tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post7467949771027178631..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: IPOT announces trio of non-DNA exonerations out of DallasGritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-4613737922131293912012-04-20T13:09:31.796-05:002012-04-20T13:09:31.796-05:00Hey Grits, Ms. C. H's. comment (above) warrant...Hey Grits, Ms. C. H's. comment (above) warrants further conversation due to it touching on various levels of concern that we get asked about but end up deferring to the IPOT. If you'd be so kind to assist, it'd be appreciated by many. Thanks in advance.<br /><br />*First, since the IPOT operates on "limited resources", please tell us how the project obtains funding & how the public at large can assist in expanding the account in an effort to reach more claims?<br /><br />*Second, since the IPOT only considers claims where DNA holds the key & Non-DNA claims where all appeals have been exhausted, please tell us why the project chose to exclude un-appealed claims. Claims involving defendants advised to stop the trial to plea bargain for 10 years and under just because they were on probation at time of arrest? (FWIT, once the defendant is tricked into plea bargaining he/she isn't told that they have only 30 days to appeal, they don't rec. copies of what they signed in Chambers & everyone knows that the next couple of months are a living hell void of law libraries.) With that, one can see that this leaves 95 plus percent of the claims untouched and ignored like they don't matter. <br /> <br />*Third, could you tell us how much the professors & the attorneys pull down annually, or do they write it off as pro-bono work? Basically asking if it's a paid gig or not. Despite the case, I bet it's not near enough and therefore the entire staff deserves our gratitude and appreciation.Thomas R. Griffithhttp://www.projectnotguilty.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-82251738290840124412012-04-06T11:44:57.370-05:002012-04-06T11:44:57.370-05:00Many studies and cases have shown how unreliable e...Many studies and cases have shown how unreliable eyewitness testimony can be. The Innocence Project is a great program and does a lot of great work, it is unfortunate they have limited resources and cannot take on more cases. The men who testified against Washington, Robertson and Smith had an incentive to lie to get a reduced sentence—their testimony should have been brought into question from the start.Christine Harrishttp://www.dallascountycriminaldefense.com/need-criminal-defense-attorney/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-28521857639121801222012-04-06T11:27:29.264-05:002012-04-06T11:27:29.264-05:00Hey Grits, what a wonderful day it is in the Non-D...Hey Grits, what a wonderful day it is in the Non-DNA, Non-Death Row neighborhood. Now, if only this momentum would continue. <br /><br />Welcome Home, fellow humans & victims of the system. You will soon find out through personal research (GFB is a great place to start) that they (Bad Cops) were enticed to falsely arrest at will, and they (Rogue ADAs) were enabled by lazy-ass Judges to subsequently convicted folks of all; races, sexes, political preferences, financial backgrounds & zip codes. You’ll discovery that your jury wasn’t the first to be denied all evidence and you weren’t alone in being forced to decide between 99 years or friggin probation despite being not guilty. You’ll have a choice to either take the money and run or become Public Heroes in personal endeavors’ to prevent history from repeating and prevent the historically ignored claims from being ignored. <br /><br />*The actions of Ms. Tracy Cobb are so rare and few that it's imperative that we go above and beyond in recognizing her as a real life Public Hero. Therefore, I nominate her and only seek a second. It should also be pointed out that the attorneys, IPOT, & Conviction Integrity Unit that believed in her enough to put their name(s) and firm(s) on the line in the attempt to seek true justice be equally recognized. It would nice if they came forward and asked / demanded that if an attorney wishes to devote his / her area of practice to the niche of Criminal Defense (even if it’s just for one felony case in a lifetime) that; he / she commit to at least one pro bono case involving a Non-DNA. Non-Death Row all the way to verdict or a Closed / Inactive claim where 'Appealing' it wasn't possible due to 'Play Bargain' Games & ask others to follow suit. This could be the end of “Cherry Picking” as we have grown to know it.<br /><br />The public has plenty of Projects, Exonerated Groups, Senators & Professors already fighting the good fight for the other claims. Good luck in your endeavors' and we look forward meeting you. Thanks.Thomas R. Griffithhttp://www.projectnotguilty.comnoreply@blogger.com