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9th Annual Innocence Project Awards Luncheon

  • Mandarin Oriental Hotel 1330 Maryland Avenue Southwest Washington, DC, 20024 United States (map)

About

Our Annual Awards Luncheon is an inspiring event that raises the greatest source of income for our work to provide free, timely legal services to incarcerated citizens who maintain their innocence.

Marty Stroud

This year we present Keynote Speaker, Marty Stroud, with the Champion of Justice Award. The Defender of Innocence Award will be presented to Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Skadden Arps, and the team of pro bono lawyers who are working to free David Faulkner and Jonathan Smith.

The Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project is committed to reform for lasting change, including our work with the Conviction Integrity Unit at the US Attorney’s Office. Only through such partnerships—and the courage of prosecutors to admit their mistakes—can we begin to remedy the damage of wrongful convictions on human lives, and on the integrity of the system. This year, we are proud to honor one of these prosecutors, Marty Stroud.

Marty Stroud is a former Louisiana prosecutor who led the prosecution of Glenn Ford, who spent nearly 30 years on death row for a crime he didn’t commit. (Ford was exonerated on March 11, 2014 and died from lung cancer on June 29, 2015.) Marty Stroud acknowledged his mistakes in that case, and apologized to Ford. Mr. Stroud has become an important national voice on the issue of the “win-at-all costs” culture in prosecutor’s offices, speaking candidly about the way in which that culture affected him and led to his mistakes. He has also become an outspoken advocate for the abolishment of the death penalty.

The Luncheon will also honor lawyers who fight to free the innocent. This year, we are proud to give the Defender of Innocence Award to Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Skadden Arps, and the team of pro bono lawyers who are working to free David Faulkner and Jonathan Smith who have spent 15 years in prison for a murder they did not do. In April, Lawyers from Gibson Dunn and Skadden—working around the clock during 12-hour court sessions—presented evidence of David and Jonathan’s innocence, as well as significant government misconduct. The legal teams have dedicated thousands of hours to this compelling case, and have given David and Jonathan a good chance of securing their freedom this year. We hope to hear a decision soon!

Last year, 285 people attended our Luncheon, and 35 sponsors made the event possible. This year, we have an ambitious goal to raise $225,000. Please join us for the Ninth Annual Awards Luncheon!

Details here: https://exonerate.org/all-event-list/9th-annual-awards-luncheon-at-the-mandarin/

Buy tickets here: https://exonerate.org/2016-luncheon/

Video from 2014 Luncheon

Video
Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project: Annual Fundraising Luncheon

A clip from the annual event

This inspiring event raises the greatest source of income for our work to provide free, timely legal services for those in DC, MD and VA who are wrongfully convicted. Last year, 285 people attended our Luncheon, and 35 sponsors made the event possible. This year, we have an ambitious goal to raise $225,000. We hope you will join us and support our work for social justice!

Source:: https://exonerate.org/all-event-list/9th-annual-awards-luncheon-at-the-mandarin/