The Innocence Project at Northwestern University helped to uncover evidence that they claim proves the innocence of a Harvey, Illinois, man who is accused of killing a security guard in 1978. The Cook County state's attorney in turn has subpoenaed the student's grades, notes, witness interview recordings, the class syllabus, and student emails sent to each other and Professor David Protess at the University's journalism school. The University has turned over some documents but is fighting the further request for grades, grading criteria, student evaluations, expenses generated during the investigation, unpublished student memos, and interviews not conducted on the record. The state's attorney's office says it is seeking truth. I suppose that depends on who is on trial. In this case it seems as if it is the student activists. There is a chill in the air and not all of it is coming from Lake Michigan. More in the Chicago Tribune. [MG]
( This posting is cross-posted from the Law Librarian Blog by permission from the author Mark Giangrande of our library staff)
Also see :
Chicago Tribune editorial re. actions of State Attorney's Office
Chronology of investigation by Northwestern University Medill Journalism students and Center on Wrongful Convictions at the law school’s Bluhm Legal Clinic from their web site.
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