Wrongful Convictions Archives

More Than 600 Death Penalty Cases Overturned because of Prosecutorial Misconduct

By Farhana IslamJuly 26, 2026

More than 600 capital convictions or death sentences have been overturned or resulted in exoneration due to prosecutorial misconduct, according to a report from the Death Penalty Information Center (DPI). The DPI report indicates this figure likely understates the problem’s true scale, citing systemic issues such as racial disparities in jury selection and the frequent judicial dismissal of proven violations as ‘harmless error’.

Gregg V. Georgia at 50: Capital Punishment Reforms Fail to End Racial Disparities

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 20, 2026

Fifty years after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Gregg v. Georgia decision reinstated capital punishment, historical analysis indicates that the procedural safeguards intended to guide sentencing have not eliminated systemic disparities. Data reveals persistent inequities in capital sentencing outcomes, influenced by factors such as race, geographic location, and prosecutorial discretion.

Van Jones, Conservative Attorney Warn ‘Junk Science’ Continues to Drive Wrongful Convictions

By Kayla BetuliusJuly 20, 2026

Political commentator Van Jones and conservative attorney David Safavian argued in a July 17 USA Today opinion essay that unreliable forensic evidence, frequently termed ‘junk science,’ contributes to wrongful convictions and erodes public confidence in the U.S. criminal justice system, advocating for states to adopt stricter standards such as Federal Rule of Evidence 702 for admitting expert testimony.

Everyday Injustice Podcast Episode 335: Iris Eytan on Prosecutorial Misconduct and the Fight for Accountability

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 6, 2026

In Episode 335 of “Everyday Injustice,” veteran criminal defense attorney Iris Eytan discussed the significant structural failures within the American criminal legal system, specifically addressing the lack of meaningful accountability for prosecutorial misconduct. Eytan, founder of Protect Ethical Prosecutors, advocated for legislative and ballot measure reforms to permit wrongfully accused individuals to pursue civil claims against prosecutors in limited cases, asserting that such measures would deter misconduct and restore public confidence in the justice system.

DeWine’s Call to End Death Penalty Signals Growing Bipartisan Shift in Ohio and Beyond

By David M. GreenwaldJune 18, 2026

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced a reversal of his position on capital punishment, advocating for its abolition due to its demonstrated ineffectiveness as a deterrent and its adverse impact on correctional personnel and the families of homicide victims.

Botched Tennessee Execution Renews Calls to End Death Penalty Amid Questions About Tony Carruthers Conviction

By David M. GreenwaldMay 22, 2026

Tennessee’s scheduled execution of death row prisoner Tony Carruthers was suspended after prison officials were unable to establish the intravenous lines required for lethal injection, leading Governor Bill Lee to grant a one-year reprieve and intensifying national scrutiny of capital punishment protocols and concerns regarding potential wrongful convictions.

DOJ Proposal Could Fast-Track Executions without Independent Review, Advocates Warn

By Ayana Cooper-StevensMay 19, 2026

The U.S. Department of Justice has proposed new regulations that would permit the Attorney General to accelerate federal death penalty appeals by certifying states based on their assurances of competent legal representation, a move that has drawn criticism from public defenders and advocacy organizations warning of an increased risk of wrongful executions.

Everyday Injustice Special Edition: DA Candidate Daniel Chung Targets ‘Corruption and Injustice’ in Santa Clara County

By David M. GreenwaldMay 18, 2026

A special edition of the Everyday Injustice podcast convened a discussion on wrongful convictions, prosecutorial misconduct, police accountability, and the future of criminal justice reform in California, featuring host David Greenwald, Ben Free Project founder Ben Frandsen, legal advocate Lydia Morgan, and Santa Clara County District Attorney candidate Daniel Chung. The dialogue centered on Chung’s campaign to unseat incumbent Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen and broader systemic failures within the criminal legal system.

Florida Supreme Court Orders Further DNA Review in Death Row Case of James Duckett

By Olivia GomesMay 5, 2026

The Florida Supreme Court has ordered additional DNA analysis in the decades-old death penalty case of James Duckett, which could delay his execution further and raise questions about his conviction.

Study: Prosecutors Strike Black Jurors at Alarming Rates Despite Batson

By Nancy CarrilloMay 4, 2026

The Batson v. Kentucky ruling, which prohibits prosecutors from rejecting potential jurors based on race, has not been successful in preventing racially biased jury selection, as evidenced by the Innocence Project’s research and cases of wrongful convictions and executions of Black individuals.

DNA Testing Leads to over 600 Exonerations, but Barriers Still Exist

By Ashley BlockMay 4, 2026

DNA testing has led to over 600 exonerations since 1989, but access to post-conviction analysis is limited due to restrictive legislation and high costs.

Chicago Prosecutors Resist Efforts by Exonerated Individuals to Clear Their Records

By Damiyah JohnsonMay 2, 2026

Tyrece Williams, who was exonerated in 2009 after spending 20 years in prison, is fighting for a certificate of innocence to clear his name and give his children an official document acknowledging the injustice, but prosecutors under State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke are resisting the effort.

Bipartisan Support Grows for Death Penalty Repeal in Pennsylvania

By Kiyana ColeApril 30, 2026

The Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee voted to advance two bipartisan bills that would eliminate the death penalty in the state and replace existing death sentences with life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Melissa Lucio Remains on Death Row Four Years after Execution Stay

By Hannah KennedyApril 28, 2026

Melissa Lucio remains on death row in Cameron County, Texas, nearly four years after her scheduled execution was halted and nearly two years after the state district judge who sentenced her signed a motion to vacate her conviction, due to claims that exonerating evidence was withheld at trial.

Man Released After 16 Years in Prison for Felony Murder Based on Weak Testimony

By Joseph FranzeseApril 19, 2026

Gennel Miles was released after serving 16 years in prison for a felony murder conviction based on weak testimony, due to California’s felony murder reforms and the efforts of the Felony Murder Resentencing Project.

New Scientific Evidence Could Reopen Robert Roberson Death Penalty Case in Texas

By Kiyomi Wu-InouyeApril 16, 2026

Judge Austin Reeve Jackson will review evidence to determine if Robert Roberson should receive a new trial, after his conviction for the 2002 death of his 2-year-old daughter was based on the now-discredited ‘shaken baby syndrome’ theory.

High Court Declines to Hear Appeal in Texas Death Row DNA Case

By Kayla BetuliusApril 12, 2026

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from Texas death row prisoner Rodney Reed, rejecting his latest effort to obtain DNA testing that he argues could prove his innocence.

ACLU Files Motion for DNA Testing in Tony Carruthers’ Death Penalty Case

By Leslie VillalobosApril 10, 2026

The ACLU of Tennessee has filed a motion with the Tennessee Supreme Court to conduct DNA testing in the case of Tony Carruthers, arguing that the results could prove his innocence before the state carries out the execution.

Oklahoma Board Denies Clemency for Raymond Johnson; Advocacy Group Condemns Decision

By Kira Yuha ChoApril 9, 2026

The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 5-0 to deny clemency for death row prisoner Raymond Eugene Johnson, drawing criticism from the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (OK-CADP) due to the state’s high execution rate and issues with racial bias, wrongful convictions, and illegal procurement of killing drugs.

Supreme Court Denies Appeal, DNA Testing Blocked in Texas Death Penalty Case

By John SchultzApril 1, 2026

Rodney Reed was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1996 murder of Stacey Stites in Texas, but has repeatedly sought DNA testing of the belt used to strangle her, which Texas officials have refused to allow despite evidence suggesting another suspect and possible racial bias in the all-white jury that convicted him.

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