Cooley Innocence Project

Making a Real Difference

The Cooley Innocence Project is part of the Innocence Network, which has been credited with the release of over 375 wrongfully convicted prisoners, mainly through the use of DNA testing.

practicalTraining_220 The Cooley Innocence Project is the only post-conviction DNA innocence organization in the state of Michigan.

Since its inception, the office has screened over 6,000 cases and is responsible for the exoneration of nine individuals:

Kenneth Wyniemko (2003), Nathaniel Hatchett (2008), Donya Davis (2014), LeDura Watkins (2017), Kenneth Nixon (2021), Gilbert Poole (2021), Corey Quentin McCall (2021), George DeJesus (2022), and most recently, Louis Wright (2023), who spent 35 years wrongfully imprisoned.

The Cooley Innocence Project also helped to exonerate Lacino Hamilton, Ramon Ward, and Terance Calhoun.

The History of the Cooley Innocence Project

In May 2001, shortly after Michigan's post-conviction DNA testing law went into effect, the Cooley Innocence Project was established at the law school. Operating as a law school clinic, the Project's dual mission is to provide legal assistance to, and secure the release of, persons who are wrongfully imprisoned for crimes they did not commit and to provide its students with an excellent learning experience. It is the only such DNA project in the state. The Project focuses on obtaining post-conviction DNA testing and false forensics.

To date, the office has screened over 6,000 cases. There are a number of cases being prepared for court and several hundred under review or investigation. New requests for assistance come into the project each week.

Once in a Lifetime Training for Law Students

Cooley Innocence Project students practice law under Michigan's student practice rule. Students screen applications, investigate facts, conduct interviews, analyze cases, prepare court pleadings and even represent clients in court. They do this all under the supervision of experienced lawyers. Qualified students are selected to participate in their second or third year of law school. Project students not only have the opportunity to possibly free an innocent person from prison, but will have an experience that impresses employers.

Support the Project's Work

The Cooley Innocence Project offers help to prisoners at no cost to them. Please support this vitally important work through your donation.

Cooley Innocence Project Exonerees

Louis Wright

On November 9, 2023, after serving 35 years for a crime he did not commit, Louis Wright was exonerated when Calhoun County Circuit Court Judge Sarah Lincoln set aside his conviction for criminal sexual conduct and breaking and entering. In September, DNA testing established that Wright was not the perpetrator. Mr. Wright is represented by Attorney Marla Mitchell-Cichon and the Cooley Law School Innocence Project (Cooley Innocence Project). Read the Louis Wright story.

George DeJesus

On March 22, 2022, Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Martha D. Anderson set aside the conviction of George and Melvin DeJesus, who were wrongfully convicted of murder and felony firearms in 1997. At the request of the Cooley Innocence Project and the Michigan Innocence Clinic the Attorney General’s CIU reinvestigated the DeJesus brothers’ cases. The CIU interviewed numerous witnesses and reviewed decades of documents. The CIU located witness statements made within weeks of the crime, that corroborated the brothers’ alibis the night of the murder. But they also discovered more troubling facts about Gohagen. In 2017, Gohagen was convicted of the 1994 sexual assault and murder of another woman in Oakland County. Gohagen acted alone in that crime. In addition to the 1994 case, the CIU discovered 12 other women who were emotionally, physically, and sexually abused by Gohagen. The CIU also interviewed a witness who said that Gohagen confessed to implicating the brothers in exchange for a deal. Pretrial and post-conviction DNA testing never identified the brothers’ DNA at the crime scene, and there was no other physical evidence linking the brothers to the crime. Read the George DeJesus story.

Corey Quentin McCall

On June 25, 2021, Berrien County Circuit Court Judge Angela M. Pasula set aside the conviction of Corey Quentin McCall, who was wrongfully convicted of three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in 2005. “There are no words to meet the moment,” Berrien County Prosecutor Steven Pierangeli said during McCall’s hearing Friday morning. “It is tragic that you served time for this offense." Assistant Attorney General Robyn Frankel, director of the Michigan Attorney General’s Conviction Integrity Unit, and Berrien County Prosecutor Steven Pierangeli moved to have McCall’s conviction vacated and dismissed all charges. McCall is represented by Tracey W. Brame of the Cooley Law School Innocence Project (Cooley Innocence Project). Frankel noted that at his sentencing, Mr. McCall stated: "Sitting through this long process, I want to say that I am innocent." Read Corey Quentin McCall's story.

Gilbert Poole

On May 26, 2021, Oakland County Circuit Judge Rae Lee Chabot set aside the conviction of Gilbert Lee Poole, Jr. who was wrongfully convicted of murder in 1989. “I have to say that I didn’t understand what was happening back in 1988 when I came to court to be tried for a murder I didn’t commit. At 22 years old, and a thousand miles away from anyone I knew, I kicked and screamed and stomped my feet and said this is not right,” Poole said during the hearing. I spent decades learning, reading, studying law, but none of that was working for me,” Poole said. “It wasn’t until I surrendered to a higher power and God stepped in and sent me a band of angels to look past the rules and regulations and looked to see who was standing in the furnace. I was standing in the furnace. I didn’t belong here. I have to thank each and every one of you, without you this wasn’t possible.” Read Gilbert Poole's story.

Kenneth Nixon

On Feb. 18, 2021, Wayne County Judge Bruce Morrow set aside the conviction of Mr. Kenneth Nixon, who was wrongfully convicted of murder, attempted murder and arson in 2005. “Mr. Nixon has worked tirelessly over the last 15 years to regain his freedom. Thanks to Mr. Nixon’s persistence and the collaboration between the Cooley Innocence Project and the Wayne County Conviction Integrity Unit, Mr. Nixon will finally be reunited with his loved ones,” said his attorney, David Williams. Assistant Prosecutor Valerie Newman, Director of the Wayne County Prosecutor Office’s Conviction Integrity Unit, moved to have Nixon’s conviction vacated and requested dismissal of all charges. Nixon is represented by the Cooley Law School Innocence Project. Read Kenneth Nixon's story.

LeDura Watkins

On June 15, 2017, LeDura (Ledora) Watkins was released after serving almost 42 years for a robbery and murder he did not commit. Based on the Cooley Innocence Project’s motion for new trial, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office agreed to vacate the judgment of conviction and dismiss all charges in the 1975 murder of a Detroit woman. Watkins was sentenced to life without parole on April 15, 1976. The Cooley Innocence Project filed a motion for new trial on January 19, 2017. The prosecutor’s office agreed that hair comparison evidence used against Watkins does not meet today’s scientific and legal standards. In 2013, the FBI disavowed testimony by FBI-trained analysts, finding they often overstated their conclusions. The Detroit lab analysts, trained by the FBI, tied Watkins to the crime scene based on a single hair. Click to read LeDura Watkins' story.

Donya Davis

After serving almost seven years in prison for a crime he did not commit, Donya Davis was revealed to be innocent by post-conviction DNA testing. In 2013, the Cooley Innocence Project sought DNA testing under Michigan’s post-conviction law, MCL 770.16. After testing was ordered, the results excluded Davis as the source of male DNA. In light of the new evidence, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office did not oppose Cooley Innocence Project’s motion for a new trial. Donya Davis was released from prison pending a new trial on June 20, 2014. All charges were dropped by Wayne County Prosecutors in November 2014. Click to read Donya Davis' story.

Nathaniel Hatchett

Nathaniel Hatchett was 17 years old when he was arrested in Michigan for a rape he didn’t commit. Although DNA testing pointed to his innocence before trial, he was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison. When the evidence was located in the State Police crime lab, The Cooley Innocence Project requested that new DNA testing be conducted. In 2008, the Cooley Innocence Project filed a motion for a new trial. Prosecutors agreed to support the motion, and then filed for the dismissal of all charges against Hatchett. He was released from prison on April 14, 2008. He served a decade in prison before new DNA tests led to his exoneration. Click to read Nathaniel Hatchett's story.

Kenneth Wyniemko

On June 17, 2003, Kenneth Wyniemko walked out of prison a free man after Macomb County prosecutors dismissed all charges against him. Wyniemko had been in prison since 1994, convicted of rape. Wyniemko's exoneration, after nine years of being imprisoned, was made possible by efforts of the Cooley Law School Innocence Project. Wyniemko's story is featured in Netflix's The Innocence Files (Episode 9 - The Prosecution: The Million Dollar Man). Click to read Kenneth Wyniemko's story.