by OpenFile | Mar 8, 2019 | The Open File Blog, Virginia
In the words of Tammy Wynette, “sometimes it’s hard to be a woman.” Just as she sang, being a feminist who supports survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence and also believes in decarceration and criminal justice reform can be difficult, especially when trying...
by Julia | Jan 8, 2019 | The Open File Blog, Virginia
Gather round the campfire, children, for one of the scariest prosecutorial misconduct stories in the land. Thanks to a remand from the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday, this terrifying tale may yet have a just ending. We hope so. We’ve written several times before about...
by Bert | Dec 7, 2017 | Virginia
A recent Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion sheds light on a seemingly classic tale of prosecutorial misconduct. It involves a scandalously discredited detective, an affidavit from an experienced prosecutor so flawed that it reads like a second-year law student...
by OpenFile | Nov 15, 2014 | The Open File Blog, Virginia
Dahlia Lithwick’s latest piece on Slate, published earlier this evening, provides a terrific update on the Justin Wolfe case, one we’ve been following for some time here at The Open File. For those who aren’t familiar with the case, Wolfe’s...
by OpenFile | Jul 16, 2014 | New York, The Open File Blog, Virginia
Two civil cases have been resolved in which wrongdoing was alleged against prosecutors for murder convictions that were later overturned on the back of prosecutorial misconduct. Michael Hash of Virginia reached an agreement with the prosecutor and sheriff he sued in...
by OpenFile | Sep 30, 2013 | The Open File Blog, Virginia
Earl Washington Jr. was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to death for a 1982 rape and murder for which the real killer was later found and convicted. Washington came within 9 days of execution in 1985, but was later proven innocent by DNA evidence. A bar complaint...
