Innocence Project Northwest (IPNW) Clinic

The IPNW Clinic grew out of a volunteer effort, co-founded by Prof. Jackie McMurtrie in 1997, aimed at freeing inmates who have been wrongfully convicted of crimes. In 2000, the IPNW received the National Law Journal Pro Bono Award for its successful volunteer efforts on behalf of the wrongly convicted. In 2002, the IPNW transformed from a volunteer effort to a clinical law program. The IPNW Clinic represents indigent people in Washington who are serving long prison terms, who claim their innocence, and who no longer have a right to court-appointed counsel. Each month, the IPNW Clinic receives 30-50 new requests for assistance.

Students in the IPNW Clinic receive hands-on experience interviewing and counseling clients, developing facts, drafting motions and briefs, negotiating and presenting appellate arguments. They develop skills in interviewing, fact-investigation, negotiation and trial preparation, as well as collaboration and problem-solving. Students work with experts in the disciplines of medicine, psychology, biology and ethics. They have appeared in Washington State Superior Courts, the Washington Court of Appeals, the Washington State Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The IPNW Clinic’s recent successes include the 2010 exonerations of Ted Bradford, Larry Davis and Alan Northrop, who were exonerated on the basis of newly discovered DNA evidence and the 2008 exoneration of James Anderson, who was freed when probation records were finally produced proving he was in California at the time a Tacoma robbery occurred for which he was wrongly convicted. Ted Bradford of Yakima, Larry Davis and Alan Northrop of Vancouver, and James Anderson of California served a combined total of 47 years in Washington corrections institutions for crimes they did not commit.

In the 2011-2012 academic year, the IPNW partnered with the Legislative Advocacy Clinic to train students in legislative and public policy advocacy on innocence project issues. Students will learn about the legislative process and bill drafting. They will build a legislative agenda and work with coalitions. Students will advocate in the state legislature to develop and move legislation and respond to proposed legislation.

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IPNW Clinic in the News

• 40 Under 40: Juli Pierce, senior deputy Yellowstone County attorney UW Law Alumna Juli Pierce '04 was named one of the 40 Under 40 by the Billings Gazette
• Bill could set scale for wrongful conviction compensation - Publicola A new wrongful conviction bill would create a pay scale of sorts in Washington for people whose convictions are later overturned by new evidence.
• 17 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit - should state pay? - KPLU Alan Northup was exonerated through DNA testing with help from the Innocence Project Northwest (IPNW) . Advocates for granting them compensation say it's the right thing to do, even in tough budgetary times. IPNW Director Jackie McMurtrie is mentioned.
• Law School clinics serve students and the public - UW Regional & Community Relations Since 1979, the UW School of Law has offered students the opportunity to represent real clients or mediate real cases by working with faculty members through the Clinical Law Program.
• What price should be paid to a person wrongly convicted? - Seattle Times

  Guest columnist Jack Hamann argues for legislation before the Washington Legislature to compensate people who are wrongly convicted in our state. NW Innocence Project clinic director Jackie McMurtrie is quoted.
• Eyewitness IDs can be made better - Miller-Mccune.com Mistakes in eyewitness identifications occur in 75 percent of convictions overturned by DNA evidence nationwide, according to the Innocence Project, which has helped free 267 people so far. Professor Jackie McMurtrie is quoted.
• Co-founder of the Innocence Project has saved 17 innocent people from death row - KIRO FM Barry Scheck, speaker at the UW Law-sponsored ICFIS,  says many inmates can't access DNA evidence that could exonerate them. (Interview begins at 17:30)
• UW Law professor, law students dedicated to freeing the innocent - MyNorthwest.com

  For every person who gets away with a crime, there's another who goes to prison for a crime they didn't commit. But thankfully, there are also those dedicated to getting them out. Jackie McMurtrie, Director of the Innocence Project Northwest, is featured.
• UW at 150: School of Law clinics begin Innocence Project Northwest - UW 150th Story Bank Since 1979, the UW School of Law has offered students the opportunity to represent real clients or mediate real cases by working with faculty members through the clinical law program.
• Mistakes about race corrupt many eyewitness accounts - KPLU If you've witnessed a crime, you'll swear you can accurately identify the person who did it. But, there's a good chance you're wrong, especially if that person is of a different race. Professor Jackie McMurtrie is quoted.