Conviction review
Convictions that were overturned, and innocence claims courts are ruling on this week. Read what the evidence was and where it broke.
Tuckett v. State of New York
New York Court of Appeals issued an opinion on May 22, 2025 that deals with an innocence claim. From the opinion: “…allegation of sexual abuse. With this newly discovered evidence in hand, Tuckett moved to vacate his judgment…”
2025 · Texas Court of Appeals, 11th District (Eastland)In courtEx Parte Valentino Franco v. the State of Texas
Texas Court of Appeals, 11th District (Eastland) issued an opinion on April 30, 2025 that deals with an innocence claim. From the opinion: “…the record straight now and rectify the wrongful conviction of [Appellant]. I deeply regret my…”
2025 · New Mexico Supreme CourtIn courtState v. Green
New Mexico Supreme Court issued an opinion on April 21, 2025 that deals with an innocence claim. From the opinion: “…postconviction relief in the face of newly discovered evidence,” and branding that argument as one that…”
2025 · Supreme Court of MissouriIn courtIn re: Circuit Attorney, 22nd Judicial Circuit ex rel. Christopher Dunn
Supreme Court of Missouri issued an opinion on April 15, 2025 that deals with an innocence claim. From the opinion: “…not sentenced to death on the basis of newly discovered evidence of actual innocence. 617 S.W.3d at 444…”
2025 · Court of Criminal Appeals of TexasIn courtCobb, Travis
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas issued an opinion on March 26, 2025 that deals with an innocence claim. From the opinion: “…the applicant after introduction of the newly discovered evidence, it becomes theoretically impossible…”
2025 · Court of Appeals for the Sixth CircuitIn courtAaron Salter v. City of Detroit, Mich.
Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued an opinion on March 21, 2025 that deals with an innocence claim. From the opinion: “…information, leading to an unfair trial and his wrongful conviction. In this civil rights lawsuit, Salter…”
2025 · Connecticut Appellate CourtIn courtBalbuena v. Commissioner of Correction
Connecticut Appellate Court issued an opinion on March 18, 2025 that deals with an innocence claim. From the opinion: “…and that the recantation was newly discovered evidence that was not available at the…”
2025 · Louisiana Court of AppealIn courtJarvis Ballard v. State of Louisiana
Louisiana Court of Appeal issued an opinion on March 14, 2025 that deals with an innocence claim. From the opinion: “…MARCH 14, 2025 KKH RLB RML This is a wrongful conviction compensation case pursuant to La. R.S.…”
2024 · MissouriExonerated 2024Sandra Hemme
In 2024, Sandra Hemme was exonerated of a 1980 murder in Missouri. She had served more time than any other exonerated woman in U.S. history.
2025 · TennesseeExonerated 2025Scott Minton
In January 2025, Scott Minton was exonerated of the sexual assault and robbery of a woman in Bradley County, Tennessee.
2022 · MassachusettsExonerated 2022Barry Jacobson
In 2022, Barry Jacobson was exonerated of setting fire to his vacation home in Richmond, Massachusetts more than 40 years earlier.
1991 · OklahomaExonerated 2018Johnny Tall Bear
In 1992, Johnny Tall Bear was wrongly convicted of a murder he did not commit in Oklahoma. He was later exonerated in 2018.
2018 · TexasExonerated 2018Ernest Sonnier
In 1986, Ernest Sonnier was wrongly convicted of aggravated kidnapping in Texas. He was later exonerated in 2018.
2023 · New YorkExonerated 2023Jabar Walker
In November 2023, Jabar Walker was exonerated of a 1995 double murder in New York. He had wrongly served 25 years in prison.
2023 · HawaiiExonerated 2023Ian Schweitzer
In January 2023, Albert Ian Schweitzer was exonerated of murder in Hawaii County, Hawaii, nearly 23 years after his wrongful conviction.
2017 · MassachusettsExonerated 2017George Perrot
In 2017, George Perrot was exonerated after 30 years in prison when his conviction, based on flawed FBI hair analysis, was overturned.
2019 · New YorkExonerated 2019Felipe Rodriguez
In 2019, Felipe Rodriguez was exonerated of a murder he did not commit in Queens, New York. He had served 25 years in prison.
2009 · TexasExonerated 2009Timothy Cole
Timothy Brian Cole died in a Texas prison in 1999 while serving a 25-year sentence for a rape he didn’t commit.
2023 · New YorkExonerated 2023Carlton Lewis
In 2023, Carlton Lewis was exonerated after he had spent more than 31 years in prison for a murder he did not commit in New York.
1989 · VirginiaExonerated 1989David Vasquez
In 1985, David Vasquez was wrongly convicted of a murder he did not commit in Virginia. He was later exonerated in 1989.
1996 · IllinoisExonerated 1996Verneal Jimerson
In 1985, Verneal Jimerson — one of the "Ford Heights Four" — was wrongly convicted of a murder he did not commit in Illinois. He was exonerated in June 1996.
2023 · LouisianaExonerated 2023Darrill Henry
In 2011, Darrill Henry was wrongly convicted of murder in Louisiana largely based on eyewitness misidentification. He was finally exonerated in 2023.
2002 · IllinoisExonerated 2002Paula Gray
In 1978, Paula Gray was wrongly convicted of murder, rape, and perjury in what is now known as the Ford Heights Four case.
2022 · IllinoisExonerated 2022John Galvan
On July 13, 2022, John Galvan, Arthur Almendarez, and Francisco Nanez were exonerated in Chicago after each spent more than 35 years in custody.