Calvin Duncan, who was wrongfully convicted of murder and spent three decades in prison, was elected as New Orleans’ chief criminal court record keeper. Despite facing challenges to his exoneration from the incumbent and the state attorney general, Duncan secured 68% of the vote. Duncan, who became a legal expert while incarcerated, aims to ensure fair treatment and better management of court records. He will now oversee a system still reliant on paper files, and his election comes after a history of record-keeping issues.
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After being exonerated after decades in prison for a 1980s murder, Subramanyam Vedam was set to be released. However, he was instead taken into federal custody due to a 1999 deportation order. This order stemmed from a prior drug conviction, and now Vedam’s lawyers must argue that his wrongful imprisonment outweighs this past infraction. Despite his long history in the US, the 64-year-old faces potential deportation due to the current administration’s stance on immigration, which opposes his petition.
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Subramanyam “Subu” Vedam, recently exonerated after serving over four decades for a murder conviction, has been detained by ICE and faces potential deportation to India. Despite the dismissal of murder charges against him this month, ICE cited a 1988 deportation order related to his vacated convictions. Vedam, who maintained his innocence and was a lawful permanent resident, was initially convicted in 1983, after being accused of the 1980 murder of a former classmate. His attorney argues that, given his long incarceration and pending citizenship application at the time of his arrest, Vedam should be allowed to rebuild his life in the United States.
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The judge denied Sean Combs’ attempt to overturn his conviction days before his sentencing. Federal prosecutors are recommending at least 11 years in prison for Combs’ conviction on two counts of transportation for the purposes of prostitution, emphasizing his lack of remorse and the victims’ fear. The prosecution cited his violent behavior and abuse, including that of Cassie Ventura, while defense attorneys are calling the recommendation “draconian”. Several people who were previously associated with Combs, including Ventura and Mia, submitted letters hoping the sentencing reflects the harm he has caused and provides justice.
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Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been convicted by a Supreme Court panel on all five counts related to a plot to overturn the 2022 election, including planning to assassinate the president-elect. The court sentenced him to over 27 years in prison and barred him from running for office for eight years. The trial has caused political polarization within Brazil, with Bolsonaro’s supporters protesting the verdict and his allies, including former US President Donald Trump, criticizing the outcome. This verdict makes Bolsonaro one of the growing list of Latin American leaders convicted of crimes in recent years.
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Bryan Hooper Sr. has been released from a Minnesota correctional facility after spending nearly three decades in prison for a murder he did not commit. The conviction was vacated after key testimony from a woman, who has since confessed to the crime, was found to be false. Hooper’s conviction in 1998 was based on this now-discredited testimony, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s office supported his release and the court’s decision. The Prazniak case will now be re-investigated by the Minneapolis Police Department, and the woman who confessed is currently in prison in Georgia.
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On November 20, 2000, Michelle Renee and her seven-year-old daughter, Breea, were held hostage for 14 hours by three men who forced Michelle to rob her own bank. The men, led by Christopher Butler, used fake dynamite and threats to ensure compliance, leaving Breea in a closet while Michelle obtained $360,000. Butler’s business card, left at the bank earlier that day, led to the arrests of all four perpetrators. Although Michelle faced intense scrutiny during the trial, ultimately, all perpetrators were convicted, with Butler’s parole repeatedly denied after he recanted his false testimony implicating Michelle.
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Iwao Hakamata, a former professional boxer, was awarded over $1.4 million in compensation after spending 40 years on death row for a quadruple murder he did not commit. His 1968 conviction was overturned last year following DNA evidence proving the incriminating bloodstained clothing was planted. The Shizuoka District Court’s decision marks the highest payout ever for a wrongful conviction in Japan, though his lawyer stated the sum cannot atone for his suffering. Hakamata’s case has drawn international attention to Japan’s justice system and fueled calls for death penalty abolition.
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A federal appeals court overturned Brittany Marlowe Holberg’s death sentence, a decision stemming from the prosecution’s failure to disclose that their key witness, a paid informant, had recanted her testimony. The 2-1 ruling by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals cited a violation of Holberg’s due process rights under the Brady doctrine, finding the undisclosed information crucial to the jury’s verdict. This decision reverses lower court rulings and sends the case back to the trial court. The appeals court judge highlighted the significant impact of Holberg’s 27 years on death row, emphasizing the ongoing need for improvement within the capital punishment system.
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A federal jury awarded John Fulton and Anthony Mitchell $120 million—$60 million each—for their wrongful 2003 murder convictions, which were overturned in 2019 after they served over 16 years in prison. The men alleged coerced confessions and fabricated evidence by Chicago police and prosecutors, with no physical evidence or eyewitnesses linking them to the crime. The city’s Law Department intends to appeal the verdict. The ruling highlights a significant case of alleged police misconduct and wrongful conviction.
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John Q. Hosedrinker