Posted on 10/27/2009 11:16:10 AM PDT by Mobile Vulgus
The work of the Medill Innocence Project has already led to the exoneration of 11 inmates in Illinois. In 2000 Governor George Ryan cited the Medill Innocence Project of Northwestern University as one of the reasons he suspended the death penalty in the Land of Lincoln. It has yet to be fully reinstated.
The Medill Innocence Project has recently set its sites on the case of Anthony McKinney, convicted of murdering a security officer in 1978. The students of the Project feel that they have successfully proved that McKinney was wrongly convicted and have also succeeded in getting a judge to review the case.
One might think that thanks and accolades should be the student's reward for their efforts to repair justice in Illinois. But for some reason Cook County prosecutors have subpoenaed the grades, grading criteria, class syllabus, expense reports and e-mails of the students of the Project. You heard that right. Prosecutors seem to be investigating the students!
Read the rest at Publiusforum.com...
A spokeswoman for Anita Alvarez, the Cook County state’s attorney, who was elected last fall, said the prosecutors were simply trying to get to the bottom of the McKinney case.
“At the end of the day, all we’re seeking is the same thing these students are: justice and truth,” said Sally Daly, the spokeswoman. She said the prosecutors wished to see all statements the students received from witnesses, whether they supported or contradicted the notion of Mr. McKinney’s innocence.
“We’re not trying to delve into areas of privacy or grades,” Ms. Daly said. “Our position is that they’ve engaged in an investigative process, and without any hostility, we’re seeking to get all of the information they’ve developed, just as detectives and investigators turn over.”
“Why? Because that’s the way we do things in Chicago.”
Duh. Cuz the AG wants a higher office, and conviction rates are always a big campaign feather.
I am wondering if some current high level legal types might have been embarrassed by the findings. Say Eric Holder wrongly prosecuted a person and the students discovered that. He might want to shut them up quickly and a threatened prosecution would be the Obama way.
They just sentenced the real killer to life btw.
No consequences for the cops who lied or the Prosecutor who directed the entire fiasco btw.
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