brandon Jordan: Released December 6, 2013 Brandon Jordan was convicted of murder and aggravated assault. However, the gun the state alleged was used for the shooting was in police possession before the shooting occurred. Based on this impossible timeline of events, the Justice Project took Brandon’s case and the prosecution agreed to his release from prison 8 years into his 12 year sentence.
Susan Brune: Released August 12, 2013 After 25 years of incarceration, Susan Brune was released on parole after arguments were made that she suffered from Battered Woman’s Syndrome which resulted in the incident that lead to her conviction. Susan’s state of mind at the time of the incident was not considered at her trial as part of a self-defense claim.
Louis Taylor: Released April 2, 2013 Louis Taylor was released after advances in fire science critically undermined his conviction of setting fire to Tucson’s Pioneer Hotel in 1970. A group of nationally recognized fire experts concluded that under today’s standard of fire investigation, there was no proof of arson. Louis has always maintained his innocence. After spending nearly 42 years in prison, he was released in April 2013.
The Arizona Justice Project, c/o Arizona State University, Mail Code 4420, 411 N. Central Ave. Suite 600, Phoenix, AZ 85004-2139, (602) 496-0286, www.azjusticeproject.org
We seek justice for the innocent and the wrongfully imprisoned – the marginalized and forgotten of Arizona’s criminal justice system.
Project
Arizona Justice
The Arizona Justice Project, c/o Arizona State University, Mail Code 4420, 411 N. Central Ave. Suite 600, Phoenix, AZ 85004-2139, (602) 496-0286, www.azjusticeproject.org
Khalil Rushdan: Released December 20, 2011 Khalil served 15 years in prison before his conviction was vacated based on vindictive prosecution. He was convicted of first degree murder after Tucson prosecutor Ken Peasley lost a trial against the actual perpetrator.
Armando Castillo: Released February 11, 2011 Armando served over 12 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. He was released after advances in medicine fatally undermined a diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome, which was the basis for his conviction.
John Watkins: Released December 16, 2010 John spent over 7 ½ years in prison for a rape the modern DNA testing proved he did not commit. A joint effort from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and the Arizona Justice Project led to DNA testing that ultimately proved John’s innocence.
Our Stories
The Justice Project works with volunteers from Arizona’s three law schools, including a clinical program at both Arizona State University and the University of Arizona. We also continue to partner with law firms and volunteer lawyers throughout the State of Arizona.
The Project has received over 4,600 requests for assistance since its inception. After rigorous screening and investigation of thousands of cases, we have taken approximately 50 cases. Twenty people have been released from prison through these efforts. That number does not include over 200 inmates who received a commutation of sentence as a result of Justice Project case McDonald v. Thomas.
The Arizona Justice Project is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1998 by the Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice and attorney Larry Hammond. The Justice Project provides pro bono representation to indigent-Arizona defendants who have been wrongfully convicted or who are wrongfully incarcerated.
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
We seek justice for the innocent and the wrongfully imprisoned – the marginalized and forgotten of Arizona’s criminal justice system.
The Arizona Justice Project, c/o Arizona State University, Mail Code 4420, 411 N. Central Ave. Suite 600, Phoenix, AZ 85004-2139, (602) 496-0286, www.azjusticeproject.org
After 38 years of incarceration, Bill Macumber was released from incarceration. A critical piece of evidence was never heard by the jury – multiple confessions from a third party on multiple occasions that was corroborated by an eye witness. Bill’s legal team filed a Petition on his behalf, which resulted in his conviction being vacated and his immediate release pursuant to a plea of “no contest.”
Bill Macumber: Released November 7, 2012
Betty Smithey: Released August 13, 2012 Betty is the longest serving female in the country. After serving nearly 50 years in prison, the Board of Executive Clemency voted unanimously to commute Betty’s sentence. In a rare decision, the Governor agreed. At her parole hearing, the Board voted for absolute discharge of Betty’s sentence. She was released hours later.
Larry Bishop: Released June 5, 2012 Larry’s first degree murder conviction was vacated after severe flaws in his case were revealed. Instead of litigating his case for years, Larry took a plea for robbery and was released after serving 15 years.
Drayton Witt: Released May 31, 2012 Drayton’s conviction was vacated based on new science undermining his conviction of shaken baby syndrome and the Medical Examiner’s new conclusion that Drayton’s son’s death was from natural causes.
Louis Harper: Released December 31, 2011 Louis was sentenced to 50 years for a crime stemming out of the sale of $20 worth of crack cocaine to an undercover officer. Louis served 21.5 years before he was finally released.
Thank you!
We hope you will join us!
For volunteer opportunities or externships, please contact Attorney Case Coordinator, Kindra Helferich at [email protected]
Elli Mae Justice Witt: Released November 12, 2013
And…
Brandon Jordan: Released December 6, 2013 Brandon Jordan was convicted of murder and aggravated assault. However, the gun the state alleged was used for the shooting was in police possession before the shooting occurred. Based on this impossible timeline of events, the Justice Project took Brandon’s case and the prosecution agreed to his release from prison 8 years into his 12 year sentence.
Susan Brune: Released August 12, 2013 After 25 years of incarceration, Susan Brune was released on parole after arguments were made that she suffered from Battered Woman’s Syndrome which resulted in the incident that lead to her conviction. Susan’s state of mind at the time of the incident was not considered at her trial as part of a self-defense claim.
Louis Taylor: Released April 2, 2013 Louis Taylor was released after advances in fire science critically undermined his conviction of setting fire to Tucson’s Pioneer Hotel in 1970. A group of nationally recognized fire experts concluded that under today’s standard of fire investigation, there was no proof of arson. Louis has always maintained his innocence. After spending nearly 42 years in prison, he was released in April 2013.
The Arizona Justice Project, c/o Arizona State University, Mail Code 4420, 411 N. Central Ave. Suite 600, Phoenix, AZ 85004-2139, (602) 496-0286, www.azjusticeproject.org
We seek justice for the innocent and the wrongfully imprisoned – the marginalized and forgotten of Arizona’s criminal justice system.
Project
Arizona Justice
The Arizona Justice Project, c/o Arizona State University, Mail Code 4420, 411 N. Central Ave. Suite 600, Phoenix, AZ 85004-2139, (602) 496-0286, www.azjusticeproject.org
Khalil Rushdan: Released December 20, 2011 Khalil served 15 years in prison before his conviction was vacated based on vindictive prosecution. He was convicted of first degree murder after Tucson prosecutor Ken Peasley lost a trial against the actual perpetrator.
Armando Castillo: Released February 11, 2011 Armando served over 12 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. He was released after advances in medicine fatally undermined a diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome, which was the basis for his conviction.
John Watkins: Released December 16, 2010 John spent over 7 ½ years in prison for a rape the modern DNA testing proved he did not commit. A joint effort from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and the Arizona Justice Project led to DNA testing that ultimately proved John’s innocence.
Our Stories
The Justice Project works with volunteers from Arizona’s three law schools, including a clinical program at both Arizona State University and the University of Arizona. We also continue to partner with law firms and volunteer lawyers throughout the State of Arizona.
The Project has received over 4,600 requests for assistance since its inception. After rigorous screening and investigation of thousands of cases, we have taken approximately 50 cases. Twenty people have been released from prison through these efforts. That number does not include over 200 inmates who received a commutation of sentence as a result of Justice Project case McDonald v. Thomas.
The Arizona Justice Project is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1998 by the Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice and attorney Larry Hammond. The Justice Project provides pro bono representation to indigent-Arizona defendants who have been wrongfully convicted or who are wrongfully incarcerated.
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
We seek justice for the innocent and the wrongfully imprisoned – the marginalized and forgotten of Arizona’s criminal justice system.
The Arizona Justice Project, c/o Arizona State University, Mail Code 4420, 411 N. Central Ave. Suite 600, Phoenix, AZ 85004-2139, (602) 496-0286, www.azjusticeproject.org
After 38 years of incarceration, Bill Macumber was released from incarceration. A critical piece of evidence was never heard by the jury – multiple confessions from a third party on multiple occasions that was corroborated by an eye witness. Bill’s legal team filed a Petition on his behalf, which resulted in his conviction being vacated and his immediate release pursuant to a plea of “no contest.”
Bill Macumber: Released November 7, 2012
Betty Smithey: Released August 13, 2012 Betty is the longest serving female in the country. After serving nearly 50 years in prison, the Board of Executive Clemency voted unanimously to commute Betty’s sentence. In a rare decision, the Governor agreed. At her parole hearing, the Board voted for absolute discharge of Betty’s sentence. She was released hours later.
Larry Bishop: Released June 5, 2012 Larry’s first degree murder conviction was vacated after severe flaws in his case were revealed. Instead of litigating his case for years, Larry took a plea for robbery and was released after serving 15 years.
Drayton Witt: Released May 31, 2012 Drayton’s conviction was vacated based on new science undermining his conviction of shaken baby syndrome and the Medical Examiner’s new conclusion that Drayton’s son’s death was from natural causes.
Louis Harper: Released December 31, 2011 Louis was sentenced to 50 years for a crime stemming out of the sale of $20 worth of crack cocaine to an undercover officer. Louis served 21.5 years before he was finally released.
